The veterans protested the "poor treatment in America's veterans' hospitals and demanded better treatment for returning veterans, a full investigation of all Veterans Administration (VA) facilities, and a face-to-face meeting with the head of the VA, Donald E. Johnson. Before he went on to fame as B.A. Ron Kovic was born July 4, 1946, in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. They had run away, all run away to the trees near the river, and I yelled and cursed at them to come back but nobody came. NAACP member Rosa Parks became famous for her role in the 1955 Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott. In real life, though Kovic expressed his remorse to the family publicly in his book, he never met them. It would be directed by Oliver Stone (see entry), a Vietnam veteran who had recently won an Academy Award for his Vietnam War movie Platoon. "It was written because I decided not to hate anymore. He left a lasting legacy by taking . "My sacrifice, my paralysis, the difficulties, the frustrations, the impossibilities of each and every day would now be for something very valuable, something that would help protect the young people of this country from having to go through what I went through," he told Seidenberg. This book became a best seller, and inspired other people to make film and songs about it, which added a considerable amount to his net worth. The effects of the Vietnam War reverberated for years after it ended, both in the lives of the people who'd fought or lost loved ones and in our popular entertainment. on the campus of Kent State University. His nephew, Adam Kovic, is part of a YouTube gaming collective called Funhaus. Born on the Fourth of July. He loved playing video games when he was a kid, which was his escape from the real world - he also had a dream of going to the military because some of his family members enlisted, and his uncle Ron Kovic was played by Tom Cruise in the "Born on the Fourth of July" movie. General Vo Nguyen Giap was the leader of the North Vietna, PRONUNCIATION: vee-et-nuh-MEEZ In 1989, the book was made into a film by Oliver Stone, in which Tom Cruise played Kovic. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)as Writer, The U.S. vs. John Lennon (2006)as Himself, The 62nd Annual Academy Awards (1990)as Himself - Nominee: Best Adapted Screenplay, Your email address will not be published. Encyclopedia.com. . Quang Binh Province, Vietnam Here are a dozen items of interest about this turning point in both mens careers. "It's All Coming Together For Ron Kovic", S.F. Kovic then spent a week in an intensive care ward in Da Nang. RON KOVIC, age 19, lies paralyzed in a Veteran's Administration hospital. All rights reserved. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/ron-kovic-34794.php. Ron Kovic was born July 4, 1946, in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. It paid off. But the studio's insurance companyspoil sportsnixed it. After seeing a rough cut of the movie, Universal ordered that the scene be re-shot with a larger crowd6000 extras instead of the 600 Stone had used. "It's enabled me to reach millions of people with a message of peace and a message of hope.". Long Time Passing: Vietnam and the Haunted Generation. In the late 1970s and early 1980s Kovic continued writing and published a novel, Around the World in Eighty Days. AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Jane Fonda, The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, Himself - Nominee: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. I wrote all night long, seven days a week, single space, no paragraphs, front and back of the pages, pounding the keys so hard the tips of my fingers would hurt. The film cost about $18 million to make and grossed $161 million worldwide. $1 Million. Kovic is the uncle of internet personality Adam Kovic.[18]. advertisement. In real life, Kovic had not attended that event, which was peaceful and was not broken up by police (though others were; Stone had consolidated several incidents into one). They wont care that seven members of the Molina family have served in the U.S. military while another fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Ron Kovic got wounded and consequently paralyzed during the Vietnam war. Kovic's speech that day was interrupted by a bomb threat and the auditorium was cleared. the whole . But, instead of feeling like a hero, he grappled with feelings of guilt and shame. He was, however, a respected athlete in wrestling and track. