“I’d have to say that my most memorable fish was a blue I caught off of the Jersey shore,” said Donnie in his Southwestern drawl. “A retired Navy guy brought a bunch of us out to do some saltwater fly fishing. I hooked into this big bluefish on light tackle and fought him for over two hours. I thought I was going to lose him a few times but we finally landed him.”

The big bluefish was Donnie’s first after returning from Viet Nam.

When Donnie Dunn joined the Marine Corp, he was a healthy 19-year-old. In Viet Nam he rose to the rank of Sergeant before triggering a land mine. Donnie returned from the war blind and missing the larger portion of both of his legs.

Today, Donnie Dunn runs a successful ranch in Oklahoma. Five hundred head of cattle roam about his land. He lives alone and employs a single ranch hand and shares all of the work required to run the operation.

“One time, a neighbor saw me on my roof replacing the engine on my air conditioner. He didn’t ask how a blind guy got up there – he wanted to know how a man without legs climbed onto a roof,” Donnie remembered with a laugh. “So, I told him that I flapped my arms and flew up!”

I first met Donnie on one of his then-annual visits to Florida. In preparation for his arrival, our secretary made arranging a fishing trip a top priority. In a recent telephone conversation Donnie told me, “I love visiting Florida. I love catching Grouper, Snapper and lots of other fish you got down there. I love eating them too.”

Donnie’s war injuries never slowed him down. His passion for outdoor sports, especially fishing, continued and he has actively participated in the sport throughout his life. “I’ve got seven ponds on my ranch. Six of them hold fish. I get bass, crappie and bluegills,” continued Donnie. “The only thing I can’t do too well is drive the bass boat. I have rebuilt its engine a couple of times though.”

“When my kids were young, I would bring them out fishing,” said Dunn, “I would tie a rope around their waist and have the other end tied around my own. When they fell in the water, I would grab the rope and pull them back up. They’re all good fishermen now that they are adults.”

“Recently,” continued Donnie, “my daughter brought one of my grandchildren by. She asked me to take the three-year-old fishing. I got out the rope and now I’m bringing another generation into the sport.”

“When they’re real little, I do the casting,” said the proud grandfather, “when a fish bites, I hand over the rod and let them enjoy the fight. If we catch some crappie or small bass, we bring them home for dinner. It’s a real thrill for the kids.”

Since returning from Viet Nam over thirty years ago, Donnie Dunn has earned a degree in automobile engineering (a tremendous feat for a blind person), has started and successfully managed his cattle ranch, has learned about computer programming and technologies for blind people, has raised three terrific children and goes fishing and spends lots of time outdoors. Some people idolize athletes, others presidents, artists, musicians, historical figures and a myriad of other role models. When asked if I have a hero, I always say, “Yes, his name is Donnie Dunn.”

Modestly, Donnie responded to my admiration by saying, “Hell, a guy has got to live his life. What else could I do, just sit around and feel sorry for myself?”

Copyright 2002, Chris Hofstader.