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On this special Warrior Wednesday with Chad Ray, we honor Rafael Nieves — a Vietnam veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and true American hero. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Rafi shares how he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1968, completed basic training at Fort Gordon, advanced infantry training at Fort Ord, and was sent to Vietnam in December of that year. Assigned to the 101st Airborne Division in the north near the former imperial city of Huế, he describes the realities of helicopter air assaults into the jungle, combat operations in the aftermath of the Tet Offensive, and the day he was wounded by enemy fire just after the Fourth of July in 1969. After evacuation through Vietnam, Japan, and finally Fort Dix, New Jersey, Rafi returned to Puerto Rico — where his story of service continued. Using VA education benefits, he earned multiple degrees and spent decades helping fellow veterans through the VA, first as a contact officer and later as a rehabilitation counselor. It’s a powerful conversation about sacrifice, resilience, and continuing to serve long after the battlefield.
