Honoring Veterans with Operation FINALLY HOME

Here are the stories of three United States veterans who had the opportunity to start new after coming home from war, thanks to Operation FINALLY HOME. Operation FINALLY HOME provides custom-built, mortgage-free homes to wounded, ill and injured veterans, the widows of the fallen and their families, creating a solid foundation for them to move forward in their lives.

By removing the financial burden of a mortgage and providing accommodations tailored to a veteran’s special needs, our heroes and their families can rebuild their lives with less worry. To accomplish this important mission, Operation FINALLY HOME partners with national and local corporate sponsors, builder associations, builders, developers, individual contributors, and volunteers in local communities across the United States—people like you who can make a donation to help the next veteran.

While on deployment in Iraq, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Michael Hard proudly displays the Stars and Stripes in front of his modified MRAP military vehicle.

Life After Combat: A New Start and a New Home

When U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Michael Hard was honorably discharged from the military in 2013 with severe injuries, he couldn’t help but feel a great sense of responsibility for the men and women still away on deployment. Michael wanted to do everything he could to help his fellow soldiers abroad, but the daily pain of his injuries reminded him that his life has drastically changed and he needed to take a different approach to his future.

Read the rest of Michael's story here.

A Log Home Changed a Hero’s Life

Retired Staff Sgt. Vincent Gizzarelli, his wife Jamie and their children were all smiles the day they their mortgage-free log home changed a hero’s life. Retired Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Vincent Gizzarelli and his family are among the many that have experienced a trying journey of highs and lows.

Coupled with Vince’s service and the struggles the family experienced after his retirement, the Gizzarellis couldn’t be more deserving of the custom-built, mortgage-free log and timber home they received from the National Association of Home Builders’ Building Systems Councils (BSC) and national nonprofit Operation FINALLY HOME in April 2012. Log Homes of America donated the log package and built the home.

Read the rest of Vincent's story here.

Retired U.S. Army Specialist Cody Nusbaum.

A New Log Home Offers a Veteran a New Start

When life knocks you down, the experiential value is in the physical, emotional and spiritual struggle to get back up. For retired U.S. Army Specialist Cody Nusbaum, getting up and taking that first step was an arduous journey that he, admittedly, could not do alone.

When he was just 19 years old, Cody was deemed unable to walk after miraculously surviving 11 gunshot wounds from an attack by Taliban fighters during his deployment in 2011. While in recovery at a hospital in San Antonio, Texas, Cody contracted E. coli, which only made matters worse. The disease ate away at the head of his right femur and portions of his hip, subsequently forcing doctors to remove it. But it did not eat away at Cody’s spirit.

Read the rest of Cody's story here.

A Brand New Start for a Medically Retired Veteran

When his parachute failed, Army Sgt. Hutcheson fell more than 70 feet, ending his military career. Now he’s fallen in love with his new home. All U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Hutcheson ever wanted was to provide a safe, permanent home for his family. For many years, Matthew and his wife, Leslie, had to worry about the rent or where they would have to uproot their family next, which put a strain on their health and happiness.

After serving our country for almost 13 years, Matthew’s final injury occurred while he was participating in an airborne operation. At 70 feet above ground, Hutcheson’s parachute lost its canopy, forcing him to hit the ground hard when he landed.

To read the rest of Sgt. Hutcheson's story, click here.

Building Homes, Rebuilding Lives

Log Home Living is a proud supporter of Operation FINALLY HOME, and through our Hero House initiative, we’re on a mission to help fund more homes for the deserving men and women who have served in our armed forces. For more information and to make a donation to help other heroes like Vince, visit www.operationfinallyhome.org/loghome.