Villas of Distinction and home-based travel franchise Dream Vacations – both part of World Travel Holdings – gifted a deserving Marine veteran and his family a $25,000 villa vacation for the holidays.
With the assistance of the Civic Duty Partners, Inc. and New York State Troopers Marine Corps Association, the travel companies found former Marine Thomas McDonnell. He and his family received complimentary airfare from Dream Vacations and a weeklong villa stay at the Mumbai in St. Martin courtesy of Villas of Distinction. In addition to his wife and three children, ages 18 months, four, and seven year olds, his parents and grandparents were also invited.
McDonnell, an infantryman with 3rd Battalion 25th Marines, deployed January-October 2005 to Al Anbar Providence. McDonnell spent the majority of his time located near the west bank of the Euphrates River near the city of Hit, Iraq, approximately 30 miles northwest of Ramadi.
On September 4, 2005, McDonnell's base was hit with an organized assault consisting of a truck bomb, small arms, mortars, and rocket propelled grenades. McDonnell, who suffered a severe concussion from the truck bomb, received a Purple Heart. After returning from Iraq, McDonnell pursued a career in law enforcement and is now serving his community as police officer in the Rochester, NY area.
For further information about the New York State Troopers Marine Corps Association, visit www.nyst-marine.org; for Villas of Distinction, visit www.VillasofDistinction.com; or Dream Vacations, visit www.DreamVacations.com.