Vietnam Vet Sets Pace at Arcadia High

Arcadia High School students and faculty gathered on the football field last weekend to listen to motivational speaker Bob Wieland. He then led them on a mile walk that raised money to benefit the school’s Performing Arts Group and a planned trip to Arcadia’s sister city of Newcastle, Australia, which was recently hit by an earthquake. Wieland, who lost both legs in the Vietnam War, has outclassed able-bodied weightlifters and competed in marathons. But his most famous accomplishment took place from 1982 to 1986. Walking with his arms, Wieland crossed the United States from Los Angeles to Washington, covering 2,784 miles to raise public awareness of world hunger. He was selected the 1988 U.S. Track Athlete of the Year after completing the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii.