Vietnam War veteran back in his rebuilt home after spending years in his garage

The Republic (Columbus, OH): Vietnam War veteran back in his rebuilt home after spending years in his garage
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Dennis Quisenberry is finally waking up in a warm bed, after spending years in his garage following a fire that gutted his house.

In March 2005, Quisenberry arrived home from visiting his brother in Lexington to find his home in flames, according to The State Journal in Frankfort. He took what few belongings he had left and made do by living in his garage.

For years, mornings would consist of waking up in a cold, damp bed — the garage's leaky roof and broken windows didn't do much to keep out the wind and rain.

He didn't have the luxury of walking down the hall to the bathroom; the garage didn't have any plumbing. If he wanted to take a shower, he drove to a friend's house.

Now he's experiencing something he hadn't felt in a long time — comfort. He recently moved into his newly renovated home, referred to by volunteers as "a community Christmas present."

"I was warm, I felt good," Quisenberry said. "And I knew I could get up and go to the bathroom and take a shower."

Larry Arnett, deputy commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources, began helping solicit donations to fix up Quisenberry's home and get him out of his garage.

Arnett, whose brother lives on the same street as Quisenberry, had been passing the gutted home for years and had always assumed it was empty.

Carlos Pugh, former state commander of the VFW, also joined in raising money to get Quisenberry out of his garage. Both served in Vietnam. Quisenberry was an Air Force mechanic.

Willie Hensley also joined in the effort, saying he was appalled that a veteran was living in such poor conditions.

"If you're willing to serve your country and die, and you need help ... everyone in the community ought to help," Hensley said.

Arnett estimated he received more than $40,000 in donations, allowing volunteers to renovate Quisenberry's home at no cost to him.

The kitchen cabinets and furnace were donated. Flooring was installed at a discounted price, and the furniture was donated or bought by volunteers.

After being honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1969, Quisenberry worked at a factory for several years before joining the National Guard in 1976 as a technician.

He was a mechanic there for 14 years before being medically discharged. Quisenberry suffers from arthritis in his hands and has knee problems and swollen feet.

That gave him 18 years of service — two years short of the 20 years required for a full pension and healthcare benefits.

As he sat in his new black leather chair, in front of his new TV, Quisenberry could hardly believe how nice the house turned out.

"I can live life again the way I want to live it," he said.