I have been laying low lately, nursing my annual "Christmas Cold." I don't know why, but every year between Christmas and New Years Day I get sick. It allows me time to catch up on sports, emails and rest. I think the lack of rest is the reason I get sick in the first place.

I also seem to be in deeper thought at this time of year. I try and reflect, reset goals I have made, and make new goals.

One person I have been thinking about a lot lately is Bob Kolling, my partner at Forgotten Heroes, Inc. (www.USAForgottenHeroes.com.)

Bob, a decorated war hero, is also one of my personal heroes. He has struggled through some of life's most difficult hardships and has always come out a winner. He has set examples throughout his entire life without making a "big thing" about it.  The man is quite survivor and an inspiration to many.

After surviving divorce (I say "survived," because divorce was one of the hardest things I ever went through,) Bob pulled though, and years later, married his soul-mate Linda. Together they make the best couple!

During the War in Vietnam, serving in the Army's 1st Cavalry, Bob was ambushed and lost his leg in battle. He struggled through 20-years of indifference after the war was over for him, and co-founded the Du Page County Chapter of Vietnow in Illinois. He has been, or currently is involved with so many state and national Vietnam Veterans organizations that I can't name them all. 35-years after a blood transfusion, while recovering from an almost-mortal wound in the jungles of Vietnam, Bob learned that the 35-year old transfusion carried Hepatitis C.

Apparently, the Hepatitis C virus laid dormant in his body for 35-years ... then it devastated his liver. Again, Bob was near death. Having no idea what was causing the liver shut down, after a series of tests, and almost too late, his doctors finally realized that the Hepatitis C virus was swimming in the life-saving transfusion he received in his youth. Bob's life was saved by a donor at literally the last hour, and again, Bob cheated death. Of all days, the liver transplant took place on Veterans Day a few years ago to add to the mystique and identification of this mans life.

Within that same year Bob and I started Forgotten Heroes and every year, we seem to progress further and further in our mission to entertain and "show some love" to the men and women who cashed the check and paid the price for American freedom; the American Veteran.

There are a few photo's of Bob on this website. One photo features Bob, Jack, Don and myself, on the night Bob was sworn in as the Commander of his VFW Post in Wood Ridge, Illinois. The three of them were the inspiration of my song "They're All Not On The Wall," (iTunes) 20-years earlier.

Bob was involved with the Welcome Home Parade, 15-years after the end of the Vietnam War, in Chicago, in the 80's.

When he is in Washington D.C., you'll always find him visiting his buddies at "The Wall," The National Vietnam Veterans War Memorial.

At Hines VA Hospital, when the entertainers are doing their "thing," Bob is always there in the background, taking photo's with his "40-pound" camera, while balancing on one leg, holding both crutches in one hand and the camera in the other. I can tell he cringes when I call him on stage to say a few words, but the vets just love him.

Every musician I have been involved with over the past 20-years knows him well. Every veteran that I know, respects him.

Remember those successful concerts featuring The Lt. Dan Band at Cantigny over the past few years? Bob was a partner in those events that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the troops. If you were there, you may have seen him with his one-leg, his crutches, and his camera, keeping in the background and enjoying the show.

In civilian life, Bob was a successful executive at Lucent Technology, and retired a few years ago.

Is he living "la vita loca?" Noooo way, he and Linda always seem to have a project going on at the ol' homestead; a new deck, fixing the pool, getting rid of the bee's or some extra work on the screened-in-porch, seem to keep him occupied. Bob is a cracker-jack grill master and always has something good sizzling out on the deck.

I am one of the luckiest people on earth to have a friend like Bob Kolling in my life. With Forgotten Heroes, I may be out in front, with my big mouth and guitar, but Bob is the guy who completes all the paperwork, the tax filing, the state and annual fees, phone calls to people who might donate to our cause and he's the "official photographer."

When it comes to being my "eyes and ears" with the troops and veterans, Bob has never steered me wrong. Sometimes I want to add a joke or say something or show a photo on the website, and it has always served me well to past it by Bob first. He'll either add something to make it funnier or more poignant, or he'll ask me to change it completely to save my skin.

There's only one thing that Bob and I cannot seem to agree on; he loves his Packers and I love my Bears. I don't think that will ever be resolved, however, I will be cheering the "Pack" on during the playoffs, with Bob in mind.

With everything said, Bob is the most humble guy I know. There are people I have met, without half his accomplishments, that are self proclaimed heroes. Bob is the man who taught me, real heroes don't need to say a word, their actions do all their talking. Bob walks the walk and rarely talks the talks, although he could speak volumes.

I know Bob checks my blog occasionally to see what kind of crap I am spewing these days. I know he'll see his name on the title of todays blog, and moan, ... "Ohhh Gezzzzzz, what did Cantafio do now!"

 

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