Disabled, Purple Heart Vietnam Vet Broken Knee

Want to hear a beautiful story? It’s going to start with a request…

My father-in-law, Paul Galgano, is a combat-wounded marine who served two tours of duty in Vietnam. We have wanted to renovate his apartment (where he lives alone) for a long time, because he has declined due to his disability. Paul has severe back and arm injuries from two hard landings in helicopters that were hit with rockets. He also has worsening heart disease and peripheral neuropathy, which causes severe foot and leg pain, because of exposure to Agent Orange, a pesticide sprayed on vegetation and soldiers that has been proven to cause these problems.

Recently he fell and broke his knee. He is in a physical rehabilitation facility now healing up and may not be home for some time. We want to get him a walk-in shower and would love to renovate his place. Please share this and if you have the means, kindly make a donation. Any help is greatly appreciated!

And now the beautiful story you were promised…, but WARNING, the story does not start out that way...

Paul served two tours of duty beginning in 1965 as an aerial gunner with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163, stationed at Dong Ha and Phu Bai. He worked his way up to crew chief. He rescued dozens of soldiers from his helicopter, recovered bodies, conducted recon-insert and search and destroy missions, was shot out of the sky multiple times, and was honorably discharged in 1969 with a rank of Corporal.

He is the recipient of many US military medals including multiple Air Medals, a Purple Heart, and a Presidential Citation with Gold Star (in lieu of his second Air Medal). He was ultimately awarded a total of 23 Air Medals for the hundreds of times his aircraft was shot at; one Air Medal means you have been shot at 16 times.

But the first thing that happened when he arrived home was not an honor… Paul got spat on. He experienced a hostility that bewildered him. Like far too many vets, post-traumatic stress overcame him and his life spiraled downwards. He suffered a series of terrible misfortunes that left him estranged from his family, spiritually broken, and unable to work due to his injuries. He survived a heart attack without health insurance and narrowly avoided becoming homeless; barely scraping by for several years in a squalid studio apartment that was subsidized by the VA. He never received appropriate medical care.

Thankfully, my wife reached out to Paul and reconciled with him. It literally saved his life. And not only because she talked him down when he was suicidal.

Gradually she helped him reconcile (or at least gain closure) with the rest of the family, including finally getting to meet his two beautiful grandchildren. She helped him get the VA benefits he had been due for decades but had been denied. She helped him get the medical care he needed. She got him back on his feet and put down a down payment on a condo where he could live out his golden years in peace. It’s a true Hollywood story of forgiveness and unconditional love!

The condo is a huge step up from the VA home, and we want to be able to bring him back there! Paul really needs his bathroom renovated. It is not safe. He needs a walk-in shower with ADA standard handlebars so he can shower safely with help. We tried putting in a stool or a step, but the bathroom and shower are too small and uneven, so it’s even more dangerous with them in.

We are also hoping to improve the safety and aesthetics of the rest of his apartment to improve his quality of living. He is currently in a physical rehab facility so now is our chance to renovate so we can get him home to a safe place. See the attached photos. Paul knows he is blessed to have a roof over his head, but I feel like those who sacrificed so much for our freedom deserve to live better than he has been!

No contribution is too small and all donations are greatly appreciated. Please share this post, even if you are unable to donate yourself. Thank you!

GOAL: $30,000