Veterans used to face blood and bullet. However, as years go by, they find themselves facing more challenging problems than the ones they faced in warfare- the effects of aging.
A World War II veteran is having a hard time adjusting to his life as an elderly man.
He struggles to do ordinary tasks. Despite that, he’s trying hard to cope with the changes that come with aging.
One night, the 92-year-old decided to go for a ride on his electric scooter to do some shopping.
Unfortunately, when he was done, it was already dark. With his bad night vision, he couldn’t see where he was going. He started to panic.
Because it was dark, the veteran couldn’t find his way home.
He started waving at passing cars. He couldn’t do anything else because he was unable to walk.
In his FOX 5 interview, he shared:
“I needed to know where I was, and I didn’t. I’d wave at the cars, and they’d just keep going.”
The veteran continued waving at passing cars.
Fortunately, a kind young man decided to help. After seeing him, Alexis Gastelum couldn’t believe how people were able to just pass by without helping.
The good Samaritan got in his car.
He drove at a slow speed so that the veteran could keep up with his scooter. Eventually, he was able to safely guide the senior home.
After arriving at his place, Alexis didn’t leave right away.
He helped the man get out of his scooter. He made sure that he was in his chair, wrapped with a blanket to get him warm. With all the things he did, the veteran felt grateful.
He told Alexis:
“You’re the only one in about a thousand people that stopped.”
This veteran isn’t the only one fighting the debilitating effects of aging.
Oscar Ehrhart is a 92-year-old World War II veteran. One night, he decided to go out for a drive to buy some groceries.
Unfortunately, he took a wrong turn.
For other people, that’s not a big problem. However, with his worsening night vision, he ended up driving miles away from his destination.
Eventually, he pulled into a stranger’s driveway.
There, he was able to ask for help. Soon after, the local police arrived to help him.
Since it was late at night, Sergeant Thomas Egan of the Robbinsville Township Police Department asked the veteran if he could stay at a nearby Hampton Inn for the night. After hearing what happened, the manager working in the Inn provided his room for free.
Stories like this warm the heart.
Hopefully, more people show a willingness to help others, particularly the aging veterans. They did so much for the country and for everyone’s freedom. It’s heartbreaking to hear how hard they’re struggling just to maintain their dignity as they age.
The manager said:
“You expect, OK, the officers are doing their job. They’re getting the person to where they need to be, and they’re on their way, but these officers went above and beyond.”
Watch the video below to see an interview with Alexis about the night he helped the elderly vet on his scooter!
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