Famous Vietnam veteran to visit Calvary Baptist
By Staff
John Hicks FCT Staff Writer
Vietnam veteran, author and international public speaker Dave Roever will visit Russellville on Sunday, March 5. Roever will speak at Calvary Baptist Church at 6 p.m.
"We're expecting a big crowd," said Dr. Wade Wallace, pastor of Calvary Baptist. "Dave Roever has lots of fans in this area. He's well known from his numerous TV appearances."
While serving with one of the U.S. Navy's elite "Brown Water, Black Beret" units in Vietnam, Roever was severely burned when a white phosphorous grenade exploded in his head. At one point, his injuries were thought to be fatal. He later underwent 14 surgeries at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
In November 2003, 34 years after his initial injury in Vietnam, Roever was awarded the Purple Heart and several other service medals.
Over the course of his career, Roever has spoken to a variety of audiences, including public school students, business organizations, church groups and members of the military. He visits Vietnam several times a year.
Roever's Journey Back outreach aids not only the Vietnamese people, but veterans who served in Vietnam as well.
"Mr. Roever's Vietnam trips provide closure," said Calvary Baptist deacon Charles Canida. "It's a healing process for him and for other veterans who were wounded during the war."
Canida and Wallace both pointed out that Roever usually speaks to much larger churches, and that Calvary Baptist is fortunate to have him visit.
After several years of discussion and planning, Roever started Journey Back in the summer of 1998. In April 2005, Roever led the eighth tour of Vietnam veterans and staff to Vietnam, marking 30 years since the war's end.
During each Journey Back tour, veterans visit meaningful sites and participate in various educational and medical projects. One of the highlights of the trip is the presentation of scholarships to the grandchildren of Vietnamese veterans who were killed during the war, followed by a Reconciliation Rally between U.S. veterans and Vietnamese veterans.
Since the terror attacks of 9/11, Roever's work with the U.S. military has expanded significantly.
He has spoken to U.S. troops in Baghdad, Balad, Tikrit and other parts of Iraq, and in seven Persian Gulf nations surrounding Iraq. He completed a tour of Europe that included stops at military bases in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Korea and Kosovo. Roever also visited with wounded troops near Ramstein Air Force base in Germany.
Roever has counseled U.S. soldiers undergoing reintegration training after having served in Iraq, and has provided marriage enrichment training for troops and spouses ready to deploy or redeploy to Iraq.
Roever is founder and president of two non-profit corporations, Roever Evangelistic Association and Roever Educational Assistance Programs. He is the author of four books: "Welcome Home, Davey," his first autobiography; "Scarred," an updated biography; "Nobody's Ever Cried For Me," a collection of stories about youths and adults Roever has met; and "Magic Fountain," a children's fairytale.
Roever and his wife Brenda make their home in Fort Worth, Texas.
