Bob Wieland
Encyclopedia
Bob Wieland is a Vietnam War veteran
who lost his legs to a mortar mine in 1969. After recovering from his injuries he was inspired to become a marathon
participant. Over his lifetime he has finished many marathons, often taking multiple days to finish. He is the only double amputee
to finish the difficult Kona, Hawaii Ironman race
without a wheelchair
. He "ran" across America on his hands, taking three years, eight months, and six days to travel from coast to coast.
player, he was negotiating a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies
when he decided to join the army
as a combat medic
.
in June 1969, his squad walked into a mine
field. When a member of his unit stepped on a booby-trapped mortar, Wieland rushed to give first aid
but he, too, stepped on a 82mm buried mortar, a round designed to destroy tanks, which severely damaged his legs; they had to be amputated above the knee. In a letter to his parents after his accident, he wrote:
Bob likes to say of that day, "My legs went one direction, my life another."
majoring in education. After university, he joined the Green Bay Packers
as a physical trainer.
, taking four days to complete the 26 miles (41.8 km) race. He "ran" across America on his hands, taking three years, eight months, and six days to travel from coast to coast and raise money for Vietnam war veterans. In 1988 at 41, he finished the Los Angeles Marathon
, taking 74.5 hours to finish the 26.2 miles (42.2 km) race. He started the race a day earlier than everyone else and finished two days after the last runner had crossed the finish line.
, Wieland played the character of Johnny Skates.
Vietnam veteran
Vietnam veteran is a phrase used to describe someone who served in the armed forces of participating countries during the Vietnam War.The term has been used to describe veterans who were in the armed forces of South Vietnam, the United States armed forces, and countries allied to them, whether or...
who lost his legs to a mortar mine in 1969. After recovering from his injuries he was inspired to become a marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
participant. Over his lifetime he has finished many marathons, often taking multiple days to finish. He is the only double amputee
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
to finish the difficult Kona, Hawaii Ironman race
Ironman World Championship
The Ironman World Championship has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978, with an additional race in 1982. It is owned and organised by the World Triathlon Corporation and is currently sponsored by Ford...
without a wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
. He "ran" across America on his hands, taking three years, eight months, and six days to travel from coast to coast.
Early life
Growing up in Wisconsin, Bob went to the University of Wisconsin. A talented baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player, he was negotiating a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
when he decided to join the army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
as a combat medic
Combat medic
Combat medics are trained military personnel who are responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield. They are also responsible for providing continuing medical care in the absence of a readily available physician, including care for disease and battle injury...
.
Vietnam
In VietnamVietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
in June 1969, his squad walked into a mine
Land mine
A land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
field. When a member of his unit stepped on a booby-trapped mortar, Wieland rushed to give first aid
First aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
but he, too, stepped on a 82mm buried mortar, a round designed to destroy tanks, which severely damaged his legs; they had to be amputated above the knee. In a letter to his parents after his accident, he wrote:
Bob likes to say of that day, "My legs went one direction, my life another."
Recovery and NFL career
After recovering from his injuries, he enrolled at California State University, Los AngelesCalifornia State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
majoring in education. After university, he joined the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
as a physical trainer.
Marathons
In November 1986 he completed the New York City MarathonNew York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
, taking four days to complete the 26 miles (41.8 km) race. He "ran" across America on his hands, taking three years, eight months, and six days to travel from coast to coast and raise money for Vietnam war veterans. In 1988 at 41, he finished the Los Angeles Marathon
Los Angeles Marathon
The Honda LA Marathon is an annual running event held each spring in Los Angeles, California. The 26.219 mile footrace, inspired by the success of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, has been contested every year since 1986...
, taking 74.5 hours to finish the 26.2 miles (42.2 km) race. He started the race a day earlier than everyone else and finished two days after the last runner had crossed the finish line.
Actor
In the 1988-1990 TV series Sonny SpoonSonny Spoon
Sonny Spoon was a detective program aired in the United States on the NBC television network in 1988. The series was created by Michael Daly, Dinah Prince, Stephen J. Cannell and Randall Wallace and produced by Stephen J...
, Wieland played the character of Johnny Skates.