A great photo! L-R: President Steven Nelson, 1st Lt. Nathan Rimpf, Tim Minton (Pres. of Operation Coming Home) and Scott Tarkenton (our liason with Lt Rimpf and OCH).
I had the immense pleasure this week of meeting a young man who inspired me through his service to our nation and his positive approach to life. 1Lt. Nathan Rimpf is a young man of 25 years, born and raised in the Raleigh area, who felt the ‘call’ to serve his country in the Armed Forces. As a graduate of Leesville High School and East Carolina University, he joined the U.S. Army as an officer after serving in the ROTC program in college. He was stationed for a brief time in Kansas before deploying to Afghanistan.
He was in country for 53 days when he stepped on an IED. He recalled that he wanted to show leadership to his company so he remained calm and instructed them in the proper procedures they had learned from their training. As he later explained, it was a ‘flesh wound’ and there could have been worse things that could have happened to him. He is a very grateful and humbled young man.
With all the praise that has been given him over the last year, he explained to the members of the Rotary Club of North Raleigh on Wednesday that he doesn’t know how to accept it. While there, his purpose was simple, “My mission, my men and myself”.
Nathan was selected by Operation Coming Home, a local charity of homebuilders, to receive a new home. The key ceremony would be the following day, but he will not actually move into his new home until the first of the year, when he will officially be retired from the military.
The Rotary club had taken up a donation from its members the previous week and the club matched the funds, which presented Operation Coming Home with a check for $1600 at the meeting on Wednesday. President of Operation Coming Home, Tim Minton was on hand to receive the check that will help defray some of the cost with future builds. This home was the sixth home they built for a returning wounded veteran and they have already planned the seventh and eighth.
L-R: President Steven Nelson, Tim Minton (President of Operation Coming Home) and Scott Tarkenton with our BIG check for $1600 donated to OCH. The newly built home for Nathan is the 6th OCH with more to come. The returning vet does not pay anything for the house!
North Raleigh Rotary Club president Steven Nelson was on hand to present the check to OCH. “I am honored to give this check on behalf of this club to this organization whose commitment to assisting local veterans who have given more of themselves than many people would ever think to give”, commented Mr. Nelson, “I just wish we could do more as a club”.
At the meeting, a standing ovation was given to Nathan Rimpf and to all those brave young men who volunteered to serve their nation is such a dangerous capacity. “As one who did not serve, I am always amazed when I see these young men and women who serve, despite the apparent dangers to their life. It is truly a selfless act”, added Steven. “They deserve our respect and our support”.
Nathan vows to do much with the gifts he has been given. He plans to attend grad school to earn his MBA. It is not sure where he will attend as he has applied to Duke University, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the University of Virginia. He plans to continue to be involved with his community.
Back Nine Homes 