Soldier decides it’s never too late to honor the people who helped in your life

Retired U.S. Army Col. Edward Fisher almost dismissed the stranger who called him, claiming to have served under him in the Army over 50 years ago.

Fisher gets lots of questionable phone calls. It could have been a scam. 

“I almost hung up on him,” Fisher said.

But he didn’t. Because he recognized the name, Fisher got his phone number and asked his son to check out the man. 

The next day, the two reconnected, recalling how the Army brought them together in 1968 during the Vietnam War. But this call wasn’t just to catch up. 

Now a successful retired businessman, the caller wanted to honor his former commander and to recognize the impact Fisher had on his life long after the Army. 

But Fisher, who lives in Colorado with his son, didn’t need or want anything for himself. 

Could he make a charitable donation instead? After some thought, Fisher chose St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. 

“I’ve seen the ads. St. Jude is doing a lot of research in terms of cancer for children,” Fisher said. “I’m very impressed and all my friends think I made a great choice.” 

The soldier donated $100,000 to St. Jude in Fisher’s honor. 

The amount was a surprise.

“We thought it was very, very generous, and we were of course shocked,” said son Brett Fisher. 

It was a good choice.

“I’m a big fan of St. Jude,” said the anonymous donor, a long-time admirer of St. Jude. 

Both men appreciate that St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

And they both applaud the way St. Jude supports families. 

Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.

“It’s all about the kids,” the donor said. 

In 1968, Fisher was assigned to take over an Army combat unit that had seen significant casualties among its commissioned and non-commissioned officers.

Early that year, the Tet Offensive sent North Vietnamese troops into military installations, urban areas, towns and villages in South Vietnam.  

The gamble to move away from its established guerrilla warfare resulted in significant North Vietnamese casualties. Lost American lives included soldiers from the donor’s combat unit.

Morale was low and they were “thirsty” for leadership, Fisher said of his new troops. 

“We lost our company commander. We lost a couple of first lieutenants, lost a bunch of sergeants,” the donor, who was then a sergeant, recalled. “Our company was really beat up. He came in and put us all back together again.”

Over the many decades, whenever he faced challenges in business or in life, the donor would ask himself, what would Fisher do? 

“What guy had done more for us?” the donor asked.

Brett wasn’t surprised that his dad’s guidance would have such a lasting impact. 

“I’m extremely proud about the whole thing, but I’m really not surprised,” he said. “He’s always been a leader. He’s always been strong.”

Some of it comes from growing up and working on the family’s ranch in Montana, Brett said. 

“You don’t know the kind of impact you have on people,” Fisher said. “You hope it’s positive. But I’m sure there are some who would say ‘Ed Fisher’s a jerk.’ It balances out.”

Since being reunited, the two Army veterans talk often about life after Vietnam. 

The donor hopes others will follow Fisher’s example and donate to St. Jude.

“Honor people that helped you through life by giving to St. Jude,” he said.