Third Army Prayer Breakfast welcomes Dave Roever

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Breckenkamp | Dave Roever made his audience laugh and cry at Third Army/U.S. Army Central's National Prayer Breakfast held at The Commons at Fort McPherson, Ga., Aug. 28. Hailing from Texas, Roever shared his story of trauma, triumph and hope from his experiences during the Vietnam War with more than 75 Soldiers and civilians, who enjoyed food, music, jokes and several photo slide presentations. Eight months into his tour of duty in Vietnam, Roever was burned beyond recognition when a sniper shot and exploded a white phosphorous grenade that was in Roever's hand as he was about to throw it.  

FORT MACPHERSON, GA, UNITED STATES

09.06.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Breckenkamp 

U.S. Army Central   

By Staff Sgt. Anne Lewis
Third Army/U.S. Army Central Public Affairs Office

FORT MCPHERSON, Ga. -- Dave Roever made his audience laugh and cry at Third Army/U.S. Army Central's National Prayer Breakfast held at The Commons at Fort McPherson, Ga., Aug. 28.

Hailing from Texas, Roever shared his story of trauma, triumph and hope from his experiences during the Vietnam War with more than 75 Soldiers and civilians, who enjoyed food, music, jokes and several photo slide presentations.

Roever said at the height of the war, he received his draft notice but had no interest in serving in the infantry. Instead he joined the Navy and served as a riverboat gunner in the esteemed Brown Water, a Black Beret unit in Vietnam.

Eight months into his tour of duty, Roever was burned beyond recognition when a sniper shot and exploded a white phosphorous grenade in Roever's hand as he was about to throw it. Roever said his life changed the moment the grenade exploded in his hand.

"When it happened, I looked down and saw my face on my boot," said Roever.

The ordeal left him hospitalized for 14 months, where he underwent numerous surgeries and much of the skin grafts came from his own body, he explained.

Using his life as an example, he addressed issues relevant to his audience and presented real solutions to life's problems. Drawing upon his war experiences of loneliness, depression, disfigurement and pain, as well as his triumphs, he shared his message of commitment, strength and survival that seemed to touch many at the breakfast.

Many people who attended the breakfast expressed their gratitude to Roever and to the Third Army Chaplain's Office for the event.

"The fact that he survived and turned his life around, sharing his story with such an incredibly positive attitude and great sense of humor is truly inspirational," said Capt. George W. Shaffer, Third Army Prayer Breakfast coordinator and religious program director for Third Army. "He is a really great guy and one of the best speakers we've ever had."

Roever said about 30 years after being injured, the Department of the Navy awarded him the Purple Heart. Because of his wartime experiences of service, injury and recovery, he believes he is uniquely qualified to speak to the needs of military personnel.

"I get asked all the time to speak at military bases overseas and in the States," Roever said. "It's great when the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force want me to come speak with their guys. I now know what God wanted from me when that grenade blew up in my hand. You think it's the worst thing in the world when it happens, but like a wise lady told me once, 'God knew he could trust me with the scars.'"

• Date Taken: 09.06.2007
• Date Posted: 09.06.2007 12:51
• Story ID: 12214
• Location: FORT MACPHERSON, GA, US