The Holbrook Family

U.S. Army Specialist Adam Holbrook

U.S. Army Specialist Adam Holbrook grew up in a military family, watching as uncles and cousins enlisted and served their country. In 2009, out of a desire to follow in their footsteps and provide for his young family, Adam enlisted in the U.S. Army.

After completing basic training, Adam went straight to airborne school. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the 2504 Airborne Infantry Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and was almost immediately deployed to Iraq. During his three-and-a-half years in the Army, Adam served two combat deployments: one to Iraq and another in Afghanistan.

In 2012, Adam and his unit were deployed to Afghanistan, stationed in the Ghazni province. Adam and his fellow soldiers faced numerous attacks. Casualties were common, and Adam lost several friends and leaders. The stress of war took an emotional toll on Adam, worsened by experiences such as seeing an IED blast destroy a bus of women and children and being unable to help. Additionally, Adam survived vehicles rolling over, shrapnel injuries and bruised ribs.

Adam has been honored with several awards and recognitions for his valiant service to his country. These include the Combat Infantryman Badge, three Army Commendation Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and many more.

After his honorable discharge from the Army in 2013, Adam found it difficult to return to “normal” and struggled with transitioning to civilian life. Dealing with a deep sense of survivor’s guilt and nightmares, anxiety and depression, he was eventually diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He also deals with arthritis, knee pain, tinnitus and hearing loss due to his service.

Adam and his wife, Jessica, met when she was 19. The couple married in 2009 and are now the parents of two sons and two daughters. Their life together has not always been easy due to Holbrook’s PTSD. At various points, the family has dealt with homelessness, and Jessica has worked upward of three jobs at a time to make ends meet, all while caring for her children and advocating for Adam.

Adam is currently part of an experimental research study with the West Los Angeles VA and UCLA Medical Center that hopes to advance treatment for veterans suffering from PTSD. He is the first veteran to have an RNS stimulator implanted in his brain, which monitors his brain waves and administers stimulation when he is has a PTSD episode. Adam and Jessica hope the study will help other veterans, so they don’t have to endure the burdens the Holbrooks have faced.

The family currently lives in Rancho Cucamonga, California, and enjoys water sports, such as surfing and swimming, as well as working out. The couple’s sons play water polo, while their daughters enjoy dancing and acrobatics.

Operation Finally Home is honored to partner with Lennar California in providing U.S. Army Specialist Adam Holbrook and his family with the gift of a home in Fontana, California.