Make wishtv.com your home page

Veteran drives across country to donate kidney to friend

WASHINGTON STATE (CNN) – A Vietnam veteran in New York state is helping a fellow soldier, by giving him his kidney.

John Middaugh says he traveled across the country from Washington state to donate a kidney to his friend Bill Warner.

Middaugh was Warner’s company commander in Vietnam. They have stayed close over the years.

Warner says his kidneys failed after heart bypass surgery last year. After a relative and others failed to provide a match, Warner called Middaugh.

(CNN Photo)

They had the surgery this week.

“We’ve put our life on the line in other missions in Vietnam, and this is no different for those missions, so to speak,” Middaugh said. “He would do the same for me. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

Warner says he’s looking forward to getting back on his feet, and getting back on the golf course.