Wheeler Hot Springs Cures Vietnam Vet.Business Editors & Medical/Health Writers OJAI, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 2002 Jack Vierra, 52, was lucky to survive when his fox hole took a direct mortar hit during Vietnam's TET offensive Tet offensive, 1968, a series of crucial battles in the Vietnam War. On Jan. 31, 1968, the first day of the celebration of the lunar new year, Vietnam's most important holiday, the Vietnamese Communists launched a major offensive throughout South Vietnam. in 1969. Not only did Jack have shrapnel shrapnel Originally, a type of projectile invented by the British artillery officer Henry Shrapnel (1761–1842), containing small spherical bullets and an explosive charge to scatter the shot and fragments of the shell casing. wounds from head to toe, but his helicopter was shot down while being evacuated e·vac·u·ate v. e·vac·u·at·ed, e·vac·u·at·ing, e·vac·u·ates v.tr. 1. a. To empty or remove the contents of. b. To create a vacuum in. 2. . After dozens of surgeries that left him with no cartilage cartilage (kär`təlĭj), flexible semiopaque connective tissue without blood vessels or nerve cells. It forms part of the skeletal system in humans and in other vertebrates, and is also known as gristle. in either knee, and requiring metal braces to walk, Jack was on permanent disability. Relying on daily pain killers for the past 30 years, Jack has worked only part-time as a handyman. Jack moved from the East Coast this past June to be caretaker for Wheeler Hot Springs, just six miles north of Ojai, California Ojai (pronounced IPA: /ˈoʊhaɪ/) is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. The estimated population, in 2003, was 8,006 , making it one of the smaller towns in the county. . Although the resort was closed and in complete disrepair, one natural spring-fed tub remained intact, and Jack used it daily. His ailments became less noticeable, and in recent weeks, Vierra has been able to discard his braces and totally stopped pain medication. "I never thought I would feel this good again!" Vierra commented. "It's clear there are very strong healing powers in these waters. I feel blessed to have ended up here!" Wheeler Hot Springs was discovered in 1888 by a hunter, Wheeler Blumberg, who built a resort on the spot, and the curative curative /cur·a·tive/ (kur´ah-tiv) tending to overcome disease and promote recovery. cu·ra·tive adj. 1. Serving or tending to cure. 2. powers of the mineral springs became famous throughout the U.S. A stagecoach stagecoach, heavy, closed vehicle on wheels, usually drawn by horses, formerly used to transport passengers and goods overland. Throughout the Middle Ages and until about the end of the 18th cent. line ran from the railway station in Ventura to the remote resort. Many celebrities frequented Wheeler, including boxing champ Jack Dempsey, who had his own nine-ton brass tub. Over the years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time Blumberg family added cottages, a ballroom, a restaurant, a store and even a bowling alley. Wheeler Hot Springs was the location of America's smallest post office, certified by Ripley's Believe It or Not, serving resort guests and local families. A fire in 1940 destroyed most of the buildings. The property was rebuilt as a health spa, and an elegant dinner house was added in 1970. Wheeler again attracted visitors from California and beyond, reaching its hey day in the 1980s. This success lasted until the early 90s, when poor management caused it to decline and close. The property is currently being renovated by its owner, the Dewar Foundation, which is seeking a buyer/operator that will totally restore the vintage property and keep it accessible to the general public. Note: Jack Vierra can be reached at 805/646-7929. Photos are available online at http://www.silcom.com/~slade/ |
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