Page 111 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2020- Online Magazine

ARMY

VIETNAM

due to an infection and LUBBOCK
ensuing surgery on his has worked with
left leg. In all, he has had WWII, Korea and Vietnam veterans.
six surgeries on his left Throughout his VA career, Danny had
leg. Danny returned to continuous medical treatments and
Texas Tech in 1972 but hospitalizations. He finally retired in
had to drop out again 2006 after 29 years of government service.
because of another
surgery. He was finally Lara’s accomplishments and awards are
able to graduate from numerous. During his years at the VA,
Texas Tech in 1973. He Danny was awarded the Presidential
was employed by the Award for Outstanding Community
Department of Veteran Achievement of a Vietnam Veteran in
Affairs as a social 1979 by then President Jimmy Carter.
worker/counselor. He met Velma “Cissy” Ceballos at In 1982, he received the Secretary of the Veterans’
the South Plains Mall in Lubbock and told a friend, “I’m Administration’s Hands and Hearts Award. He was also
going to marry that girl!” He did indeed marry her in named the Outstanding Handicapped Federal Employee
1975. They have one daughter, Rebecca. Lara obtained his of the Year in 1984 by then President Ronald Reagan. In
master's degree from Our Lady of the Lake University in 2015, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award for
San Antonio in 1981, specializing in psychopathology. This “one who makes a difference” from the Frenship Class of
degree led him to become a Mental Health Coordinator, 1965. When asked what he would like to be remembered
specializing in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress for, Danny said, “for helping other veterans”. Mission
Disorder, a disorder that he himself has suffered through. accomplished and then some, Mr. Lara.
He established the first PTSD group in West Texas and

Senior Link 111