LAYTON -- Some might think Dave Roever has had an unlucky life. But if you ask him, it's been a miraculous adventure.
The 65-year-old Roever grew up in South Texas and said he never even thought of war until he received his draft notice one day in 1968 during the height of the Vietnam conflict.
While in Vietnam, he was a Navy riverboat gunner with the elite brown- water, black-beret unit. Eight months into his tour of duty, he suffered severe injuries when a phosphorous grenade exploded in his hand.
"A grenade exploded literally only inches from my right ear," Roever said. "And I'm still recovering 40 years later."
The explosion left Roever with major burns over most of his entire body. Roever said he looked down after the blast and could see his heart beating inside his chest.
Roever was hospitalized for 14 months and underwent multiple surgeries.
Roever will speak about his experiences in Vietnam and how he has been able to overcome them at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday at the Christian Life Center Church, 2352 E. Highway 193, Layton.
"The greatest thing I have learned during the years following that experience is that everybody gets hurt," he said. "(But) there is triumph in adversity. My pain has taught me compassion for others who are hurting. My scars are on the outside, but most people I meet have scars on the inside."
Roever spends much of his time traveling around the world and helping troops deal with the stress and trials of war.
"The more you talk about your experience, the easier it is to deal with the consequences," Roever said. "In the 40 years following my injury in Vietnam, I haven't had to deal with post-traumatic stress because I talk about it every day."
Roever and his wife, Brenda, cofounded the Eagles Summit Ranch near Westcliffe, Colo., where wounded U.S. military personnel learn how to deal with emotional recovery after devastating injury.
Roever said he was invited to speak at the Christian Life Center by the church's Senior Pastor Myke Crowder.
"He's a moving speaker and we're thrilled to have him," said Crowder's son Chris.
For more information on the event, www.clclayton.org.
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