Short tour in Korea makes Hometown Hero reach out to other vets

"We thought we'd be checking out the girls in Hawaii. Instead we were dodging bullets in Korea," he said.

During one battle less than two-months later, Mazur was digging a fox hole less than two-months later, when his tour of duty came to an abrupt end.

"I felt a shock, and I didn't know what it was. It felt like an electric shot.. And then I got wounded. A bullet through both legs," Mazur said.

It would be several days before he was evacuated to a military hospital. A captain ordered that Mazur be returned to battle after recovery and rehabilitation in Tokyo. Then fate stepped in, again.

"The nurse that was walking behind was taking notes and that afternoon she cam over to me and she says be ready to go to the states tomorrow," said Mazur.

Mazur spent his remaining three-years doing light duty in North Carolina and Kentucky. He returned home, got married, raised a family and helped fellow veterans. He served as Commander of V-F-W Post 74-44 and the American Legion to make sure veteran's got everything they deserved.

"If you don't belong to one of them, it seems like there'll be no action being done on your claim," he said.

Mazur's service to fellow veteran's also included organizing Memorial Day parades, taking part in Veteran's Day celebrations and serving with an honor guard at any veteran's funeral. Fellow V-F-W members say no task was too small.

"Any fundraisers, anything! Frank was always there to help," said VFW 7444 member Pat Thomas.

"If a veteran needed a ride to the V.A., Frank was always there and gave them a ride to be sure they got there," added Joseph Guidowicz, Frank's brother-in-law, and VFW 7444 member.

For Frank Mazur, such efforts are the patriotic thing to do.

"We live in the greatest country here on earth. We should respect it, defend it and enjoy the life we have," Frank urged.