Giving Back: WWII Vet’s home painted
Published 12:15 am Wednesday, September 2, 2015
- O’Neil Boe’s house and fence are shown after being painted.
RESERVE —A group of volunteers decided to give something back to a local World War II veteran Saturday morning.
Michael Hoover, top, and Steven Hoover work Saturday morning helping paint World War II veteran O’Neil Boe’s house.
From 8 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m. the group, put together by Michael Hoover, painted 93-year-old O’Neil Boe’s house and fence.
Boe was a paratrooper in the 507th Parachute Infantry; Company B during WWII. Boe and the other paratroopers protected the Merderet River Bridge during the D-Day invasion. His company completed their objective by the third day of the invasion.
While in the military Boe made 42 jumps, three of which were behind enemy lines. He was awarded the Silver Star and honorably discharged in December 1945.
According to Hoover, Boe’s family reached out to him and said the paint on his house was chipping.
Hoover said it’s a community’s job to help out military personnel who have done so much for the country.
“He has done so much,” Hoover said. “He has earned this.”
Boe and Hoover go way back, he even calls Hoover his “best buddy,” Hoover said.
“He has been my friend for many years,” Hoover said. “For a 93-year-old, he hugs tighter than my children.”
Men, women and children helped Saturday with the painting. One of the volunteers was Tim Davis.
“It went very well,” Davis said. “We did get the house painted and also the fence. The only thing we have left is to paint the trim around the windows,” Davis said.
Volunteers wanted the window trim to be a different color then the rest of the house, so next Saturday Davis, Hoover and his brother will return to Boe’s house to finish painting.
Davis said the volunteers seemed to be excited to give up their Saturday morning to help out.
“We had one man in a wheelchair come out and help,” Davis said. “He went around and helped paint the fence.”
Boe seemed appreciative, Davis said.
“He didn’t realize we were going to paint the fence too, he thought we were just going to paint the house,” Davis said. “He seemed overwhelmed and emotional.”
Sherman Williams donated the paint and materials and Greg Scallan Contractors donated the paint sprayer.
— By Raquel Derganz Baker
