TOMBALL, Texas – A U.S. Army veteran who lost his leg and most of his vision while serving in the Iraq War just received an unforgettable surprise that will keep his home and heart powered for years to come.
Matt Metcalfe, owner of Generator Supercenter of Tomball, donated a brand new 22 kilowatt Generac generator to the veteran. The system was installed at his home in Harris County Precinct 4, with local deputies from the Constable’s office helping deliver the surprise.
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The veteran, Robert Engelbrecht, was eight months into his deployment when his Humvee, a lead vehicle part of a Quick Reaction Force (QRF), was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) directly on his door. The blast tore through his leg, wrist, and hip, leaving him paralyzed in the moment. With his devastating injuries, Engelbrecht couldn’t control the vehicle and crashed into a creek.
“It wasn’t a fun day, but if it wasn’t me sitting there, I guarantee you the person that would have been sitting in my spot would have died,” he said.
From the crash, he lost his right eye, suffered a brain injury, and was airlifted to a hospital in Baghdad after a nearly two-hour wait. Engelbrecht later found out he was born with a hole in his heart, a detail he personally believes played a role in helping him survive the blast.
“I didn’t realize it until after I was injured… but that saved my life,” he said.
Now living in Tomball with his wife and child, Engelbrecht says power outages used to leave his family stuck at home, unable to leave due to mobility challenges.
“This generator is going to save me a lot,” he said. “The AC is going to be great, and food won’t get destroyed.”
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The donation was made in partnership with Harris County Constable Mark Herman and his Precinct 4 team. While Constable Herman and his staff helped coordinate the effort, it was Precinct 4 patrol deputies who quietly worked behind the scenes to identify Engelbrecht as a deserving recipient.
“I want to thank everyone for… donating your time and effort for just me,” Engelbrecht said, getting emotional as he looked at the team surrounding him. “I try not to bother other people… but hey, you guys saved my day.”
For Generator Supercenter, this act of generosity is a yearly tradition. Each year, the Tomball-based company selects a veteran to receive a fully installed home generator as a gift of gratitude.
“We’ve coined it around the office, protection for the ones who protect us,” said Steve Cruise, vice president of Generator Supercenter. “It’s a great opportunity to get out in the community and really say thank you for the service put in.”
The generator installed is an automatic Generac whole-home unit. Within 15 seconds of a power outage, it kicks on by itself, providing seamless backup power.
“This is one more veteran free from the grid,” Cruise said. “We’re really proud to do it.”
The generator can run for up to 30 days on Houston’s natural gas supply. Generator Supercenter will cover the full service agreement, including regular maintenance and emergency storm response for Engelbrecht.
