Korean War veteran receives a free home upgrade

GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) -- A central Ohio veteran got a home upgrade, thanks to a home remodeling company. 

Since 2022, West Shore Home has been serving veterans, active duty and their families through its West Shore for Warriors initiative. 

Kenneth Kirk, of Grove City, is a Korean War veteran. At 94 years old, he said he can’t believe the company did this for him at no cost at all, saying it might just save his life.

Kirk got a major upgrade to his bathroom. 

“I’ve never seen one as pretty as that in my life,” Kirk said when he first saw his brand new shower. 

Private First Class Kirk fought in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. It lasted 17-days in sub-zero temperatures. Kirk considers himself lucky. 

“I got my feet frozen and I had a little shrapnel in me, but, you know, a lot of them are not able to talk to you today because out of 3,800, only 400 was fit for duty,” he said.

Kirk was diagnosed with PTSD and is now legally blind. Over the years, he’s lost his wife of 70 years and two of his sons. 

“I've had a lot of things happen since then and most of it's been really nice,” he said. 

Recently, it’s been getting hard for him to safely get in and out of the shower. He’s fallen three times already. In his old unit, he didn’t really have anywhere to safely grab onto, so he had been leaning on a shower door to get in and out and stay stable.

On Tuesday, at 8 a.m., West Shore Home got to work. 

West Shore Home sent a design consultant out to Kirk’s home. That same night, the consultant called Lukas Razzano, the general manager, and let him know that there was an absolute need to do something about this. 

“He said, ‘Hey, Lucas, I think we, I think we have one. Here's his story, Korean War veteran, 94 years old, 90% blind, wife just recently passed, he needs some help, it’s getting to the point where this is going to decide whether he stays in his home or not,’” Razzano said.

Razzano is a veteran himself, so he says it’s an honor to be able to Kirk out today. 

“Kenny lost all the nerves in his feet,” Razzano said. “He can't walk around in his own house without shoes on. Nothing. I mean, imagine going home and having to wear shoes all day, not being able to sleep at night from, you know, what happened in Korea. And if we can come in and make his shower a little more comfortable for him, and so one last thing you have to think about it. It keeps me here all year round.”

After a roughly 12-hour day, the new safety-enhanced shower is ready to go. 

“I can’t imagine using it now. I can’t wait,” Kirk said. 

His new shower features a seat, grab bars and a magnetic shower wand. Kirk said he greatly appreciates the gesture.