Vietnam/POW Veteran needs furnace
Donation protected
I'm Skip Whitmore, a Vietnam-era Veteran, and am establishing this fund for a close high school friend (Winthrop High School, Maine, Class of '64). His name is Ronnie Carter, with whom we had lost contact for 46 years, and who we thought had died in the Vietnam War.
Ronnie enlisted in the U.S. Navy after high school graduation as a Medic. He was sent to Vietnam, captured, was a POW for 268 days, enduring most of the horrors and pain that we all read about later on. He refused to help his enemies in every way, especially medically, and was severely punished for it.
He returned home, set up his own long haul trucking business, which he had for many years. He had a family, and later lost one son, about the same time he lost his mother.
He had a second family, a wife and 3 young children, all who were killed by an unlicensed, illegal immigrant in an automobile accident in the mid 2000's.
Facing some serious health issues, he returned to Maine, and, in an attempt to contact former friends/classmates, typed my name into Facebook. We reconnected 5 years ago, became close again, and have stayed that way these past years.
He eventually regained some of his health back, re-tested, successfully, for his CDL trucking license, and was hired by Tyson Foods to drive tractor-trailer trucks for delivery around the Southeast and mid-west. In 2013, he was caught in that violent tornado in Moore City, OK while driving for Tyson. While trying to fix a windshield wiper, he was thrown 30-40 feet from his truck, and suffered serious neck, back and leg injuries. Unable to continue driving, he filed a disability claim for medical costs and lost wages. To date, Tyson has not settled his claim, using one legal hurdle after another. He expects that it will eventually be settled, though unsure of when.
Recently, though living on a limited, fixed income, he was able to get a home in Skowhegan, Maine, backed by a no down payment VA loan. The home inspectors (2 of them) failed to detect flaws in both the furnace boiler and chimney flue, both of which eventually failed and, now have to be replaced. Basically, other than electrical space heaters, he has no central heating system, and is unable to raise enough money to repair/replace both. Costs are estimated to be close to $10,000, even after some of the expenses are covered by his home insurance policy. Friends have contributed some money, but not nearly enough to cover what's needed.
Funds are needed immediately, and it's been fortunate that the winter weather in Maine has been somewhat mild, so his situation is less desperate than what it could have been. But that could change anytime soon.
Ronnie fought, and suffered, for his country and made, what I consider to be, the, almost, ultimate sacrifice for his service/and country.........being a POW for 268 days. I have helped him financially along the way, due to our friendship, our mutal military service and my personal thankfulness for his service "experience". I am asking others to do the same. If I personally had the money he needs, I wouldn't be on this web site. But I don't, and I have heard about others who, like Ronnie, ARE in need, and seen the generosity that comes from others.
That's all I'm asking here.........can we show that generosity to someone very deserving, who, after all he has been through, wouldn't do this on his own, but is in such need? Thank you for whatever you can do for Ronnie.
Ronnie enlisted in the U.S. Navy after high school graduation as a Medic. He was sent to Vietnam, captured, was a POW for 268 days, enduring most of the horrors and pain that we all read about later on. He refused to help his enemies in every way, especially medically, and was severely punished for it.
He returned home, set up his own long haul trucking business, which he had for many years. He had a family, and later lost one son, about the same time he lost his mother.
He had a second family, a wife and 3 young children, all who were killed by an unlicensed, illegal immigrant in an automobile accident in the mid 2000's.
Facing some serious health issues, he returned to Maine, and, in an attempt to contact former friends/classmates, typed my name into Facebook. We reconnected 5 years ago, became close again, and have stayed that way these past years.
He eventually regained some of his health back, re-tested, successfully, for his CDL trucking license, and was hired by Tyson Foods to drive tractor-trailer trucks for delivery around the Southeast and mid-west. In 2013, he was caught in that violent tornado in Moore City, OK while driving for Tyson. While trying to fix a windshield wiper, he was thrown 30-40 feet from his truck, and suffered serious neck, back and leg injuries. Unable to continue driving, he filed a disability claim for medical costs and lost wages. To date, Tyson has not settled his claim, using one legal hurdle after another. He expects that it will eventually be settled, though unsure of when.
Recently, though living on a limited, fixed income, he was able to get a home in Skowhegan, Maine, backed by a no down payment VA loan. The home inspectors (2 of them) failed to detect flaws in both the furnace boiler and chimney flue, both of which eventually failed and, now have to be replaced. Basically, other than electrical space heaters, he has no central heating system, and is unable to raise enough money to repair/replace both. Costs are estimated to be close to $10,000, even after some of the expenses are covered by his home insurance policy. Friends have contributed some money, but not nearly enough to cover what's needed.
Funds are needed immediately, and it's been fortunate that the winter weather in Maine has been somewhat mild, so his situation is less desperate than what it could have been. But that could change anytime soon.
Ronnie fought, and suffered, for his country and made, what I consider to be, the, almost, ultimate sacrifice for his service/and country.........being a POW for 268 days. I have helped him financially along the way, due to our friendship, our mutal military service and my personal thankfulness for his service "experience". I am asking others to do the same. If I personally had the money he needs, I wouldn't be on this web site. But I don't, and I have heard about others who, like Ronnie, ARE in need, and seen the generosity that comes from others.
That's all I'm asking here.........can we show that generosity to someone very deserving, who, after all he has been through, wouldn't do this on his own, but is in such need? Thank you for whatever you can do for Ronnie.
Organizer
Skip Whitmore
Organizer
Nashua, NH
