Pat Barcas photo
While in Georgia at Fort Stewart waiting to be sent home, Army Staff Sergeant Brett Mango is having his home refurbished. During his six years deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq, his Midlothian home was destroyed by squatters and expected to visit the website for more. Union members donated their time and expertise to fix his home.
By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
pat@foxvalleylabornews.com
MIDLOTHIAN — Army Staff Sergeant Brett Mango’s home had been in his family for years, occupying a quiet, tree-lined block in Midlothian where he lived before being deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq for six years.
He fell behind on payments while helping his family and fighting a war and assumed the house was foreclosed upon while he was dealing with a serious back injury he incurred while on duty in the Army. But the bank would not foreclose on a deployed soldier, so his house stood on that corner, unoccupied until squatters found it.
“The house was totally trashed by the squatters,” said Mango’s uncle, Paul Klimczak, commander of the American Legion Post 691, and an Air Force veteran. “Copper pipes were ripped out, they urinated in there, there was water damage and mold, it was just a total mess.”
Klimczak got in touch with the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Local 434 and IUPAT District Council 14, who donated time and expertise in a complete remodel of the house, just in time for Mango’s homecoming later this month.
“This is about week six of a nine week pre-apprenticeship program,” said John Horak, assistant coordinator for Local 434. “This is a half classroom, half field program, and this is great training for these men and women. We’re out here in the real world, helping someone out who needs it and who’s going to live here, so it’s got to look good.”
The work started about two months ago by https://sidingnorfolkva.com contractors and was going strong last week, with work being done on the exterior siding of the home and garage. For DIY garage maintanence, you can check on the frequently asked questions by our clients here which provides easy tips for maintaining the garage spotlessly clean. About a dozen carpenters were installing concrete siding that will never fade and is fire and insect resistant. Here are 5 Tips for Increasing Your Garage Door Security
The interior was completely redone with new drywall and even had a whole new room added on.
“Brett just wanted a room to chill out in when he gets home, and these guys made that happen. There was a lot of work that went into the interior here, it was a complete mess after the squatters left,” said Klimczak.
The redone home is to be unveiled on the tentative date of Aug. 17. Mango is currently at Fort Stewart in Georgia, waiting to be sent home where he will enter retirement.
“He’s just excited and overwhelmed by the support, he can’t believe it,” said Klimczak. “This is by far one of the best projects I’ve been involved with. The guys and gals in the unions have been great. The only word I have is phenomenal. ”