70-year-old Boyd “Bill” Mullis was inspired to serve in the military by his seven uncles and father who all served during World War II. More specifically, Bill wanted to serve as a Paratrooper just like his father.
In 1965, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve in the Vietnam War and completed Basic Training at Fort Gordon, Georgia. From there, he served in the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Bill continued to serve as a Paratrooper beyond the Vietnam era and completed four additional tours: three in Germany and one at Fort Carson, Colorado. He earned the rank of Staff Sergeant before being honorably discharged in 1984.
Heart problems, severely damaged hearing, bad knees, and a Traumatic Brain Injury are the service connected disabilities that accompanied Bill during his transition back to civilian life. Bill pursued a career in construction, focusing on his passion of wood and stone work. However, his disabilities made working progressively more difficult over time. Bill has needed to undergo heart surgery and his mobility is extremely limited due to his knees. Additionally, he is almost completely deaf in his left ear and has lost 50% of the hearing in his right ear. Communicating with other people tends to be complicated. Despite his struggles, Bill receives unconditional love from his wife, Patricia, and their four daughters.
Statesville, North Carolina, is where Bill and Patricia call home. Patricia is also limited in her mobility, so having a house that is safe and accessible is a critical need for the Mullis family. Their house is not meeting their safety needs currently, so Purple Heart Homes will be replacing their worn out front porch and installing a new wheelchair ramp. “These renovations mean having a safe entry and exit route for us, especially in emergencies, which is incredibly important. We really appreciate the help. I can’t go out and do the repairs myself anymore,” says Bill.
We appreciate the service and sacrifice you provided our nation, Bill. We welcome you and Patricia to our Purple Heart Homes family!
