Sgt. James B. Hurley on a bridge near the property he lost to foreclosure while serving with the National Guard in Iraq. (Erik Holladay for The New York Times)

While Sgt. James B. Hurley was away at war, he lost a heartbreaking battle at home.

In violation of from creditors, agents of Deutsche Bank foreclosed on his small Michigan house, forcing Sergeant Hurley's wife, Brandie, and her two young children to move out and find shelter elsewhere.

In March 2009, a federal judge ruled that the bank's foreclosure in 2004 violated federal law but the battle did not end there for Sergeant Hurley.