how i never gave up

This is the inspirational story of a true American hero. It is a personal account of one man’s defiance against the odds and his never give up spirit.

As a 20-year-old Private First Class, Tommy Gene Parrish was selected to be a part of a newly formed counterinsurgency unit called the Combined Action Program (CAP). While living with and fighting alongside South Vietnamese villagers, he was severely injured in a nighttime ambush gone bad. After he was evacuated by helicopter, he was mistakenly placed in a body bag and flown to a floating naval hospital in the region where it was discovered that he was still alive. After undergoing emergency surgery for a massive head wound, the surgeon predicted he would not survive the night. Miraculously he did survive but was paralyzed on one side of his body and he was unable to speak. The doctors informed him that his paralysis was permanent, and he would never walk again. With dogged determination and the fighting spirit of a war-tested Marine, He set out to prove them wrong. He did just that!

Tommy Gene Parrish retired from the Disabled American Veterans Office (DAV) after more than 20 years of dedicated service. He currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife Kathy. They love to travel, hike, and kick up the dance floor.
He has three daughters and one son.

Dr. Dan Lozier is a retired College Professor where he taught Nursing. He is married to his wife Melissa and they have five grown sons. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and he and his wife love spending time playing with their grandchildren and venturing outdoors at their cabin in Columbus, Indiana.