Army vet surprised with new home

Both of his legs had to be amputed after he stepped on a mine while serving in Afghanistan.

His life changed again on Wednesday – but this time for the better.

“I’m just really excited for him,” said his mother, Cindy Rimpf. “It’s quite the ending to a special year and a half.”

Employees from Chesapeake Homes, which built the house on Palace Garden Way in Raleigh, and other partners and vendors were all there Wednesday to see Nathan Rimpf’s reaction. The 2,900-square-foot home was built to accommodate his wheelchair, and all of the furniture was donated by Belk's and Kimbrell's Furniture.

“When I walked in, I had never seen it fully furnished like this. It took my breath away – one of those moments I’ll remember,” said Rimpf.

In every home it builds for a wounded warrior, Operation Coming Home likes to do something special. For Rimpf, it was a “ranger room” – a place for him to display his awards and dress blues.

“Thank you doesn’t exactly do enough justice,” Rimpf said. “I just want you to look at this as more of an investment because I’m going to try to do something with all this I’ve been given.”

Rimpf, a 2006 graduate of Leesville Road High School and 2010 graduate of East Carolina University, earned a Purple Heart for his service.

Rimpf will get the keys to the home on Thursday, but he won't move in until January. He's still recovering at Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland.