MYWN
Bobby Enfinger
Veteran and Volunteer
From gun toter to wood worker, Bobby Enfinger shows off some of his projects.
Bobby Enfinger is the epitome of what a Veteran should be doing. He goes way out of his way to help fellow Veterans. Many people will see him around town or on Post volunteering to help with the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) or the VVA (Vietnam Veterans of America).
Bobby got to Vietnam two days before Thanksgiving in 1969. Within a few days, he was assigned to “tote” the M60 Machine gun for the 1st Cavalry Infantry (11 Bravo is the MOS Designation). After two days in Vietnam, he was called forward and offered the chance to go back home since he was an only child with deceased parents. He declined and stated that they had brought him that far, so leave him alone. His time there was cut short on April 12, 1970 when he had a stroke due to Agent Orange and was medevaced out. Then in 2009, he had another stroke which brought on tremors from Parkinson’s, also due to Agent Orange. After that came the heart attack and other heart issues, even more byproducts of his exposure to Agent Orange.
After the stroke, he was stationed at Schofield Barracks and got out of the Military in 1971 as an E-5. That December, he met and married his wife of 51 years. They have raised three stepchildren, one of their own, seven grandkids and five great grandkids. “I’m a Blessed Man” is what he says about his life.
After his medical issues due to Agent Orange, he couldn’t go back to work as a drywall finisher doing sheetrock work. He got involved with DAV in Ozark, Veterans Helping Veterans in Dothan, and the Vietnam Veterans of America. He was VVA President for several years and Chaplain of the DAV and the VVA Chaplain for many years.
He stated that working with other Vietnam Veterans as a Chaplain is extra challenging in that some of them “still have that hate in that they weren’t treated right when they came home. You have to have steel britches to do that job. Vietnam Veterans are not young and we’re deteriorating quickly.”
“Don’t ever leave a Veteran without telling them that you love them.” Booby said. “They’re your brother. It doesn’t matter what war they were in, just make sure that he knows you’re thinking of him when you walk away because you may not get to do that tomorrow.“
When he went to the Veterans Home in Mobile with the VVA a few years ago, he came across Mr. Bill, a gentleman from Ozark who had driven the cart for him at Lyster V.A. Clinic. Back when there was a separate entrance for the V.A. Clinic and the pharmacy was in a separate building, he and eleven other Veteran Volunteers would drive carts to carry the Veterans and their spouses to the pharmacy or their cars. Former Mayor Mike Schmitz and current Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) donated the cart for this purpose. They ran the carts for 12 years and of the original 12 volunteers, only Ed Sanders, Howard Tatum, and Bobby are left. Recently, Bobby talked to the Hospital Commander and they hope to start the carts back up again with a solar version that they have now. This cart is closed in and air-conditioned, which may be a problem with someone with a wheelchair. He also talked a little about the revolving door that was at Lyster for a while and what a bad idea it was for Veterans in wheelchairs.
He is very excited to have his application in for the Wiregrass Honor Flight to see the Vietnam
Wall in person. He stated that he’d seen the traveling versions, but wants to be able to place his
hand on the names of those he knew who were lost in that war.
When not helping Veterans, Bobby stated “I do a little woodworking now. With the Parkinson’s it
doesn’t matter how your hand shakes, that Jitterbug Sander doesn't know it and you can sand
down some good stuff.” Bobby gives little plaques that he makes to other Veterans, many in
nursing homes. He also makes walking sticks and other nice pieces that can be displayed
around the house.
He talked about the many things that were done for Veterans by various agencies, but have
been dropped over the years. The VVA here used to meet in Clayhatchee and had a room full of
memorabilia that should be on display somewhere, but it is in storage somewhere now. Some
items may be displayed at the Friends of Army Aviation Hangar soon.
Bobby Enfinger is a great example of what a “Good Neighbor” is in the Wiregrass!