Army Veteran Gets Gift of a Lifetime

The holiday season is just ending, but Army veteran Richard Marsh received his gift a little early this year. That gift was not only hugely impactful in his life, but was well-deserved.

According to the Daily News Journal, Marsh’s Tennessee home got a head to toe remodel with the help of Operation Stand Down and the Home Depot Foundation. The 36-year-old was medically discharged from the Army following an accident, which took of two of his fingers. He lost his wife in 2016 due to kidney failure, which left him a single parent to four children. Doing all of that by himself quickly became overwhelming.

“By the time I got through with homework and baths and all that stuff, there was just no time to do anything (around the house),” Marsh said.

A year after losing his wife, he became ill himself as a result of debilitating liver problems. His life slowly fell apart, as did his home. Carpets and furniture were soiled, an air-conditioner leaked into the home and damaged the bedroom ceiling, and a window had been broken by his children playing one day, but had never been fixed.

His retirement funds and some stocks were able to help keep his family financially afloat, but there wasn’t any extra money left to aid the home. He ended up having to go to the emergency department because of his liver. The Department of Children’s Services put his children in foster care until Marsh was able to get back on his feet. Aware of his struggles, the Department of Children’s Services reached out to Operation Stand Down for help.

Michael McCoy, the community engagement specialist with Operation Stand Down Tennessee spoke with the Daily News Journal.

“Painting, remodeling, we’re removing damaged furniture, removing damaged dry wall … damaged carpet … and replacing all that … and really helping spruce the place up and make more livable for him and his children,” McCoy said.

All of the work was done by volunteers. To get the house back to normal and in good condition, a lot of things were updated and remodeled. A Houzz survey says 60% of homeowners plan to remodel their master bathroom, and the volunteers wanted to be able to give Marsh his own, remodeled space.

Marsh will be able to move into his “new” home once he is doing better. He has been able to see his children and the foster families have made sure that they all stay in contact.

“I’m absolutely blown away. I can’t believe they are doing all the things they are doing,” Marsh said. “Now I don’t have to worry about it and it will help me get my kids back faster.”