DETROIT, April 20, 2023 – National homebuilder PulteGroup has surprised a United States Air Force veteran with the gift of a brand-new home. Awarded through the Company’s Built to Honor® program, U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Paulus Obey and his family will receive a home in Pulte’s Thornton Farms West community in Dexter, Michigan. This is the Company’s 10th year providing mortgage-free homes to deserving veterans.
“Our PulteGroup team met with Master Sergeant Obey under the pretense that he was coming in for an interview as part of the application process, but instead we surprised him with the big news that he was selected to receive the mortgage-free home,” said Kevin Christofferson, president of PulteGroup’s Michigan division. “He was absolutely overjoyed at the announcement, and we could not contain our excitement to build this home for him and his family. It is an honor for us to start this journey with them and express our gratitude for his service.”
Built specifically for the Obey family, construction of their new 1,600+ square foot single-family home will begin next month. The home will be ready for Master Sergeant Obey, his wife Janel and their youngest daughter to move in before the end of the year.
PulteGroup is building the home in partnership with Building Homes for Heroes®, a national non-profit organization devoted to bringing renewed hope and service to injured veterans. This will be the third home awarded in Michigan through the Built to Honor program, which was launched in 2013 to recognize and thank returning military personnel who have been injured during their term of service. Over the past 10 years, the company has delivered 76 new-construction homes to veterans nationwide.
U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Paulus Obey
USAF Master Sergeant Paulus Obey joined the military in 1986 and served for over 18 years. During his time of service, he was deployed to Qatar and Uzbekistan where he flew as an Aircrew Loadmaster, responsible for getting troops and supplies to areas of combat, and taking part in missions into Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Africa.
Master Sergeant Obey and his crew often received enemy fire during takeoffs and landings into dangerous combat zones. After flying over 20 combat missions and experiencing multiple episodes of being fired upon, Master Sergeant Obey was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and honorably discharged in 2004.
For his service Master Sergeant Obey is the recipient of The Air Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal W/ 1 Device, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award W/ 3 Devices, Air Force Good Conduct Medal W/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal W/ 1 Device, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award W/ 2 Devices, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Military Education Ribbon W/ 1 Device, Air Force Training Ribbon, Air Force Commendation Medal, Combat Readiness Medal W/ 2 Devices, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal W/ 1 Device, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal W/ Bronze Hour Glass And M Device.
About Built to Honor®
For the last decade, PulteGroup’s Built to Honor® program has recognized and thanked returning military personnel who have been injured during their term of service by providing mortgage-free homes to veterans and their families. Launched in 2013, the program has built and donated 76 homes, gifting more than $35 million in value, across the country. Built to Honor works in partnership with nonprofit organizations to identify veteran candidates. For more information about Built to Honor, go to builttohonor.org. Follow Built to Honor on Twitter: @BuiltToHonor and Facebook.com/BuiltToHonor.
About PulteGroup
PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of America’s largest homebuilding companies with operations in more than 40 markets throughout the country. Through its brand portfolio that includes Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, American West and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, the company is one of the industry’s most versatile homebuilders able to meet the needs of multiple buyer groups and respond to changing consumer demand. PulteGroup’s purpose is building incredible places where people can live their dreams.
For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup brands, go to pultegroup.com; pulte.com; centex.com; delwebb.com; divosta.com; jwhomes.com; and americanwesthomes.com. Follow PulteGroup, Inc. on Twitter: @PulteGroupNews.
