Retiring reporter fought for Vietnam veteran and many others

Thank you Al Whitaker! We’ll miss your flair for going after scam artists, fighting for what’s right and telling rich stories
WHNT 19 News
Denise Vickers 
September 15, 2018

Al fought for a veteran who fought for our country.

Al’s story began, “Ron Buis served his country with honor but now he’s serving time.”

Buis was charged with shooting into an occupied dwelling – a felony and he was being held without bond. Al’s narrative explained, “It’s not that Buis was outside shooting into someone else’s house. He was in his mobile home and the bullets traveled into the mobile homes near his. It happened on more than one occasion, too. His friends tell us Ron wasn’t trying to hurt anyone. They say he was shooting at the voices in his head.”

Buis came home from Vietnam with a Purple Heart, a Vietnamese Citation for Gallantry with Bronze and Silver stars, and a Gold Star from the Marines in lieu of a second Purple Heart. Al’s story revealed, “He also brought with him the haunting memories of a horrible experience that would later manifest themselves as psychotic depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.”

On live tv, Al stared directly into the camera and closed his report vowing, “Mr. Buis, we make you this promise, sir, we will not rest until you get the help you need. And we promise you we’ll keep you apprised of any developments.”

It took 5 months, but Al Got Results for Buis.
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