A Hero’s Hometown Homecoming in Casa Grande, Arizona! November 25, 2025
It was a local homecoming on Nov. 19 for a local hero, thanks to Building Homes for Heroes and Chase.
US Navy Gunner’s Mate First Class Hillary Ruff dedicated over 12 years of her life to serving her country with courage, discipline, and an unwavering sense of purpose. Growing up in Casa Grande, Arizona, Hillary dreamed of a life devoted to public safety and service. That calling led her to enlist in the Navy in October 2012, determined to protect and better the world around her.
But years of service also came with profound challenges. Repeated exposure to combat-related trauma and high-stress environments led to multiple traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which left her temporarily unable to walk or speak. Through extraordinary determination, she relearned both.
Hillary was also diagnosed with service-connected Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and in 2024, while serving at the Navy Munitions Command Pacific, Hillary began experiencing severe cardiac issues that led to her medical and honorable retirement in July 2025.
After years of giving herself to her community and her nation, it was time for her own community to give back. Right in her hometown of Case Grande, Hillary, her partner and their four children were gifted a mortgage-free home where they could live safely and securely and build their future. It was a patriotic day as dozens of supporters gathered to celebrate the hero’s homecoming. Also on hand were dozens of Lowe’s employees who had spent several hours volunteering their time and craftsmanship to beautify the home for Hillary and her family.
