Killeen Vet's Surviving Family Receives Mortgage-Free Home

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation pays off mortgage for Gold Star family of Army Staff Sergeant Louis DePan.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:54pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract, impressionistic photograph of a cozy family home at dusk, with soft, warm light and color reflecting through rain-streaked windows, conveying a sense of comfort, security, and healing for a grieving household.The Tunnel to Towers Foundation's mortgage-free home gift provides stability and healing for a Gold Star family coping with unimaginable loss.Killeen Today

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has paid off the mortgage for the Killeen, Texas, Gold Star family of Army Staff Sergeant Louis DePan, who died in 2021 from injuries sustained in an accident. DePan's wife, Courtney, and their two children will now have a mortgage-free home, providing them with stability and security as they continue to grieve and heal.

Why it matters

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation's Gold Star Family Home Program aims to honor the legacy of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country by providing mortgage-free homes to surviving Gold Star spouses with young children. This helps provide long-term stability and support to families coping with the tragic loss of a parent.

The details

Staff Sgt. Louis DePan enlisted in the Army in 2004 while still in high school and deployed to the Middle East the following year. Over the next 17 years, he deployed nine times, earning numerous honors including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. DePan died on September 14, 2021, from injuries sustained in an accident. He is survived by his wife, Courtney, and their two children.

  • Staff Sgt. Louis DePan enlisted in the Army in 2004.
  • DePan deployed to the Middle East in 2005.
  • Over the next 17 years, DePan deployed nine times.
  • DePan died on September 14, 2021.
  • The Tunnel to Towers Foundation paid off the family's mortgage in 2026.

The players

Staff Sergeant Louis DePan

An Army soldier who enlisted in 2004, deployed nine times over 17 years, and died in 2021 from injuries sustained in an accident.

Courtney DePan

The wife of Staff Sergeant Louis DePan and the mother of their two children.

Tunnel to Towers Foundation

A nonprofit organization that honors the legacy of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country by providing mortgage-free homes to surviving Gold Star families.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It gives us stability and security, knowing that we will always have a place to call home no matter what. It also allows us to focus on healing, growth, and being present with each other. It's not just about the financial help, it's about being seen, remembered, and honored. It reminds us that our loved one's sacrifice is not forgotten, and that our family is supported by a community that truly understands and cares.”

— Courtney DePan, Wife of Staff Sergeant Louis DePan

What’s next

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has set a goal to deliver 343 mortgage-free homes to catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, as well as Gold Star families and families of fallen first responders who leave behind young children, in 2023 to mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

The takeaway

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation's support for the DePan family highlights the organization's ongoing commitment to honoring the sacrifices of military members and first responders by providing long-term stability and security to their surviving loved ones, especially Gold Star families coping with the tragic loss of a parent.