Sick Veteran Says Farewell to His Beloved Horses One Last Time
The vet was Texas' only paralyzed horse trainer.
— -- A Vietnam War veteran's last request to see his beloved horses was granted by the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio.
Roberto Gonzalez, from Premont, Texas, was drafted in 1970 and shot within four months of serving in Vietnam, Lupe Hernandez of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System told ABC News today. The resulting injuries left Gonzalez paralyzed.
"That did not stop Mr. Gonzalez from his passions, ranching and horses," Hernandez said. "He was the only paralyzed race horse trainer in Texas. He trained and raced horses for 30-40 years."
Hernandez continued: "Because he knew that the end was near and he would not be going home again, he requested through his wife that he see his horses one last time. His family brought two horses to the Spinal Cord Injury Center at the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital."
Gonzalez's horses "Sugar" and "Ringo" were able to bring comfort to the vet, who Hernandez said is in very critical condition right now.
Gonzalez was one of the first patients at the VA Hospital when it first opened in 1974, Hernandez said.
Related Stories
ABC News Live