How do you go about telling your life’s story? What would you include? What lessons have you learned and who would you like to teach them to? Being diagnosed with prostate cancer in July of 2012, Dan Hooper felt an urgency to capture a snapshot of his life to share with his children. When asked how his cancer diagnosis has changed his life, Dan responded by saying, “I know my life has been shortened, but I want to leave something.” Dan not only wants to share his journey as he battles cancer, he also wants to tell the story of his time at Vietnam. He hopes to impart knowledge through his experiences; that his four children will be able to learn about his time spent in Vietnam as this is something he hasn’t openly discussed with them…until now.Dan was drafted into the Vietnam War in August 1967. He concluded his service in 1969. Shortly after being drafted into the Army he was sent to Germany. 2 ½ months later he received orders to go to Vietnam. Dan remembers not wanting to go to Vietnam, but he understood the duty he had to uphold for his country.
As Dan spoke about his time spent in Vietnam, he described the mental conditions they were all under, “Death was on your mind everyday, 365 days a year.” Physically, Dan’s troop traveled all day moving up and down hills on “search and destroy” missions. They carried heavy packs with them at all times which could sustain them in the field for weeks on end. Dan recalled carrying ammunition, a poncho that doubled as a tent, water, food, and a bed roll. At times they would go weeks without showering and traversed the jungles of Vietnam with wet socks on their feet. The men in Dan’s troop would consistently talk about their great desire to go home. Home… everyone wanted to return home. No one wanted to die in an unknown country. Dan longed to return to his mother and father. A thought that was on his mind every day. “I didn’t want them to lose me,” stated Dan. The thought of returning home was the bright spot in a dark time.
Aside from the war and chaos during the Vietnam conflict, Dan describes the country as a beautiful place. He remembers the landscape and the people. He conveyed his love for the country and its people despite the ugliness of war. “I hate no man. I do not hate the people who tried to kill me. I call no man enemy,” Dan stated as he reflected on his time spent there. Vietnam is another home to him and Dan desired to go back. Due to unfortunate circumstances, his company left one of their own behind. His comrade was wounded across the legs from machine gun fire. He yelled, “My legs are gone! My legs are gone! My legs are gone!” The men in his company could not stop the bleeding and the young man died. Under fire, they had to carry out all of their supplies, especially the ammo. If they were to leave it behind, they knew it would be used against them. Three men were killed in action that day. They intended to return and retrieve the bodies. Unfortunately, the body of the soldier that died due to blood loss was never found. The young man lost and never to be seen again was Jose Antonio Graniela Jr. The image of Jose is still extremely vivid in Dan’s mind. He remembers his beautiful smile and dimples which framed that smile. Dan described Jose as tall with dark hair and dark skin. During the interview Dan could still see Jose walking close by and looking at Dan saying, “Hi, how are you?” Jose greeted everyone with a smile.
Dan survived the Vietnam War. Now he faces a new battle: Prostate Cancer. Dan’s initial response to his cancer diagnosis, “I thought I was going to die.” Support from family and friends has helped tremendously. Being diagnosed with cancer has taught Dan he can easily reach out to people and tell them, “I love you,” without a fear of wondering what people will think.
Dan considers himself a cancer survivor. The two wars in his life have showed him, “Life is a learning experience… a doing experience. I wouldn’t trade those experiences.” Dan is an extraordinary man and veteran with a determination to leave his story behind as a testimony to history. He wants nothing more than to share his story; he hopes readers find benefit in hearing his tale. Dan reminds us, “We are all born and we will all die, but it’s about how you live your life between birth and death that set your life apart from the others.”
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