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Giving Military A Helping Hand

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By JOYCE McKENZIE

jmckenzie@tampatrib.com

Published: December 17, 2008

UNIVERSITY AREA - Marine Cpl. Miguel "Mike" Manuel Delgado could not think of a better way to spend an evening in the spinal cord injury unit at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital.

"I've been looking forward to this all day," said Delgado, who has been at the hospital since February. He is recovering from a broken neck that happened in a surfboarding accident in California while on leave from Iraq.

Delgado, of Brooksville, was among several other injured and wounded active duty patients and their families honored on Thursday during an annual Christmas dinner hosted by Operation Helping Hand, an initiative of the Tampa Chapter of Military Officers Association of America.

Delgado and his comrades were showered with gifts and a turkey dinner, compliments of Columbia Restaurant, and served by many of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and MacDill Air Force Base's top brass.

"This is cool, and it's great seeing and getting kissed by so many hot ladies," joked Delgado, who has hopes of walking again. He credits his doctors and nursing staff for getting him on track to be discharged within a couple of months.
Fellow patient Romulo Camargo of the U.S. Army's Special Forces of North Carolina probably won't be leaving any time soon. On Sept. 16, while serving in Afghanistan, he was shot in the neck, an injury that has since kept him on a ventilator.

But throughout his recovery, he has had his wife, Gabriela, his first girlfriend at age 13, his 20-month old son, Andress Isaias, and his mother, Sonita, at his side.

Camargo family friends Ben and Yuleyska Barron of North Carolina have made several trips to see Romulo. Those trips include visiting Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he was first treated, and Tampa, where he was transferred six weeks ago.

"His attitude is phenomenal, and he is really happy with his care here," Ben Barron said. "The staff really knows what they are doing."

Operation Helping Hand, an all-volunteer organization, also hosts monthly dinners, sponsored by area businesses.

"These men and women are our heroes," said Bob Silah, the organization's chairman. "We owe our freedom to them."

The organization also helps provide visiting family members with rental cars, cell phones or phone cards, gas coupons, tickets to area amusement parks and restaurant gift certificates.

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849.

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