Leroy’s Life of Resilience and Gratitude
“I ran 100 yards, I beat everybody when the mortar starts coming,” said Korean War Army Veteran and Hale Makua Resident, Anthony Leroy Rocha describing the frightening times he experienced during the war. Leroy (as he prefers to be called) recalls the enemy mortar fire shells screeching into the sky, the sound of which signaled danger approaching as the shells would then begin their descent, exploding wherever they land.
Leroy, who was born and raised on Maui, joined the Army at the ripe age of 19 years old in 1950. He was assigned to the 32 Infantry Regiment, which he proudly shared was known as “The Queen’s Own” after Queen Liliʻuokalani who had adopted and bestowed the royal title to the unit in 1916. When the Korean War began, Leroy and his troop was deployed by ship to Icheon in South Korea. He recalls many scary moments during the war including a Chinese MiG jet attack, sniper shooters, and of course the mortar fire shell attacks.
One of Leroy’s scariest moments during the war was actually from a truck accident. Leroy was a passenger in the military truck as the troops were driving up the mountain at night. A few of the men were sleeping, including himself, when he was awaken by an arm he felt reach across of him towards the steering wheel. That’s when the truck slipped off the side of a cliff, and flipped over several times, ejecting him out of the truck in the process. He remembers owing his life to the roseary that he was wearing around his neck that his mother gave to him. He somehow managed to climbed his way back up the cliff in the darkness, and onto the road to signal to the other troops for help. Though he suffered a severe concussion, his life was spared and so were the other men in the truck.
Today, Leroy is 96 years old and continues to demonstrate the same resilience and determination that carried him through some of his most difficult moments. Recently, while enjoying music and rocking along to the rhythm, Leroy lost his balance and took a fall headfirst. Following hospitalization, he was admitted to Hale Makua for rehabilitation.
At Hale Makua, Leroy says he receives really good service. The therapists have helped him get stronger, helping him to get up and walking during their sessions. He shares that they are encouraging, but go at his pace. The nursing staff have gotten to know him well and know all of his preferences, and treat him like their own family. He was even one of the Veterans recognized at Hale Makua’s Veterans Day Program. Despite all the good things he had to say about Hale Makua, Leroy was eager to return home.
One of the things Leroy is so grateful for in his life was his 72 years of marriage with his late wife who blessed him with 4 children, 16 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grand child. And after several weeks of rehabiliatation, Leroy finally got the clearance to return home to his family thanks to the care he received at Hale Makua. We wish all the best to Leroy as he continues to make strides in his recovery.
Comments