AUSTIN, Texas— Today, Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is pleased to announce that applications are being accepted for residents at the Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez Texas State Veterans Home in Big Spring. The home opened in 2001 and has 160 beds, of which 60 are designated to memory care. Eligible Veterans with a 70% or higher service-connected disability may live at the home for free.
The Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez Texas State Veterans Home is named after David Vance Lamun, Joe Lusk and Reynaldo Sanchez.
David Vance Lamun of Big Spring was 19 when he enlisted in the U.S Army. Lamun enrolled at Texas A&M University and joined the ROTC program as a member of the Corps of Cadets but was called for active duty during World War II. Initially, he was assigned to a tank destroyer force but was later moved to the 357th Battalion, 90th Infantry Division, which landed at Utah Beach in Normandy on June 8, 1944. By all accounts, Lamun was a model of leadership and valor to his fellow soldiers. He was only 20 years old fighting alongside his comrades in France on July 6, 1944 and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for his honorable death during that battle.
Joe Lusk was born and raised in Howard County. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1939 at the age of 19. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Lusk was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Houston, which tragically was sunk during the Java Sea Battle. Lusk managed to survive the sinking but was captured by the Japanese and underwent forced labor on the infamous “Death Railway” through the jungles of Burma and Thailand. The long hours of hard labor, extreme shortages of food, and no medical treatment led to infections such as malaria, dysentery, and beriberi. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart years after his death.
Reynaldo Sanchez of Big Spring enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967 and was deployed to Vietnam. On April 22, 1968, while serving as point man during a search and destroy mission, Sanchez spotted enemy movement and moved to a forward position where he openly fired upon enemy soldiers. He continued to advance through heavy enemy defense and was mortally injured from several fragment wounds. He was buried with full military honors at the Mt. Olive Cemetery in Big Spring. Sanchez was awarded the Bronze Star for his courageous act and valiant service.
Our Texas State Veterans Homes (TSVH) are Texas-owned and regulated by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VLB has an on-site representative in each home to ensure our distinguished long-term residents get the best possible care.
To apply for admission to the Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez TSVH, please click this button:
Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez TSVH Application for Admission
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Dr. Dawn Buckingham made history in 2022, winning a statewide election to become Texas' first female Land Commissioner. As Land Commissioner, Dr. Dawn Buckingham is committed to helping Texans after a disaster, supporting Texas energy, ensuring that every child in Texas receives a high-quality public education, serving Texas Veterans, and securing the border to keep our communities safe.