LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Vietnam War veteran Manny Guerrero has received a says people called him “Grandpa” during the war because he was 34 years old when he arrived in Da Nang.
He tells FOX5 one of his duties was to load planes for bombing runs. Guerrero says it wasn’t his responsibility to fly during those runs out of Saigon.
The veteran explained he did it anyway when younger service members asked him to take their place, because they didn’t have much time left to serve.
“If they got on the aircraft and the aircraft went down, they would never make it home,” said Guerrero.
FOX5 recently reported about the 89-year-old veteran who was scammed out of $180,000 in a Publishers Clearing House scheme.
Guerrero wrote checks and made wire transfers when he was told he won millions but had to pay tax money up front. He was hoping to fix up his home with the money he was told he won, including replacing his water heater. But that became difficult to do after losing all that money.
One business saw the FOX5 story and that’s when Vinny Raucci, owner of Silver Star Plumbing, offered to take care of Guerrero’s water heater problem. He helped install a new water heater, which he says was donated by Plumbing Parts Company.
KD Williams Construction helped re-secure the base where the water heater was located. Raucci says the water heater leaked and weakened the base. The companies didn’t charge Guerrero anything for repairs.
“I offered to pay them half at least because I don’t have that kind of money. But he said no, no, no, it’s on us. They’re good people. They’re really good people,” expressed Guerrero.
“I feel good about this. Manny is a veteran. He fought for our country. And I wake up every day, I got my freedom because of Manny,” shared Raucci.
Guerrero lost the $180,000 last summer. He tells FOX5 he got another recent scam call from people again claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House. He hung up on them this time and found it strange they were able to find him, saying he changed his phone number after the first scam.
FOX5 previously talked to the real Publishers Clearing House and officials say they will not call someone in advance if they’ve won a big prize. Instead, the “Prize Patrol” will show up at their door. Officials also say you never have to pay money up front, including taxes, in any legitimate sweepstakes.
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