ALVORD, Texas — An Army veteran living in Wise County needs help getting back on his feet after floodwaters ruined the house he was living in last week.
Sgt. Wilmer Valles, 52, joined the Army in 2006. He completed three tours in the Middle East. Two were in Iraq, one was in Afghanistan.
He left active duty in 2011 and is now a sergeant in the Army Reserve.
"I just got the courage to join up and do something for my country," Valles said.
But Valles never anticipated to be in the fight he's facing now. Last Wednesday, when North Texas saw rain and hail, rising floodwaters took over Valles' home in Alvord off of Highway 287.
According to Valles, the water was up to four feet high. He rushed home to save his service dog Onyx, who was left inside a crate.
"You could hear him yelping because he was drowning," Valles said. "He only had about 3 inches of breathing room so every time he tried to take a breath he was swallowing water."
Valles said he and a DPS trooper pushed open the door to his home and saved Onyx, along with other family cats.
"After we pushed the door open, all of the water started coming out of the house. I ripped that cage open and got my dog to safety," Valles said.
Valles walked away with his best friend but lost a lot. Appliances, furniture, family memorabilia, and military awards were ruined or missing.
The only things truly untouched were his military uniforms.
"Looking at those, it reminds me that I gotta stand up and stay strong," Valles said.
And the flood damage was so bad that Valles can't live in his home anymore.
His landlord said it would have to be demolished.
He's now living in a motel room in Decatur. For the first time in his life, he's asking for help.
"Helping people out has always been my nature," Valles said. "Being on the other side of the coin really hurts."
"Here I am, a soldier, and I have to ask for help when I'm the one who has to be strong enough to do it myself."
Valles' main issue with finding a new place to live heavily revolves around rent affordability.
He knew his landlord well and only paid around $600 a month to live in his old house, and that's a rate that's hard to find.
He told WFAA that a number of people in the community have come to help pay for his stay at his motel, which is around $50 a day.
"I'm not happy about it, but I got to get used to it before I find somewhere else to go," Valles said.
The Wise County Veteran Services Office is trying to help in that capacity. It's been collecting some goods for Valles.
A GoFundMe has also been created for him too.
While personal strength will help Valles through this time, a little backup from the community is all he's asking for.
If you'd like to help, you can visit the GoFundMe here.