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WALTER REED'S MILKSHAKE MAN RETIRES -- For 16 years,

veteran Jim Mayer, who lost both of his legs in Vietnam,

has been delivering milkshakes to fellow amputees

healing in Ward 57 at Walter Reed.

 

Jim Mayer -- The Milkshake Man

 

Story here... http://www.nbc4.
com/health/13448562/detail.html#

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Walter Reed's Milkshake Man Retires

Wounded Vet Provided Years Of Emotional Support To Other Wounded Vets

WASHINGTON -- Walter Reed's "Milkshake Man" retired Tuesday after 29 years at the Department of Veteran Affairs.

For 16 years, veteran Jim Mayer, who lost both of his legs in Vietnam, has been delivering milkshakes to fellow amputees healing in Ward 57 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

At the same time, he offered inspiration to the vets he visited.

"We're there to be their friends, their sounding boards, and to really pick up and try to get them to move to the next phase of recovery," Mayer said.

Many wounded warriors were on hand at Mayer's retirement ceremony on Tuesday.

"Just an extraordinary person," said wounded vet Master Sgt. Juanita Milligan. "Just giving, giving, giving more than any other human I've ever met in my life."

"He's truly been a friend to both of us," said Sarah Wade, the wife of a wounded vet. "At times when we've had difficulties knowing how and where to navigate the VA system, he's always pointed us in the right direction."

Corey McGee met Mayer after he was temporarily paralyzed three years ago.

"He's been a motivator and he kind of gives you that tough love," McGee said. "You know, he's like, 'You're not sitting here. You're not going to be sitting here in this bedroom all your life. We're going to get you out there and we're going to get you doing things. So he's been a great inspiration to a lot of us, and I can't imagine where I would have been without him."

Mayer said he hopes to see others pick up where he's leaving.

"I have never met a finer generation of service members who were professional, tight, believed in mission and camaraderie," he said. "They're exactly the kind of men and women that need to come into the VA and take leadership positions and run this department."

Mayer said his work with young veterans is not finished.

He is going to the nonprofit Wounded Warrior Project as director of peer mentoring.

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Larry Scott  --