~ DISABLED AMERICAN VETS DEDICATION PAGE ~

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"She is ever watchful....
and her talons are treacherous!!"

PURPLE HEART

Click on image to go to Disabled American Vets Org. Homepage

Below is a true story from an Arizona newspaper article in 1985 ... disregarding his own pain, Bob Butler went to help a call for 'action', the same as he did 20 years earlier.
A crisp salute to you Bob and many heartfelt "THANKS",
for both responses to 'action'!!

A TRUE HERO

Bob Butler lost his legs in a 1965 land mine explosion in Vietnam. He returned home a war hero. Twenty years later, he proved once again that heroism comes from the heart.
Butler was working in his garage in a small town in Arizona on a hot summer day when he heard a woman's screams coming from a nearby house. He began rolling his wheelchair toward the house but the dense shrubbery wouldn't allow him access to the back door. So he got out of his chair and started to crawl through the dirt and bushes. "I had to get there", he said.
It didn't matter how much it hurt. When Butler arrived at the pool there was a three-year-old girl named Stephanie Hanes lying at the bottom. She had been born without arms and had fallen in the water and couldn't swim. Her mother stood over her baby screaming frantically. Butler dove to the bottom of the pool and brought little Stephanie up to the deck. Her face was blue, she had no pulse and was not breathing.
Butler immediately went to work performing CPR to revive her while Stephanie's mother telephoned the fire department. She was told the paramedics were already out on a call. Helplessly, she sobbed and hugged Butler's shoulder. As Butler continued with his CPR, he calmly reassured her. Don't worry, he said.
"I was her arms to get out of the pool. It'll be okay. I am now her lungs. Together we can make it". Seconds later the little girl coughed, regained consciousness, and began to cry.
As they hugged and rejoiced together; the mother asked Butler, how he knew it would be okay. The truth is I didn't know", he told her. But when my legs were blown off in the war, I was all alone in a field. No one was there to help except a little Vietnamese girl. As she struggled to drag me into her village, she whispered in broken English, It okay. "You can live. I be your legs". "Together we make it." Her kind words brought hope to my soul and I wanted to do the same for Stephanie.
"There are simply those times when we cannot stand alone."
"There are those times when we need someone."

The message below was left in my guest book by Jerald A. Hall, I found it to be very moving and so true for many who have to 'fight' to get what's due them from the VA because of the proverbial 'red tape'.

Dear Jules,
Now that I have been completely through your site. I can't remember how I found it? I logged onto it some three hours and many tears ago. While I tearfully read each page you have reminded me why I enlisted in the United States Army. As a child, growing up in small town America, I was destined to contribute to the freedom so many take for granted. As the poem describes the United States Flag "OLD GLORY" in the parade, I remember the flag pole at my elementary school, at the bank downtown, in front of the police station, the court house and hanging from every porch or yard lamp pole on the 4th of July. The people, who are the United States of America, all too often forget why they have a free country. Yes, we have had many law's that has taken a certain amount of that hard earned freedom from us. But this is only because of those who have not only taken freedom for granted; but have abused their right to that freedom and committed unthinkable acts. It is time for America to search her roots. Time to not only remember those who gave their lives; but why they did it. Time to return to a proud patriotism. Time to hang the red, white and blue emblem that stands for freedom and justice to all. I first enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard. I loved and enjoyed the experience and education so much that I enlisted in the regular Army as soon as I could. I was assigned to S-4 Section, headquarters & headquarters Company, 17th Engineering Battalion, 2nd Armored Division. Unlike many other disabled American Veterans; I have had to fight my war here. On what has been called by many "Free Soil". I was hurt during Physical Training. It was 30 January 1990. The Company was playing football for PT that day. I don't know how to play football. My Company Commander told me to get in the game and play. So, I did. The first play was my last. I was hit by my opponent. His right shoulder hit my right shoulder. I heard a LOUD SNAP! and felt a massive serge of pain. My shoulder was dislocated. When I hit the ground on my left side, the force of impact reset my right shoulder. The pain was almost unbearable. However, V.A. doctors disagree with my theory. Since I never saw an Orthopedics specialist. I have no evidence to support my claim. The following months were all down hill. The 2nd Armored Division had received orders to ship out to Desert Storm. Any soldiers that wasn't physically able to go was to be discharged. I will admit that I had a family problem that contributed to my discharged, but it
was also done because of my medical condition. I even offered to send my wife and two daughters home to her family to put an end to my personal interruptions. I was determined to serve my country and planned to retire from the UNITED STATES ARMY! But, I got a General Under Honorable Conditions Discharge. Upon discharge I filed for disability with the Veterans Administration. Almost one year to the day later; I received a letter instructing me to report to the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma, for a physical. I had little medical treatment during that year wait. I was awarded only 10% service connected disability. Though I could still not work. One V.A. doctor even accused me of faking the injury. Almost two years from the date of my discharge; I finally got a check. It was for $110 per month. My wife got tired of living without or mooching on family. It was the end of that marriage. On an appeal nearly four years from my discharge date I got an increase to 20% service connected disability. By this time I had remarried. I worked numerous jobs trying to find something I could do with my physical limitations. Yet I was unable to provide for a family. Thus the end of yet another marriage. Being awarded the 20% has qualified me for college. I enjoy $737 each month, plus having tuition, books and supplies paid for by the Veterans Administration. But this is too little too late. My children are growing up without their father. I had three daughters by my first marriage. Even though the divorce decree gives me visitation rights, I haven't seen them in 6 years. Because I have been unable to pay the $213 each month in child support. This was ordered while I was only receiving $110 per month. Then there is a court order for $150 each month for my daughter and stepson (he has my name) for the second divorce. I have been selfish. I have been weeping in my own pity and lost site of my original goal of serving my country.
Jules, I wanted you to know that you have helped me to not look at the times of defeat. But to begin to look
toward a new goal. I will complete my college degree. Associates in Applied Science, Legal Assistant. Upon completing my degree; I will attempt to get a civil service job for our government. I may not be able to go into battle against an armed foe. But I will fight for respect and honor for our VETERANS. For BENEFITS, an increase in substance allowance, for those who are attempting to retrain so they can work, that matches monthly pay of federal employees; for COMPENSATION, an easier method of awarding disability and legal representation in the process, similar to that of Social Security; MEDICAL CARE, I want to see that we give the best possible medical treatment for those who gave and those who continue to give, so that we could still be free.
Thank you for your web page!
Sincerely,
Jerald Anthony Hall
(P.S. If you want to tell my story, you may.)

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Created: January 10, 1999 Last update: January 20, 2001
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