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). He was the guest of honor at a reception held at London's city hall by Mayor Ken Livingstone. Kenneth, B.A., M.A. The orderly laughed and replied, "Vietnam, Vietnam don't mean nothing to me or any of these people. When Kovic was growing up, his father worked as a supermarket clerk, while his mother was a stay-at-home mom to Ron and his five younger siblings. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. As he lay on the battlefield, waiting to be evacuated to a hospital, he recalled, "All I could feel was cheated. In high school Kovic joined the wrestling team and became a pole-vaulter on the track The Marine fromChesnee, S.C., was part of the2nd Battalion,2nd Marine Regimentbased atCamp Lejeune, N.C. In reality, this meeting never happened, but director Stone admits this was done to add to the inner conflict Kovic was going through and to give him some closure. This year, the Philippines agreed to give the U.S. access to four more bases on the islands. Kovic had been skeptical when Cruise was first cast, but was soon won over by the actor's commitment to the role and his sincerity. Kovic describes an incident in a VA hospital in the Bronx, where he was treated after he broke his leg while doing stretching exercises. He is a Vietnam War veteran an ex-sergeant in the US Marine Corps anti-war activist and writer, who is probably best recognized for publishing his autobiography Born On The Fourth Of July (1976), which was later turned into a memorable film directed by Oliver Stone. Ron Kovic was born on July 4, 1946, in Ladysmith, Wisconsin but was raised in Massapequa, Long Island, New York. Military Awards: Bronze Star with Combat V, Purple Heart, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal. I was addressing the whole U.S.A.". I wouldn't have cared if Oliver had called me personally, based on what we'd been through." No, Molina said, the other Marines didnt flee, and hes angry Kovic would even suggest it. When he tried to admit his tragic mistake to a superior officer, the officer refused to believe him and promoted him to lead a combat patrol. I wanted to share with them as nakedly and openly and intimately as possible what I had gone through, what I had endured. He even considered making it his profession but destiny had other plans for him. Thats when he learned Kovic not only survived, but had written an autobiography. Photo Courtesy Kent State University. Kovic came home and wrote his book. He graduated from a summer school and earned a general diploma. When the book came out, I went ballistic, Kleppen wrote. I dragged him over behind a little mound to get him out of the open.. Ron Kovic: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. Born on the Fourth of July is Kovic's most recognizable work. "In the war we were killing and maiming people. In the book, he has chronicled the horrific battlefield days and the devastating effects of war. Kovic presently lives in an apartment in Redondo Beach and spends most of his time working on a sequel to Born on the Fourth of July. 27 Apr. He can be seen in the parade at the beginning of the film, playing the wheelchair-bound soldier who flinches at the sound of firecrackers. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. Ron Kovic Net Worth $1 Million. Fun facts: before fame, family life, popularity rankings, and more. "All of a sudden, I realized that Cruise understood, that I had a brother, I had a friend." He spent fifteen months covering the war fo, Nguyen Cao Ky The facility was dirty, understaffed, and lacking in basic medical supplies and equipment. When you spend more than two decades in various federal penitentiaries, its difficult to stay in touch. The guy was nearly dead, and thats what he thinks he saw. In 1989, on the last day of filming Born on the Fourth of July, Kovic presented actor Tom Cruise, who portrayed him in the movie, the original Bronze Star he had received,[15] explaining to Cruise that he was giving him the medal as a gift "for his heroic performance". Born on the Fourth of July - Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, See the events in life of Ron Kovic in Chronological Order, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8gAlxNNiIU, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzn9hjNsDHM, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H18YoJ7tEo4, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJjj-mDsGo4, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsZK_hsWyds. Due to his exemplary service and courage, he was awarded a Purple Hear, but instead of feeling proud, he was wrestling guilt and shame. