MATTOON, Wis. (WFRV) – As Keith Schmidt’s roof was being repaired, it gave him time to reflect on his military service, which played a major role in him being selected to receive a new roof from American Quality Homes.
He got his start in the Army, but after a year, he decided to take a different route in the military.
Only on Local 5: Marine veteran receives free roof through Operation Homefront after tornado damage
“From there, I had an in-service transfer into the active-duty Marine Corps. I went through boot camp again, and I went through infantry training school at Camp Pendleton in California, where I was trained as a machine gunner on the 0331 machine gun.”
After years in the Marine Corps, he was called upon to take yet another different role in the service.
“I went to serve at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. I was supposed to go to Alaska, but they changed my orders and sent me to D.C. to be a part of the Presidential Honor Guard.”
With over 20 years of volunteering under his belt and a tornado that destroyed his roof, it became a financial burden for Schmidt.
His sister shared his story with AQH, and they decided to supply Keith with a brand-new roof—something he didn’t think would be possible.
“So I’ve got a broken back, and it’s made life difficult. I don’t want to have to go ahead and have the fusion because I can be constrained in what I’m able to do. It’s not like I can—I used to roof—and it’s not like I can roof anymore. Being a guy that used to roof dairy barns, I appreciate what I’ve seen.”
A lifetime of service to the military and giving back to his community all came back to Schmidt in this act of community helping community.
