Double Amputee Bob Wieland Stands Tall On Veterans Day At NU
Why would God send a man with no legs to encourage people to take a step of faith?
It’s a pretty awesome question. At least that’s the question that Vietnam War veteran Bob Wieland asked the audience packed inside the Castellani Art Museum this past Wednesday (Veterans Day).
Before joining the Army, Wieland was a three-sport athlete on the verge of signing a Major League Baseball contract. After having his legs blown off during duty in 1969, Wieland has not let his disability affect him in a negative way.
Since returning from Vietnam, Wieland has accomplished much more than the average person. He has won the Outstanding Disabled American Veteran Award in Wisconsin and California. He was voted “One of the Six Most Amazing Americans in the Past 20 Years” by People Magazine in 1994 and, two years later, was named “The Most Courageous Man in America” by the NFL Players Association and the Jim Thorpe Foundation.
Wieland has been a strength and conditioning coach for the Green Bay Packers and said he still keeps in touch with some of the players.
It doesn’t end there.