Former Marine Bill Urianek first heard about Marine Capt. James Byler in a newspaper article on Memorial Day two years ago.
The story told how Byler had lost both his legs in a bomb explosion while serving in Afghanistan, and Urianek decided to do something to help.
Last Thursday, Urianek did when he was joined by veterans from the Mineola Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1305 and American Legion Post 349 and at the Mineola Village Board meeting to give Byler a check for $9,100
“Let’s hope it’s the last time we do this,” Urianek said after giving the check to Byler.
Urianek, a member of American Legion Post 349, had personally raised $1,400 for Byler in the intervening time mostly by collecting bottles and cans from Mineola residents and others. The rest of the money was donated by veterans and residents.
Two years ago, Urianek had presented a check to another veteran, Christopher Levy, who also lost his legs while in service in Iraq.
Urianek, also known as “the can man,” has been collecting bottles and cans to support wounded veterans since 2004. Money he has raised has also gone to VetDogs, a non-profit organization that provides companion dogs for wounded veterans. He thanked residents who have been dropping cans and bottles off at his house.
But the highest praise went to Byler.
“We are in awe of Capt. Byler, his patriotism, his sense of honor,” said Carl Marchese, commander of American Legion Post 349, in introducing Byler. “I’m proud to be an American tonight.”
As he received an ovation from the veterans and other Mineola residents at the meeting, Byler was visibly moved.
“To be completely honest, I’m overwhelmed by citizens like you who’ve welcomed me home,” Byler said. “I’m kind of at a loss for words. Thank you for being good people.”
State Sen. Jack Martins presented Byler with a proclamation from the state Legislature recognizing his sacrifice for the country.
“We look for inspiration where we can. Unfortunately we have the example of people coming home wounded,” said Martins, who praised Byler for serving “with pride and dignity.”
Village of Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss was visibly moved by Byler’s presence at the meeting.
“I don’t know what to say to you. ‘Thank you’ doesn’t seem enough. You were a kid when you enlisted and I can’t thank you enough,” Strauss said.
To Janet and Philip Byler, the young Marine’s parents, who have another son serving as a U.S. Army officer in Iraq, Strauss said, “I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”
Byler, 27, went through several operations on his legs and rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after returning from Afghanistan in the fall of 2010. He is now taking graduate classes at New York University and living in his childhood home in Huntington, which was renovated by a Valley Stream nonprofit, Building Homes for Heroes, to make the home handicapped accessible last September.
Byler sustained his injuries when he stepped on an improvised explosive device while on patrol with the 3rd Battalion of the 5th Marines in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. He said he never lost consciousness and has a clear recollection of the incident.
“At first I was in so much shock, I didn’t feel anything,” Byler said. “It was being in a dream.”
He recalled Lance Corp. Matthew Broehm immediately coming to his aid, applying tourniquets to both legs. Broehm was killed in action a few weeks later.
“I hated leaving the mission, knowing the guys were still out there, knowing they were in harm’s way,” he said.
Byler said he went through a year of “intense” physical rehabilitation after the surgeries in Walter Reed. He said the support he received from the Mineola residents meant a lot to him.
“It’s incredibly encouraging,” he said. “I get this kind of reception, it tells you people are behind you.”
