The Lopez Family

U.S. Marine Corporal Ray Lopez, originally from Kermit, Texas, is the second oldest of five children raised by his grandparents in Odessa. After a football career at Permian High School, Lopez joined the military following the Sept. 11th attacks. He served four-plus years in the U.S. Marine Corps from August 2002 to November 2006, including three tours to Iraq.

His first deployment was to Kuwait for the initial missions of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his second deployment to Iraq, on a November morning in 2004, Lopez’s unit took on enemy fire while on foot patrol. Upon entering a house in the area, Lopez was hit in the chest with gunfire from a bedroom and could not return fire due to pain from the injury and a collapsed lung. He was eventually medically evacuated from the area. After receiving treatment in the United States, he returned for a third tour of duty in 2006. He was honorably discharged in November 2006 after receiving a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat.

Lopez deals with chronic pain from his chest wound as well as traumatic brain injury (TBI), vertigo, Grand Mal seizures, migraines, and tinnitus from a head injury. As a result of his experiences, he also battles symptoms of PTSD every day.

He received several awards and recognitions for his service. In addition to a Purple Heart, Lopez was honored with a Combat Action Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal and a Presidential Unit Citation.

Today, he lives in Odessa and shares custody of his two daughters. His hobbies include target shooting, frisbee golf, movies, and arts & crafts with his girls.

Operation FINALLY HOME is proud to partner with Silver Leaf Homes in providing Cpl Ray Lopez and his daughters a mortgage-free home in Odessa, Texas.