Teddy James
AFA Journal staff writer
Above, Dan Wallrath surprises former Marine and Midland, Texas, police officer Jake Churchwell and his family with the news that they are receiving a mortgage-free home on August 30, 2017. Churchwell was severely injured in a high-speed pursuit in 2016 and now lives in a home custom-built to meet his needs.
November 2017 – Stephen Schulz was the prototypical Marine with an adventurous spirit and muscles to climb over or run through anything in his way.
But on April 19, 2005, while deployed in Iraq, his Humvee ran over an explosive. Schulz survived. But he would never be the same.
His parents decided to retrofit their home to make it accessible for their wheelchair-bound son, and they called on Dan Wallrath, a 30-year San Antonio homebuilder. The parents wanted to widen the hallways and refit a bathroom.
Wallrath’s experienced eyes saw these were only the beginning of their needs. The overall project would run close to $50,000.
Wallrath didn’t want the job. He was ready to retire and rest. However, God was preparing him for a new chapter, and it didn’t involve much lounging.
Nevertheless, he agreed to help the Schulzes, and he recruited others in his local builders’ association to remodel the Schulz home to accommodate the wounded Marine’s needs.
Stumbling into a calling
“I thought this was a one-and-done job,” Wallrath told AFA Journal. Yet he wondered what it would be like to build a house from scratch for a wounded soldier. Enter Lance Corporal Chris LeBlue.
“Blue” came home from a 2005 deployment seemingly healthy. But contaminated water and toxic fumes caused his liver to quit working, and he was soon on life support.
Melanie, his wife, had to quit her job to take him to daily medical appointments, and they had to surrender their apartment for a place free of mold and mildew. What they needed was a new home close to the hospital.
Wallrath saw an opportunity. Working with other builders and suppliers in his Bay Area Builders Association (BABA), Wallrath was able to build the family a home at no cost to the LeBlues. This birthed BABASOT, Bay Area Builders’ Association Support Our Troops.
While in Chicago talking to builders’ associations from across the country, Wallrath and his team saw a need for a new name because many others wanted to help.
“The Kansas City Builders’ Association wouldn’t want to work on something named Bay Area. We were all throwing out names,” Wallrath said.
“We’re from Texas, and Chicago was full of cold and snow. While I sat, wet and shivering from snow, all I could think was that I couldn’t wait to get to the warmth and comfort of home. Then someone said, ‘Operation Finally Home.’ I knew that was our name.”
Investing in families
OFH is a ministry to soldiers, but it also invests in soldiers’ families. Sadly, LeBlue’s liver would fail in the ensuing year, and he would pass away. Wallrath recounts the funeral in his book, Building Hope: What Happens When God Changes Our Plans to Accomplish His. He tells of Melanie LeBlue coming to him soon afterward.
“What should I do about the house?” she asked. “When do I need to move?”
“It’s your home,” Wallrath told her. “Free and clear. Forever.”
Starting as a one-and-done project, OFH now places a wounded soldier’s family in a custom home every 12 days.
“We just do what we can do,” Wallrath said. “We move around silently, but God keeps providing ways for people to know about us and support what we are doing.” 
There are many excellent ministries serving soldiers. However, you can be one of the best. Get to know soldiers in your area, pray for them, and see what needs you can meet. Learn more about Dan Wallrath and his ministry at OperationFinallyHome.com or purchase his book Building Hope at local and online booksellers.
