Vietnam war hero John Fulton of Herscher will lead Herscher's Labor Day parade today as grand marshall.

Fulton is a community leader and a strong advocate for agriculture, always involved in promoting the many ag programs throughout a several county area. He's also an ag promoter for Kankakee Community College (KCC) and an active voice for the KCC Foundation.

He married his high school sweetheart, but before that, was drafted and as a combat medic in Vietnam. On May 13, 1969, he stepped on a landmine while running to assist two colleagues who were injured in an explosion just ahead of him on a jungle trail.

Comrades saved his life on what he had expected to have been his last combat patrol in the Mekong Delta. Nine new medics were to join the unit the next day.

His right leg was amputated and he spent 13 months in hospitals. He came home to marry Loretta Wood on June 20, 1970 and was medically retired from the Army in August. He was awarded the Bronze Star, with a V for valor, and the Purple Heart.

John returned to farming. He also worked for the Roper Corp. and headed a program for homeless veterans at the Illinois Veterans Home at Manteno.

Fulton credits his loving wife for allowing him the time to be involved in so many active programs in the community.

John and his wife will ride in a horse-drawn carriage during today's labor day Parade.

94.1 FM, WGFA