Medal of Honor recipient honored for lifetime of service

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Medal of Honor is the highest honor a soldier can receive. On Tuesday, march 25th, National Medal of Honor Day, one of Wisconsin's few surviving recipients was honored in Milwaukee.

In 1968, Gary Wetzel of South Milwaukee was injured in combat during the Vietnam War. Just like his service to his country, it would take a lifetime to describe all Wetzel has achieved.

For decades, Wetzel has worked to help soldiers and their families -- and spoken about post-traumatic stress. His service also includes supporting the Fisher House project, which will provide lodging to military and veteran families at Milwaukee's VA.

Fisher House announced its fundraising effort had topped $3 million. That's the first time any state has done that before breaking ground on a Fisher House facility.

"Once you join the service, you come back out you don't quit. You're proud because you took a small part of her birth," said Wetzel.

Wetzel should feel pride for the work he's done. It's a lifetime of service that actually began once he returned home.

Wetzel services on the fundraising board of Fisher House. It was a major gift from the Fotsch Family Foundation which put the organization over the $3 million mark. Now the organization has a new goal to double that amount.