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/kovic-ron, "Kovic, Ron He squared off against Henry Kiss, Kovel, Ralph 1920-2008 (Ralph M. Kovel, Ralph Mallory Kovel), Kovalsky, Marian Albertovich (Voytekhovich), Kowalski, Hon. Molina said it was the saddest moment of his life. Nguyen Cao Ky, Ellsberg, Daniel He has also written several screenplays for popular films, which have also increased his net worth. In his book, "Born on the Fourth of July," Ron Kovic relates advice he received from a priest at the military hospital in Da Nang, Vietnam. Ronald Kovic was born on the 4th of July 1946 in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. You can take your Vietnam and shove it up your ass. (Tom Cruise was 27 when he played the role.). The book was adapted into a 1989 Academy Award-winning film of the same name co-written by Oliver Stone and Ron Kovic, starring Tom Cruise as Kovic. He spent the summer of 1969 in Mexico with a group of other disabled veterans, drinking, doing drugs, and visiting prostitutes in order to ease his physical and emotional pain. When Cruise was cast instead, Sheen heard the news not from Stone but from his own brother, Emilio Estevez. I think he was delirious, Molina said. Molina read the book in prison. He and director Oliver Stone wrote much of the script together at a cafe in Venice, CA. Kovic was fighting near LOC of the Republic of Vietnam when an enemy bullet hit him in the left heel. Oliver Stone's second Vietnam War film, Born on the Fourth of July, made three years after Platoon, was inspired by the memoirs of vet Ron Kovic. Charlie Sheen, who had starred in Stone's previous Vietnam blockbuster, Platoon, believed Stone was going to cast him in Born on the Fourth of July, too, and said (in 2011) that Stone had flat-out told him the part was his. They dont show R-rated films in prison, Molina said. //]]>, American Vietnam War veteranand antiwar activist. Molina, 65, served with Kovic in H&S Co., 1st AmTrac Battalion, 3rd Marine Division in the late 1960s. His physical paralysis precipitated a political journey for Kovic, from fervent anti-communist soldier to impassioned anti-war veteran. Molina recalls that his fellow Marines fought bravely and that he rescued Kovic. Shania Twain, in Seattle concert, shows why she's a legend, Roy Wood Jr.'s funniest jokes at the White House correspondents' dinner, U.S. principal forced out in 'porn' flap views David statue in Italy, Jack Nicholson returns to courtside for Lakers' playoff game, Actor Danny Masterson drugged, raped women, prosecutor says. As far as the title of the book is concerned, it is believed that Kovic is proud of being born on July 4, Americas Independence Day. Ron Kovic was born in July 1946 in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. The Untold Truth Of Everglow Member - Wang Yiren. Kovic. He expected his family and his community to greet him as a hero. It was also infested with rats. "Kovic, Ron When he rode in a Fourth of July parade in Massapequa, people just stared at him instead of cheering. In 1990, Kovic considered running for a seat in the House of Representatives against California Republican Bob Dornan. During one battle against enemy forces, he remembered thinking: "Here was my chance to win a medal, here was my chance to fight against the real enemy, to make up for everything that had happened. Reinforcements enabled medics to get Kovic out of the area and onto a medevac helicopter. His primary purpose for joining the Marines was to serve his country. An official at the archives confirmed to me the existence of the recording. It was popular at the box office, and it also received strong critical reviews. Examiner, June 25, 1978. He had a relationship with Connie Panzarino (author of The Me in the Mirror). Throughout his childhood, Kovic viewed war as an exciting way for young American men to prove their courage. His current residence is in Redondo Beach, California. A famous anti-war activist and author, he is best known for his 1976 autobiography, Born on the Fourth of July. His book is an unflinching portrait of the disability wards at many Veterans Administration (now Veterans Affairs) hospitals. Kovics choice was further strengthened by values that were imbibed by him right from his childhood days as he was raised by a family with military background. In fact, Molina maintains he is the one who rescued Kovic. In fact, it won four Golden Globes and two Academy Awards. But U.S. government officials felt that a Communist government in Vietnam would increase the power of the Soviet Union and threaten the security of the United States. In fact, in the interview with McCombs, Kovic called it "the biggest moment in my life, the vindication [reward for being proven right] of all the years that the government had tried to shut me up, to spit in my face. New York: Columbia University Press, 1986. In 1990, he told Time magazine that Vietnam Veterans Against the War was fighting for a "more truthful dialogue. ", In 1971 Kovic joined an antiwar group called Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW). In the film, Ron is shown being beaten up and arrested at an anti-war demonstration in Syracuse, New York. A film of same title, directed by .