HOUSTON – Navy veteran Tommy Broadnax spent the last three years serving our country at a Naval base in Japan.
In August, he came back to the states to start his civilian life and decided to leave his home in Memphis and move to Houston to be closer to friends and for a job opportunity.
What happened Wednesday morning wasn’t exactly the warm welcome he was expecting.
“My car was busted into,” Broadnax told KPRC. “All of my things was gone except one bag. It felt like a dream, it did not feel real.”
Broadnax has been staying with friends, bouncing back and forth between homes and apartments until he can find a permanent place of his own. Everything he owned was in four duffel bags in the trunk of his car.
The crooks took all of them except one.
They broke out the passenger side window and got into the trunk by pulling down the back seats.
“My clothes, my shoes, my military clothes and my civilian clothes are all gone,” he said. “Even my uniform.”
That’s what hurts the most, Broadnax said. He was hoping to one day show it to kids and grandkids.
“The only thing I can show them now is pictures.”
Broadnax called the Houston Police Department to file a report about the theft, they sent a sergeant out to meet with him.
“When he was talking to me he felt like family,” said Broadnax. “He even helped me out with my shoes.”
Broadnax is required to wear a particular pair of shoes for his job as a security guard but his were stolen in the break-in. The police sergeant helped him out so he wouldn’t miss a day of work.
“He called me and told me, ‘I’m going to get off at 2 p.m., I’m going to buy you a pair of shoes.”
Broadnax said the shoes run about $80.
That sergeant wants to remain anonymous, but Broadnax’s story resonated with other employees at the Houston Police Department.
They reached out to help and hope others will, too.
“Our hearts went out to him because he is a veteran and he served our country,” said Lt. Terry Horton. “It’s Veteran’s Day next Friday so we thought we would give him a hand and help in any way that we can. This is a way for us to give back to him in a way he’s given back to his country.”
Broadnax said he appreciates the gesture and the sergeant who bought him the shoes really helped right a wrong.
“I feel like if there’s more people like him in Houston, then I’m going to stay here. Just because of him, he made it feel like home.”