The final stop on AWI’s Texas tour, was Bryan Texas where Branch Managers Matt and Marc Woods together with Sales Manager Nathan Rich hosted a Boot Camp at First Baptist Church for 75 real estate professionals.

AWI co founder Louise Thaxton presented a four hour continuing education focusing on working with military clients with excellence.  At the end of the course, Sean Parnell, retired Army Ranger and decorated combat veteran, author of the New York Times bestseller, Outlaw Platoon, spoke to the crowd about the huge difference a real estate agent can make for veterans coming home from war.

And then the moment everyone had been waiting for – a time of honoring a true hero in College Station, Texas. A hero with a flooded home and no insurance. In 2008 Kevin Jensen was serving in Afghanistan as the gunner for Lt. (Now retired Captain) Sam Brown when their Humvee hit in IED and exploded into flames. Captain Brown was a surprise guest at the AWI event – an amazing man and an inspiration to all – invited to give a special introduction of Kevin Jensen.

To hear Captain Brown tell of those agonizing moments when his body was on fire from his knees to the top of his head brought tears to the entire audience. Captain Brown thought it was the end for him and wondered how long would it take to die being burned alive – when suddenly he heard “I’ve got you, sir”. The voice of Kevin Jensen, also injured, but coming to his rescue, Kevin throwing his own body on top of Captain Brown’s to help extinguish the flames. Captain Brown shared the story of Kevin’s heroism and spoke of both challenges and adversities – and issued a charge to the community to help Kevin finish his home repairs from that devastating flood.

Donations from the generous folks of Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, the American Warrior Initiative and the real estate agents attending the event, went from $7,500 to $10,500 to $20,000! No better way to honor a local hero than this!