Iraq War veteran Master Sergeant Jacinto Bernardo recently retired from the Marines after serving his final tour of duty in Japan. Before he left for Japan, he asked an old friend, fellow-Marine Jeremy Epperson, to watch over his home while he was

away. Epperson obliged. And then some.

While Bernardo and his family were away, Epperson raised $70,000 to remodel their Suisun City, California “fixer-upper” house.

When the Bernardos returned from Japan, they were surprised to find a limo waiting for them at the airport. But the biggest surprise came when they arrived at their “new” home. The Marine couldn’t contain his emotions:

“We are proud of our service. Those guys that didn’t make it back and those guys that didn’t make it in one piece, they deserve this, not me.”

Jeremy Epperson said no Marine should have to return to a mess when he comes home. Semper fi, Jeremy; well done.