Kingwood residents find love while serving country in Afghanistan

Although in different military troops stationed in Afghanistan, both Melanie and Sean were injured at around the same time and were assigned to the same medical evaluation board more than 6,000 miles away at Fort Hood. It is there that they met for the first time – or second time, according to Sean.

“Sean said to me, ‘I met you in Afghanistan. Do you remember me?’ and I told him no,” Melanie said with a laugh.

“It was a very quick introduction,” said Sean of their meeting in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2004 while on deployment with the U.S. Army.

Sean attended a barbecue with soldiers from different troops, where he was introduced to Melanie. Melanie was partnered with another solider, who was dating Sean’s Army buddy, for a game at the barbecue.

Sean was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Company, better known as “triple deuce.” Melanie was a sergeant in the 10th Military Police Company, Mountain Division.

Melanie broke her back while in Afghanistan, where she was a gunner. According to Melanie, carrying heavy weapons and being “thrown around” in combat caused her vertebrate to slip out of place. “Over time, it got worse and worse,” said Melanie. Sean sustained injuries to his leg while on patrol in Afghanistan.

Their meeting two years ago may have been quick, but it was not fleeting. When they met again two years later, Sean quickly realized “it was a serious thing.”

Within six months of being reintroduced at the medical board – two years since meeting in Afghanistan – Melanie and Sean were married in September 2006.

“It takes hard work. We work hard to have the best marriage that we can,” said Sean. “We definitely love each other.”

Because of their injuries, Melanie and Sean were discharged from the Army.

“We cannot serve in the manner we were, but we’d still like to give back,” said Sean.

Sean is pursuing a degree in architecture while Melanie is earning her degree in accounting. Both attend Lone Star College – Kingwood. They are active in the student government association, where Melanie is a member and Sean serves as president.

In February, Melanie and Sean, along with 15 other LSC students, attended the 2009 Texas Community College Student Day at the Capitol in Austin. Students from around Texas met with state representatives and senators to discuss issues pertinent to community college students, such as tuition and textbook costs.

Melanie will complete her bachelor’s degree in accounting from LSC, while Sean is earning an associate of science degree from LSC. He plans to transfer to the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture at the University of Houston to complete his bachelor’s degree in architecture.

Sean and Melanie are using their Tuition Assistance Program benefits from the Army. The TA Program will fund up to 100 percent of tuition to eligible members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard for courses taken while voluntarily off-duty.

“We want to open an architecture firm,” said Melanie.

Modeling their business after “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” Melanie said that they want to “give a house to a veteran or someone in need who cannot afford one.”

“We make a good team,” added Sean.

Melanie and Sean currently reside in Kingwood with their pet cat, Nala, and dog, Fortune, both of whom the couple rescued from a shelter. In addition to pursing his degree, Sean also works at Kingwood Country Club.

“We gave service to our country,” said Melanie. “Now we want to give back to the community.”