Wounded veteran gets a home in St. Charles

There was no shortage of fanfare to greet Oscar Sosa.

Led by a procession of first responders with roaring motorcycles and blaring sirens, Sosa, a wounded Army veteran, arrived Wednesday at his new St. Charles home, a three-bedroom house on Bonnie Street.

"It's great for me and my family to finally start our lives," Sosa said, wiping a tear from his eye, after touring the house.

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in cooperation with Operation Homefront worked to provide Sosa with a mortgage-free home.

Born and raised in Chicago, Sosa just wanted to to do his part for his country.

In 2005, he followed the lead of his brother, and enlisted in the Army. A year later, he was deployed to Iraq for 15 months as an infantryman. Before he was wounded, he assisted in the mobilization of vehicles, troops, and weaponry.

Back home, he's pursuing a criminal justice degree.

Wells Fargo, which has donated more than 150 properties, has pumped $30 million since 2012 into the program, which is administered by Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit group with more than 4,500 volunteers. They provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors.

The program assists service members, veterans and their families by providing housing, career transition and customized financial education.