‘I Couldn’t Have Done It Without Her’
Marine Corps and Vietnam veteran Kenneth Dieckmann, 79, lives with his wife, Sharon, and their two dogs in St. Louis, Missouri. He joined the military in 1963 and served for four years, earning two Purple Hearts and achieving the rank of corporal. Like many veterans, Dieckmann wanted to be a protector of his country. During his time in Vietnam, Dieckmann was exposed to Agent Orange, grenade explosions, and Punji stakes — a trap created from sharpened wood. He also develo...