HONORING DR. COLE LAO, EX-POW WHO SERVED IN PHILIPPINES WWII

Vietnam Veteran is pictured here with Dr. Cole Lao, Ex-POW who served in the Philippines during WWII.

He was awarded 2 Purple Hearts and 5 Bronze Stars including 1 with V for Valor.

“I see a lot of similarities with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our troops in Vietnam and in the Persian Gulf had to fight our enemies under the ‘Rules of Engagement’. Our enemies didn’t have rules, nor did they observe the Geneva Convention. We have gutless politicians that send us to fight a war with our hands tied and then block the VA funding for taking care of Veterans afterwards.

My war experience has caused me a lot of anger, anxiety, and nightmares. I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress and am 100% service,related disabled. I keep busy as a DAV Dept. Service Officer to keep my symptoms to a minimum. The satisfaction that I get from helping my fellow Veterans has eased my paid and helped me to continue on. I am the Treasurer for Disabled American Veterans, Brooklyn Chapter 28. I am also part of Disabled American Veterans Dept. of NY, Dept. Service Officers. I help Veterans file their service-connected claims for disability.
~ Richard Lee Chan, Vietnam Veteran

Stories Compiled by Jenny La Sala www.JennyLasala.com