VA Maryland Health Care System

Vietnam Veteran Shares Story of Hope and Inspiration with Hospitalized Veterans

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Vietnam veteran Dave Roever visits with Army veteran Tina Carter at the Baltimore VA Medical Center.  Texas native Roever reminisced about the Lone Star State with Carter who was stationed at Ft. Hood.

May 26, 2008

Vietnam veteran Dave Roever visited with hospitalized veterans at the Baltimore VA Medical Center during Memorial Day weekend to provide a message of inspiration.  Roever’s story is one of hope and courage.  He survived a phosphorus grenade explosion in Vietnam, and battled through loneliness, pain, and disfigurement, to go on and lead a fulfilling and productive life. 

Because of his war-time experience, injury, and recovery, Roever connects with veterans in a meaningful way.  Hospitalized veterans enjoy meeting with Roever as they exchange stories about their service.  Roever completes each visit with wishes for a quick recovery, thanking each veteran for their service.  Roever has a way of making people smile, and this visit was no exception.  As he departed one of the patient’s rooms, he signed “I love you” with his hand joking that, since he lost his thumb in the explosion, he speaks “sign language with a lisp.”

Roever served in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam where, eight months into his tour of duty, a phosphorous grenade exploded in his hand as he was poised to throw it.  His body and face were burned beyond recognition, he was left blind in his right eye, and his fingers, right ear, and nose were gone.  Doctors did not expect him to survive.  He endured countless surgeries and, thanks to his faith in God and support from his loved ones, he recovered and further exceeded expectations gaining back sight in his right eye and hearing in his left ear.

Roever was awarded the Purple Heart, along with several other service medals.  He continues to serve our Nation’s heroes through a ranch he established in Colorado where he works with businesses and local schools to provide training for returning wounded veterans to help them find rewarding careers and transition back to civilian life