Bob Lesko is a Vietnam Veteran who prominently displays his pride in America
with a 25-foot-tall front yard flag, and shows his compassion to fellow veterans by
ministering to them at UH Bedford Medical Center.
A Bedford resident, Bob has been volunteering at BMC since 2018 as part of the
Ministry of Presence. His main focus as a volunteer is to visit veteran patients. He
offers them conversation, comradery and an understanding of what they have
sacrificed for our country.
“It wasn’t easy when I returned from Vietnam,” said Lesko. “It was 1968, and
because of the Tet Offensive and news coverage, the country no longer supported
or even tolerated the war. I was called a baby killer; I was spat on. I was a closet
patriot. I don’t feel like we did anything because in some ways, it was a no-win
situation. But I had a duty to my country so I gave them two years of my life… I never spoke of the war until around 1991 with Dessert Storm. (That’s when) General Schwazkopf, better known as Stormin’ Norman, gave Vietnam Vets respect.”
These are some of the reasons why a veteran visiting a veteran is so important.
“Once a patient finds out I’m a vet, there’s an instant connection, a common
ground, mutual respect. It’s like sitting with a friend shooting the bull. We talk
about armor, what cities we’d been in, different phrases we learned, some things
we’d never talk to others about.”
I met a guy who was in Dou Tieng at the same time I was but we were in different
battalions. We all carried around chocolate bars for the kids.
After sitting with WWII veterans, Lesko says, he truly understand now why WWII veterans are considered the greatest generation.
“These guys don’t want any credit for what they sacrificed for our country,” said
Lesko. “They did what they had to do. They’re very straight-forward, matter-of-fact
kind of guys when it comes to the war, almost without emotion. I’ve come to
really respect them and they don’t hesitate to give that respect back.”
“As time has gone by we (the Vietnam Vets) are becoming proud of our service,” says
Lesko. “More of us are walking in parades. We’re making up for lost time. Me, I’ve got too many aliments to march, but when I find a CJ3 military jeep, I’ll be in a
parade, driving with pride!”
