Chaska Veteran Gets a New Roof

Chaska Veteran New Roof

10K Construction, Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota Foundation to Protect Home of Chaska Family with help from GAF

(Chaska, MN) — December 9th, 2022 —  The Contractors Association of Minnesota (CAM) contacted the Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota (DAV MN) Foundation in July with the desire to help a Veteran in need of a new roof. 10K Construction (the contractor), GAF (the manufacturer of the roofing materials) and the DAV MN Foundation made this a reality in late November, giving the gift of a new roof to deserving Chaska veteran Rich Daniels and his family.

74-year-old Daniels served in Vietnam from 1967-1968, supporting Army intelligence efforts as Assistant Chief of Staff of the Special Security Group. Six months into his tour, the North Vietnamese and communist Vietcong guerilla forces launched an attack known as the Tet Offensive. U.S. posts in South Vietnam were the target.

He awoke to chaos the morning of January 30, 1968 and prayed for his life as he drove through the streets unarmed to reach his post, encountering enemy squads along the way. For the next 74 hours, his unit gathered and disseminated intelligence via 36 teletype lines, actions Daniels was later commended for.

Fast forward to 2022: if you ask Daniels, he will tell you that he thinks about Vietnam every day. “I’ve always thought since ’68, definitely after Tet, it’s all been free,” Daniels said. “Every day’s been free since then. Our kids, our grandkids. It never would have been.”

A huge part of his life is dedicated to serving Veterans. He’s active in the VFW, American Legion, VVA and DAV. And as a former history teacher, he takes a lot of pride in working with local educators and classrooms to talk about Vietnam and his life since the war. He is married to Mary Daniels, who recently retired.

Daniels also carries a 100% service-connection for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and other conditions related to Agent Orange exposure and mental health. The home he built in 1991 still has its original roof which is starting to deteriorate greatly. He is unable to replace the roof himself; he’s not physically capable of any work due to the recent development of vertigo-like symptoms. While he could pay for a new roof, it would be a significant financial setback and the contracting process simply overwhelms him.

10K Construction donated the installation labor and GAF, North America’s largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer, donated roofing materials to make this project possible. This collaboration is part of GAF’s social impact initiative, GAF Community Matters, which is focused on making a positive difference as neighbors and partners in the community by leveraging roofing expertise, resources, and products to help build resilient communities.


About the Contractor:

10K Construction is a full-service general contracting company headquartered in Edina, MN, with additional offices in Minnetonka and Coon Rapids. They donated the labor to make this project possible. Learn more at www.10kconstruction.com.

About the local Non-Profit Partners:

  • Contractors Association of Minnesota (CAM): CAM is a non-profit organization representing over 90 of Minnesota’s largest residential restoration and remodeling contractors. Our goals are to provide education, legislative representation, and community outreach for our members. As part of CAM’s community outreach program, our members have provided past volunteer services for Homes for our Troops, Habitat for Humanity, and the BlueBird House Project.
  • Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota’s mission is to keep promises made to Minnesota Veterans.

About GAF:

GAF, a Standard Industries company, is North America’s largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer. For more than 130 years, GAF has been trusted to protect what matters most for families, communities and business owners with its innovative solutions and focus on customer service.

GAF’s leadership extends to its commitment to making a positive social impact in the communities it serves. Through the GAF Community Matters initiative, GAF leverages its expertise, resources, and products to help build resilient, thriving, and sustainable communities of the future. Learn more at www.GAF.com.

Hugo Coffee Roasters Coupon: SAVEDOGS