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Inland Empire Home Remodeled For Returning War Hero

RANCHO CUCAMONGA (CBS) — A local contractor with help from an Inland Empire community got home builders, electricians and plumbers to donate about $75,000 worth of a free remodel to make a home accommodating for a Marine injured in Afghanistan.

Marine Cpl. Justin Crabbe lost both legs and some fingers when he stepped on an explosive device in Aug. 2011.

Since then, he's spent most of his time at a veteran's hospital in Maryland with his parents and sister taking turns staying with him.

"He has a lot of therapy left to go but his spirits and everything are great," Maureen Crabbe, Justin's mother, told CBS2's Greg Mills.

It was last Christmas when Justin's family realized that their home was not ideally suited for him in a wheelchair and had to be remodeled.

Maureen says she "had no idea even where to begin and how much it would run" and called family friend John Braughton, who's a contractor.

"Most of these people never met him before but just the fact that he was serving our country, protecting our freedom, everybody is more than willing to get involved it in," Braughton said.

Since they started last March, strangers have come forward, donating materials and labor and the list of donors keeps on growing.

The home -- now wired for surround sound, a donated big screen TV, a customized bathroom and a bar kitchenette -- is jokingly referred to as Justin's "man cave."

Justin hopes to be home by the end of the year. He plans to return to college to pursue a degree in criminal justice.

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