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Oliver Stone and starring Tom Cruise as Kovic, was released in 1989. Soon, Ron went to fight in the Vietnam War as a volunteer, and was seriously injured after being shot him in the spine, paralyzing him from the waist down, also effecting him psychologically. The Vietnam War pitted the Communist nation of North Vietnam against the U.S.-supported nation of South Vietnam. He was considering a career as a professional baseball player after graduation, but a speech by a local military recruiter inspired him to enlist in the Marines instead. But I remember everything, and thats exactly what happened., Id be more than happy to get together with them, Kovic said, before ending the conversation to catch a flight from Los Angeles to New York. The Marines say that this new program, dubbed the "Small-Unit Leader Initiative," is being rolled out to continue the push to Military and overseas voters will effectively get more time to return absentee ballots under a bill Gov. It's been 40 years since Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic wrote the draft for "Born on the Fourth of July" and 25 years since Tom Cruise played him in the Oscar-winning film. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. When Kovic was a boy, his family moved to Massapequa, Long Island, New York. His story matches that of Floridas Dennis Kleppen, another survivor of the firefight Jan. 20, 1968, at Cua Viet, south of the Demilitarized Zone. Ron Kovic spent his childhood in Massapequa, New York State, where he moved with his family when he was very young. Of his recovery, Kovic told Newsweek in 1983: "It was a terrible period of time. ", This experience and many others like it were part of what drove Kovic to become an activist for peace and on behalf of his fellow veterans. He became increasingly active with Vietnam Veterans of America, run by his friend at the time. But his wartime servicewhich ended when he received a severe wound that left him paralyzed from the chest downtaught him the cruel reality of war. under heavy enemy fire. [3], Kovic was born in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, the second of six children [1] of Patricia Ann Lamb (January 6, 1923 June 30, 2006) and Eli Thomas Kovic (August 3, 1920 May 1, 1999). Ronald Lawrence Kovic, also known as Ron Kovic, is an American anti-war activist, writer, and United States Marine Corps sergeant, is Adam's uncle. Hence, Molinas second correction request. Kovic, along with his teammates, served at the H&S Co., 1st AmTrac Battalion and 3rd Marine Division. Kovic's memoir received a great deal of critical praise upon its publication. He was the second of six children in a patriotic, working-class, Catholic family. His father, Eli Kovic, worked as a clerk in a supermarket, while his mother, Patricia Kovic, was a homemaker. What's happening in Vietnam is a crime against humanity.". Some people viewed Vietnam veterans as symbols of an increasingly unpopular war. [8], In November 2003, Kovic joined protests in London against the visit of George W. Bush. Moss, Nathaniel. Kovic spent the next two years working on the film version of his life story. (That's where the Mexico scenes were shot, too.) Kovic received the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay on January 20, 1990 . Ron Kovic spent his childhood in Massapequa, New York State, where he moved with his family when he was very young. I looked to my left flank and all the men were gone, Kovic wrote. I remember exactly what happened that day, from my perspective. team. That same year, he published a best-selling autobiography, Born on the Fourth of July, detailing his experiences as a Vietnam veteran. When the filming was completed, Kovic presented Cruise with the Bronze Star he had earned in Vietnam. Several months later, Johnson resigned. Kovic's men began shooting without a formal order to fire and then continued firing until they had destroyed the hut. North Vietnam wanted to overthrow the South Vietnamese government and reunite the two countries under one Communist government. In 2003, Kovic led a protest against the Iraq War during the administration of George W. Bush. Stone later said that while Pacino would have been