While Spc. Michael Damon went to Iraq to fight for his country, he could not have imagined, after spending fifteen months there, that he would come home to imminent foreclosure. Abu Ghraib was dangerous enough to require body armor, but the fear he experienced there is almost nothing compared to what he and his wife Lisa may face today in bankruptcy court.

Spc. Damon went home in November 2006, spent a few weeks at Fort Dix, N.J., went through therapy that took away his ability to walk, and was discharged in extreme pain. The Damons used their savings to pay bills and keep up on the mortgage. Disciplining themselves to stay away from credit cards, and their two cars paid off, the family of four struggled but were able to get by.

Three months later, the Damons fell behind on their mortgage payments because their interest rate with Countrywide upsurged to 10%. Their house payment was now $2,490 a month. They negotiated a workout program with the lender where the missed payments would be added to the balance of the loan. In September, they were told that there was nothing to worry about; it would just take more time. Mrs. Damon spoke to five different Countrywide representatives in one single phone call. In other phone calls, she spoke with the lenders local law firm who left the Damons thinking the mess would be resolved. On January 28, 2008, the mail brought them notice that their home had already been foreclosed. If Michael could keep his home, he would have to find an additional $100,000 a year. In the meantime, the value of his home decreased about $50,000.

The state of the mortgage crisis in America is extraordinary in itself. But to take a family home out from under them after serving their country and coming home wounded to live with excruciating pain and unable to ever walk again is egregious. This is more than mere legalities in a market that is causing untold stress on homeowners. The situation for many, like the Damon family, is nothing short of reprehensible and immoral.

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