For five years, Walter Hummel served his country with pride.

His work as a U.S. Army infantryman took him along the Red Sea near Egypt, where he spent weeks at a time watching for suspicious boats and submarines.

“We got to meet a lot of really cool people from different countries,” Hummel said of his deployment in 2021. “Military from all over the world…worked together to keep the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt.”

Hummel aimed to stay in his role as a supply specialist with the 104th Cavalry Regiment, York, for many years to come.

But his body had other plans.

“We think it’s an autoimmune disease,” Hummel said. “Even just standing up, my ankle swells up, hands swell up. I wake up in the morning, I get shooting pain from my neck down my arm. If I’m just holding my phone, my whole arm goes numb.”

Hummel’s problems persisted despite having the discs in his neck replaced. Doctors still aren’t sure what’s causing his pain.

“I got denied disability, I’m not getting any disability from the military,” Hummel said. “I’m just trying to keep going to these doctors. It’s been a struggle.”

A faulty roof in the depth of winter was the last thing Hummel needed to deal with.

That’s why Bachman’s Roofing, Wernersville, decided he wouldn’t have to.

In honor of Hummel’s service, the company installed a new roof on Hummel’s home in Exeter Township, free of charge.

“My father is a veteran, grandfather is a veteran,” said Greg McNulty, general manager at Bachman’s. “I really appreciate the patriots out there, the people who are willing to fight for our country and our freedoms.”

He said Bachman’s aims to help veterans as much as it can, typically doing three or four projects like Hummel’s per year.

McNulty was one of about a dozen Bachman’s workers who attended a ceremony on Wednesday honoring Hummel and commencing the roof work.

Carl Rost, Bachman’s director of operations, said the company actively searches for veterans in need.

He thanked ABC Supply Co. Inc. for donating roofing materials for the project, and thanked Hummel for his service.

“It’s nothing for us to do this for you, it’s an honor,” Rost told Hummel.

The ceremony was also attended by state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th Dist.) and state Rep. Mark Gillen (R-128th Dist.).

Schwank gave Hummel a certificate from the senate commemorating his service, and Schwank and Gillen asked Hummel to reach out to their offices for additional help.

“It sounds so trite to say thank you for your service, but we are all thankful, we’ll do whatever we can to help you,” Schwank told Hummel.

The value of Hummel’s roof project is in the ballpark of $20,000, said Jere Geib, Bachman’s marketing director.

The project involves removing the old roof, replacing any bad decking, and putting on an entirely new roof, shingles, and gutters.

“It (will be) a better than code roof,” McNulty said.

Eric Bachman, president of Bachman’s Roofing, said the roof was a small token of the company’s gratitude for veterans.

“Walter’s service and sacrifice embody the values we hold dear,” Bachman said in a press release. “Supporting our veterans is a responsibility we take seriously, and we’re honored to contribute in this meaningful way.”