Vietnam Veteran Has Well Water and Well Wishes From Angels

Harrison firm steps in to install water well for Laurel Lake veteran, wife
The Daily Journal
Chris Torres
October 10, 2014

"I just figured no one gave a hoot about Vietnam veterans," Donald Smith said. "Next thing you know, these guys get here like angels. It's a miracle."

Lila and Veteran Donald Smith were excited to have a working water well at their home in Laurel Lake.
Oct. 9, 2014. Staff photo/Craig Matthews

COMMERCIAL – U.S. Army veteran Donald Smith still struggles from the effects of broken bones and post-traumatic stress after returning from the Vietnam War.

It hasn't helped in recent years that he also wasn't guaranteed simple things such as a warm bath at night.

His wife, Lila, would have to travel back and forth with buckets of water from neighbors for them to get by, because of significant troubles with their outdated water well.

There was no guarantee they would have any water at all going into this winter, and they couldn't afford a new well. Recently, Lila Smith decided she had enough, and reached out to a local veterans group for help.

She was directed to the Veterans Community Alliance of Freehold, who came to the Smiths' Laurel Lake home this week to help give them the gift they've wanted and needed for years.

The VCA paid for the installation of a new four-inch well, to the delight of the couple and neighbors stopping along the way.
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