I am writing this in honor of my father Eugene Rommel. My father served in the Army and was deployed to Viet Nam in 1966-67. My father was one of the lucky ones who survived and was able to come back home, with out the battle scars of war to include exposure to agent orange and PTSD.
Dad was a real patriot and family man. He believed in the 6 F's, Faith, Freedom, Family, Friends, Fishing and Food. He as a good cook and would not hesitate to cook any meals.
At some point he had stepped onto a carpenters tack that went thru his shoe and caused a severe infection. He had not felt any pain in his foot due to diabetic neuropathy. His right lower leg was amputated then fitted for a prosthetic leg. He would then walk in the sand at the beach to learn to regain his balance and walking abilities. Had his van retrofitted with a left foot accelerator and started driving all over again.
The people where he got his prosthetic leg from were so impressed with his determination and love of life, they made an aquatic leg for him out of spare parts and gave freely to him. Oh boy, that gave him so much further independence, he could stand to shower, go clam digging, surf fishing and even take his boat on the ocean to drop and pick up his crab pots. It was common for he and mom to have fresh crab for breakfast.
My father died prematurely at the age of 64. My dad qualified for being honored at the Viet Nam Wall, for the "IN MEMORY PROGRAM". Mom had submit required documentation they verified. Once a year VV Memorial honors those who died prematurely due to service related causes. Mom submitted his picture and a biography that was shown and read along with others being honored that year. Later they sent mom a CD with the whole program on it.
Many veterans I have spoken with were not aware of this program. Sharing it now so you will know.
GLENDALE, AZ