Local Navy veteran remembers attack on Pearl Harbor

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- One Navy veteran vividly remembers the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941.

Dave Hughes was 17 years old at the time. He was piloting a motor boat between American ships when he saw the first line of Japanese zeroes. He says for a moment he thought the planes were American fighters doing practice runs, until they started strafing ships.

Hughes says he and other sailors worked around the clock to save people from damaged ships and prepare for a possible follow up attack. (Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Volunteers build home for war veteran

TOMBALL, TX (KTRK) -- Volunteers are building a Marine a new home in Tomball. The young man paid a hard price for freedom, losing his legs in an explosion in Afghanistan.

The first walls to the home in Tomball went up Friday morning, and between now and Sunday, volunteers will frame, side, roof the house and install windows and doors. It's under construction for Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Peterson.

An explosion in Afghanistan left him a double amputee, and this house is a way for him to gain a new start, in a home which will suit all of his needs. Even after all he's sacrificed, he remains incredibly humble.

"I didn't sign up for what I could get out of it," Lance Corporal Peterson said. "Somebody could say, 'I deserve this, I deserve that'. No. You definitely don't join the Marines because you think you deserve something. This is more than I ever even dreamed of."

This house is provided through the non-profit organization Homes for Our Troops and contractor Spawglass. It takes donations and a lot of volunteers to build a home. If you'd like to help out, you can visit the Homes for Our Troops website.

The home should be ready to move into early this spring.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Retired veteran allowed to fly American flag in yard

  HOUSTON -- Just in time for the Fourth of July, a retired Marine was able to fly the Stars and Stripes without risk of fines.

The Lakeland Village Community Associated filed suit Dec. 9 against Mike Merola, who has a 20-foot flagpole in his backyard. The suit claimed the pole violated the community's design rules.

The Houston Chronicle reports that the suit has not been dismissed, but that a contract filed with the court allows the Merolas to keep the pole as long as they abide by new guidelines from the association.

Lee Thweatt, the Merolas' lawyer, said legislation prompted by the case and signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry on June 16 protects the right of homeowners to display the flags of the United States, Texas or any military branch.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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