LYONS, Colo. (KDVR) — Gerald Tabor has spent a lifetime serving others. Whether it was in his Army uniform, deployed as a teenager to Vietnam, or back here at home in Colorado, when fires and floods devastated the places he loves.

"I got drafted. Shipped over there (to Vietnam). That was kind of my senior trip," Tabor told FOX31. He served in the 23rd Infantry Americal Division, serving at Landing Zone Dottie and Chu Lai in Vietnam. He was just 19 when he got to Vietnam.

His toughest day in Vietnam was July 7, 1971. 

"I don't want to get too much into it, but seven of us went up the hill, and three of us came off," Tabor said, holding back tears.

Tabor was one of the lucky ones. He got out of Vietnam alive after suffering the ravages of malaria three different times. After that, he returned to Colorado, but he wasn't done serving.

As a founding member of the local Lions Club, he's spent the last three decades helping the town he loves. They organized a fundraiser after last year's Stone Canyon fire.

"And within three weeks, we raised $16,000 for the four fire victims and had a celebration," he said.

They also helped Lyons recover after the floods of 2013 washed through here.

"We planted all the trees up Lyons, up the Main Street again," he said.

Tabor learned early on that serving was something he always wanted to do.

"I don't know, it just feels good, feels like the right thing to do."

Because of his service to our community and country, we're naming him the FOX31 Serving Those Who Serve Hero of the Month. He receives a plaque from our sponsors at American Furniture Warehouse, Plumbline Services and the Leo Hill Charitable Trust.

To nominate a veteran or active-duty service member for our Hero of the Month honors, visit the nomination page.