Local veterans share recommendations for 4th of July fireworks [Video]

Dickie Speas was just 21 years old in 1967 when he was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. During his time in Vietnam, he became all too familiar with the sounds of blasts.He described one moment when a mine went off. “They set off this mine that they had set up there,” Speas said. “And I felt something hit my head and hit my side.”Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereHe was injured by the blast and had to be treated for eight days before returning to the field. However, on his third day back, he was injured again. “Pointman tripped on a hand grenade, and I walked up beside it, and it went off,” he said. “It got me head to toe.”Speas was injured badly enough after the grenade exploded that he was sent home from Vietnam. He earned two Purple Heart medals for his …