St. Lucie West family opens home to vets
Staff photo by Patrick McCallister
Korean War veteran Paul Harris, right, and his wife, Betty, left, enjoy the care they get from medical foster home caregiver Gabrielle Lezeau, center. The two are in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Medical Foster Home program. The program keeps them in a family setting while getting the daily care they need with activities such as dressing.
For Veteran Voice
ST. LUCIE WEST — James “Jim” Nuse sits comfortably by the screened-in pool. He cracks endless jokes with Paul Harris. Betty, Harris’ wife, laughs often. Both of the older men have walkers standing next to them. Word is Nuse is notorious about using his walker only when someone is makes him.
Nuse is a World War II veteran. Harris a Korean War veteran. Nuse served in the South Pacific as America closed in on Japan.
“Next thing I knew, I was in Tokyo,” he said. “I was in Tokyo for a long time.”
He adds, “I’m pretty sure I wasn’t in Korea.”
“You weren’t,” Harris said. “I looked around and didn’t see you.”
Gabrielle Lezeau watches the three as they tell stories, crack jokes, and laugh. She smiles a lot. The three live in her home. Her husband, Gide “Lou” Lezeau and 22-year-old daughter, help care for the Harrises and Nuse.