Vietnam Vet Marine shares courage to heal old wounds

Purple Heart donation to bar inspires help for others
Northwest Herald
Jeff Englehardt
Published: Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013

CRYSTAL LAKE – For the small fraternity of Purple Heart recipients, the award is often seen as a symbol of courage and pride.

But for Lakewood’s Pat Fimon, the medal was nothing more than a trinket in the bottom of a cardboard box in an attic. For decades he buried it as far as he could. His parents died without ever knowing he received the honor.

Fimon served as a machine gunner in the Marines during the Vietnam War on two tours. The last thing he wanted to do was to revisit the memories he had from 1967 to 1971.

“I hated the Marine Corps. It ruined my life,” Fimon said. “May 28. I didn’t go to work on that day for 30 years for a reason.”

But now Fimon is proud of the Marines and his medal. He donated it to Brink Street Restaurant and Bar, where it is displayed prominently behind the bar. It has helped bolster donations for the restaurant’s Toys for Tots drive and, more importantly to Fimon, brought awareness to the services that restored his life.

Three years ago, Fimon met people such as Ted Biever at the Woodstock Armory and counselors through Veterans Affairs who helped him realize there was a better way to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder and receiving help was OK.

The services even saved his life after a doctor’s visit revealed he had cancer, which was attributed to Agent Orange exposure during the war. He will begin radiation treatment next year.
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