Retired Marine’s Friend Watches His House While He Is Gone, Does $70,000 Worth Of Renovations

A now retired Marine veteran, Master Sergeant Jacinto Bernardo, is an Iraq war veteran who served our country proudly for 21 years. Friends and family wanted Bernardo to have a special return so they put together the homecoming of a lifetime, including over $70,000 worth of renovations on Bernardo’s modest home.

Bernardo and his wife knew they would be coming home shortly, so in January they bought a “fixer upper” in Suisun City, California. As the couple still had a few more months in Japan, they asked a friend if he would keep an eye on the home for them. Jeremy Epperson obliged. When asked by ABC News why they chose this specific house, Jacinto’s wife said:

“We chose it [the house] because it was the only thing we can afford.”

What the Bernardo couple didn’t know was that Epperson had some major plans for the home. Epperson reached out to local and national donors to fund the home remodeling project for this 21-year military veteran. He was able to do over $70,000 worth of renovations with the donors help and contractors. Epperson said there is no one more deserving to receive such a gift than Bernardo:

“Twenty-one years in the Marine Corps, you don’t deserve to come back to a house where you have to spend a lot of your savings and time fixing it up.”

Epperson made sure that wasn’t the case for Bernardo, who can now enjoy his beautifully manicured lawn, sparkling quartz countertops, and new carpets and flooring. Doolittle Center posted some of the before and after photos to their Twitter account.

Mission Accomplished! #HomecomingHero pic.twitter.com/C6GpGZ7EYU

— Doolittle Center (@DoolittleCenter) June 17, 2014

Bernardo said it is a lot to take in and he is so grateful. KTRH reports, first, there was a limo waiting for him and his family at the airport. Then when they got to the house, they found out Jeremy had raised a bunch of money while they were gone and did $70,000 worth of renovations. It was all a shock for the family.

Jacinto cried when he talked to the local news about it. He is appreciative but says that there are so many other veterans who deserve more than him. See Jacinto’s tearful interview below:

Another Marine also came home to a wonderful surprise. Staff Sgt. Jeremy Cooney recently came home to see his 6-year-old boy, who suffers from cerebral palsy, walk for the first time.

It is heartwarming to see so many people come together to ensure this Marine, who served our country for 21 years, got the homecoming he deserved. Congratulations Master Sergeant Jacinto Bernardo on your new home.