great, he had qualms about the then-38-year-old actor being too old for the part. In the process, he even spearheaded a few hunger strikes. Their sons were not cowards. Because of his service and courage, Kovic was awarded a purple heart medal. [1] It tells the story of Kovic's life growing up in Massapequa, New York, joining the United States Marine Corps right out of high school, going to Vietnam for two tours of duty, getting shot, finding himself paralyzed and in need of a wheelchair, and eventually starting a new life as a peace activist. They can subpoena me and Kovic and Kleppen and determine whats true and whats false, Molina said. Disturbed by the Vietnam War and the plight of the people there, Kovic was disillusioned and frustrated and started thinking of the ways to wipe this frustration out. He was an all-American boy, so proud of being born on his country's birthday, he said. Kovic wrote about his journey from patriotic soldier to disabled veteran to antiwar activist in a critically acclaimed 1976 autobiography, Born on the Fourth of July. Ron Kovic, literally "Born on the Fourth of July," author of his classic anti-war memoir and subject of the Oliver Stone film based on the book, marks the day of patriotic zealotry with dread. His dream was to become a professional baseball player after matriculation. Shared commitment bred shared purpose and gave many of them, including Kovic, a sense of healing. Ron Kovic was born on July 4, 1946 at Ladysmith, Wisconsin. Everybody needs to know the truth.. I am the living death, a Memorial Day on wheels. "Then 'The Star-Spangled Banner' played. Kovic attended the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. They were told the citizens of the village were armed. Kovic refused to leave and was taken away by police. In the book, Kovic claimed he was carried to safety by a black Marine. I had been beaten by the police and arrested twelve times for protesting the war and I had spent many nights in jail in my wheelchair. American anti-war activist, veteran, and author Ron Kovic have a $1 million net worth. Convinced that I was destined to die young, I struggled to leave something of meaning behind, to rise above the darkness and despair. He was, however, brought-up in Massapequa, Long Island, New York. He received the Bronze Star Medal for heroism as well as the Purple Heart Medal. Astrological Sign: Cancer, Article Title: Ron Kovic Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/ron-kovic, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: June 24, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. He published his autobiography, Born on the Fourth of July in 1976. In 1976, Ron spoke about the significance of peace at the Democratic National Convention. Tom Cruise. He saw the film after his release. Homeless (2016). He took up baseball during his college days and excelled in that as well. Vietnam War Reference Library. Im willing to do it under the penalty of perjury.. Further, Adam got inspired by some family members who were in the military and aspired to go into the military as well. So, have you ever wondered how rich Ron Kovic is, as of early 2017? CBS had a version ready to air in early 1991, barely a year after the film's theatrical debut, but called it off because of the impending Persian Gulf War. Kovic continues to fight against war and in support of veterans' rights. Le Duc Tho was the main negotiator for the Communist government of North Vietnam. His parents soon moved to Massapequa, NY, where he was raised a proud patriot in a family with a history of military service. Net Worth, Real Na Ashley Hinshaw's Wiki Biography. Speaking about his personal life, Ron Kovic has never been married, although he was in a relationship with author Connie Panzarino. Ron Kovic is a veteran of the Vietnam War and anti-war activist. . I wanted them to know what it really meant to be in a war to be shot and wounded, to be fighting for my life on the intensive care ward not the myth we had grown up believing. "Now I wanted to know what I had lost my legs for, why I and the others had gone at all. Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2005. One of the most memorable actors ever almost gave it up to be an Air Force pilot. When a group of recruiters from the U.S. Marine Corps gave a presentation at his high school, Kovic was deeply impressed. Estimated Net Worth. Despite a second autopsy concluding Marine Pfc. Ron Kovic - Anti-war Activist, Family and Family. Thanks to his accomplishments, Ron was nominated for the WGA Award, BAFTA Film Award, and Oscar for Best Writing and Screenplay, as well as winning a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay Motion Picture. His father had served proudly in World War II (19391945). While there, Kovic grew angry and disgusted at the way the U.S. government was treating its veterans. As the Republican political party officially nominated Richard Nixon (see entry) to run for a second term as president, Kovic and his friends disrupted Nixon's acceptance speech by repeatedly shouting "Stop the bombing, stop the war." In recent years, Kovic continued to spread anti-war messages and to participate in demonstrations against war. POPULATION: 70-80 million In the spring of 1975, Kovic, author Richard Boyle, and photo journalist Loretta Smith traveled to cover the Cambodian Civil War in Cambodia for Pacific News Service.[8]. He escaped unharmed and soon was reassigned to another unit. This page was last edited on 1 November 2022, at 21:37. Kovic needed assistance one day and, once again, couldn't get anyone's attention. He gave a moving speech before the Democratic party formally nominated Jimmy Carter as their presidential candidate. In 1965 President Lyndon Johnson (see entry) sent American combat troops to join the fight on the side of South Vietnam. Family; Parents: Not Available: Wife: Not Available: Sibling: Not Available: Children: Not Available : New York: McGraw Hill, 1976. Ron Kovic was born on July 4, 1946 at Ladysmith, Wisconsin. Charlie Sheen, who had starred in Stone's previous Vietnam blockbuster, Platoon, believed Stone was going to cast him in Born on the Fourth . . Actress Jane Fonda said that the movie about Vietnam War Coming Home in which she was a lead star was also inspired by Rons book. Baracus on "The A-Team," Mr. T was a member of the . A film of same title based on Kovic's book directed by Oliver Stone and starring Tom Cruise as Kovic, was released in 1989. I remember standing up and feeling very patriotic, chills running up and down my spine. They had received information that the villagers were armed, but after the encounter, Kovic found out that none of the killed citizens, had any arms. I had all of my senses. [CDATA[ South Vietnamese military officer and political Born on the Fourth of July was written in Santa Monica, California, during the fall of 1974 in exactly one month, three weeks and two days. [15], Kovic lives in Redondo Beach, California, where he writes, paints, plays the piano, and gardens. Ronald Lawrence Kovic (born July 4, 1946) is an American anti-war activist, writer, and United States Marine Corps sergeant who was wounded and paralyzed in the Vietnam War.His 1976 memoir Born on the Fourth of July was made into the Academy Award-winning 1989 film directed by Oliver Stone.. Kovic received the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay on January 20, 1990, 22 years to the day . Name: Ron Kovic, Birth Year: 1946, Birth date: July 4, 1946, Birth State: Wisconsin, Birth City: Ladysmith, Birth Country: United States. . My hero is Ron Kovic. They referred the act as collateral damage. As it is, he could face sanctions from the Bureau of Prisons for talking to me for this story. The movie Born on the Fourth of July became a big success upon its release in 1989. "Your fight is just beginning," the priest told him. As a high school student, Kovic didnt excel in academics. His 1976 memoir Born on the Fourth of July was made into the Academy Awardwinning 1989 film directed by Oliver Stone. Kovic penned down the details of how he, along with his fellow platoon members, was exploited as Marine staff sergeants. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. All the 18 members were elites of the Marine Corps. Ron Kovic Questions Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's 'Need to Go to War' . He began volunteering for dangerous duty and taking foolish chances in hopes of being wounded and sent home. I wish them well.. Ultimately, it comes down to differing versions of the same moment in time, told by people who remember what they remember. He inspired the Bruce Springsteen song, "Shut Out the Light.". Molina and Kleppen said they have written to Kovic without receiving a response. His first arrest was during an anti-Vietnam War demonstration at an Orange County, California draft board in the spring of 1971. I wanted people to know about the hospitals and the enema room, about why I had become opposed to the war, why I had grown more and more committed to peace and nonviolence. As time passed, Kovic grew increasingly angry, depressed, and bitter about his military service and the treatment he received when he returned home. "Kovic, Ron After complaints from the Syracuse Police Department, Stone reportedly sent a letter of apology in March 1990.