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American Morning
National Veterans Wheelchair Games Get Under Way
Aired July 02, 2001 - 10:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Into the Fourth of July holiday, hundreds of American veterans are waging battle once again. This time, it is the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. The games got under way yesterday and they offer veterans a chance to compete in various sports, also improve their quality of life.
Joining us, two war buddies reunited because of these games. These women have an extraordinary story. Alice Barszcz and Doris Merrill are both WWII vets and they are in New York this morning. Ladies, welcome. It is a pleasure and honor to have you with us this morning.
ALICE BARSZCZ, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: Well, welcome to you, too. Thank you.
KAGAN: Well, thank you. Alice, I want to start with you because I understand you have a big birthday coming up this week.
BARSZCZ: Yes, I do.
KAGAN: And what is that?
BARSZCZ: On July 4th, I will be 80 years old.
KAGAN: You will not.
BARSZCZ: Yes.
KAGAN: Eighty years old.
BARSZCZ: Yes.
KAGAN: Well, congratulations on that. Tell us, Alice, tell us what your service was in WWII?
BARSZCZ: I was in the navy and I helped the wounded. And I worked in the operating room and I worked on the wards. And I did what I could to help.
KAGAN: And, Doris, what about you?
DORIS MERRILL, WORLD WAR II VETERAN, I was very fortunate. I worked with the naval intelligence at Cape May, and it was through that that I met my husband. KAGAN: Your husband? Now, also going back to that time, you gals knew each other way back when.
MERRILL: Yes, we did.
BARSZCZ: Yes, many years.
MERRILL: Yes.
KAGAN: How did you know each other?
MERRILL: We were stationed in the same barracks at Cape May, New Jersey, but we were not really as close as I would have liked to have been, because now I'm close with Alice and I wish I would have even known her better back then.
KAGAN: So you lost touch after the war?
BARSZCZ: Yes, we did.
KAGAN: Also after the war, you both each individually had an accident that put you in the chair. Is that right?
MERRILL: That's correct.
BARSZCZ: Yes.
KAGAN: Can you share that experience with us? Alice, you go first.
BARSZCZ: OK. Well, I was in the navy working in the operating room and also on the wards lifting and pushing people around. And in the operating room, I had a pinched nerve in my neck and in my back and it had to be relieved. I was dropping instruments and the doctor says something is wrong with you. So he did some checking and he says yes, you have nerve damage and we will have to take care of it for you.
KAGAN: And that's what...
BARSZCZ: So, that's that part. But then I was discharged in '45 and went home and I got married. And then we were in an accident on the Jersey Turnpike. And we were rear ended and that's when my struggle started.
KAGAN: But...
BARSZCZ: And -- go ahead.
KAGAN: That's when it started. And, Doris, what about you?
MERRILL: Well, I was able to teach some swimming and diving while I was in the service at Oklahoma A&M and in jest one of the recruits did a bomb, she just jumped on my back and it...
KAGAN: Oh, a freak accident. MERRILL: Yes, a very freak accident. It...
KAGAN: OK, now, one thing that has not hurt is the spirit that both of you ladies have and individually you both got involved in these veteran wheelchair games and that's how you realized, that's how you kind of came back together all these years later?
BARSZCZ: Yes. Well, we were in Puerto Rico and Doris and I were very friendly. And she says her name and I said my name and didn't make any connection until...
MERRILL: None whatsoever.
BARSZCZ: ... a couple of weeks ago after that I got a letter. And she says, you know, that can't be two Alice Barszczes.
KAGAN: I mean how many could there be?
BARSZCZ: Yeah, right. So I looked in my book and I said oh my gosh, that was Doris Skip (ph).
KAGAN: Oh, OK.
BARSZCZ: And so it's been 53 years since we've seen each other.
MERRILL: That's correct.
KAGAN: And here you are. Tell me the events each of you will be participating in this week?
BARSZCZ: I'll be just -- I've been participating in the motor rally, bowling, the shot putt, the discus and the 220 meter race.
KAGAN: And, Doris, what about you?
MERRILL: I will be taking part in the ramp, bowling with assistance, the air guns with assistance, and then I will have the slalom, the ramp, as I said, ramp bowling, the slalom, the motorized rally and the freestyle. And this time I'm trying the back stroke in swimming.
KAGAN: Oh, my goodness. I'm surprised you ladies even had time to talk with us this morning.
BARSZCZ: Oh, yes.
KAGAN: If there's other veterans out there interested in getting involved in these games, what should they do?
BARSZCZ: Oh, yes. When I visit the hospital and I see veterans there, spinal cord or amputees or some other neurological problems, we try to get them out of bed and get them motivated into getting out and doing something, regardless what it is. But due to the encouragement that I received from the recreational department, since 1980 I've been participating in sports. But not until 1985 when I went to the Maryland games and I've been competing since 1985. KAGAN: Well, you guys are certainly, you ladies, I should say, are certainly an inspiration. Doris Merrill, Alice Barszcz, congratulations. Good luck this week.
MERRILL: May I say...
BARSZCZ: Oh, thank you very much.
MERRILL: May I say that the EPVA has given us an entire new life and because of the V.A.s and what they have done for us it has extended a bridge and broke down a social barrier to the walking public and they have helped anyone with any condition. It brings us a meeting place for anyone with any condition and all backgrounds and we have been able to be very positive for everything that they have done for us.
KAGAN: Well, no one gives you...
MERRILL: I do want to say thank you.
BARSZCZ: Well, yes, the V.A. in general, prior to 1980, I took care of all of my own medical expenses. But after -- from 1980 until the present time, the V.A. and the EPVA have been very -- Eastern Paralyzed Veterans -- have been wonderful. They have helped us in a lot of ways, encouraged us and giving us a lot of moral support.
KAGAN: Well, no one can tell that story and be better spokespeople than you, ladies. Congratulations. Good luck this week.
MERRILL: Thank you.
KAGAN: And, Alice, happy 80th birthday on the Fourth of July.
BARSZCZ: Oh, thank you very much.
KAGAN: Right. You go, girl.
BARSZCZ: Thanks.
KAGAN: Thanks for joining us, ladies.
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