John Blaszczak

John Blaszczak retired from the Army at Fort Hood and made his home in Killeen.He was a member of the local association all those years and was considered one of the area's top bowlers with seven career 300 games and a career high series of 820.

Like G.G., John's cancer was very rare with only 52 reported cases in the world.The cause, Agent Orange exposure during his service in Viet Nam.After a twelve and a half hour surgery to remove his larynx and all the lymph nodes in his neck he spent five days in ICU and another two weeks on ward.The surgery has left him with limited motion of his head and neck and no voice.

Next came 33 days of radiation and he was released to go home.Now each month he travels two and a half hours to San Antonio for exams and treatment.None of which has slowed down his bowling.

Exercises and reducing the weight of his bowling balls and with the help of bowling friends John hit the lanes determined to show he could still compete.His average quickly dropped from 210 to 175.Undaunted, he continued to practice and compete in leagues and has rolled a 279/685, 279/689 and a 685 series in three different centers since his return.John has been the secretary of the CENTEX Traveling Classic Bowling Association for many years and during his illness his wife and the TCBA President, Tom Christie assumed his secretarial duties.
...
John is back at the helm today.The illness isn't over for John and he has to be constantly checking for signs that might indicate the cancer has spread.They recently discovered a mass in his sinus area and new treatments are being scheduled.

In the mean time John isn't sitting around feeling sorry for himself, it isn't what an old retired Army First Sergeant would do.Instead, he's bowling.And each Wednesday night he and G.G. meet in the middle of Phantom Warrior Lanes at Fort Hood, they hug each other and feel blessed for their good fortune, good friends and the sport of bowling.

John Blaszczak retired from the Army at Fort Hood and made his home in Killeen.He was a member of the local association all those years and was considered one of the area's top bowlers with seven career 300 games and a career high series of 820.
...
Exercises and reducing the weight of his bowling balls and the with the help of bowling friends John hit the lanes determined to show he could still compete.His average quickly dropped from 210 to 175.Undaunted, he continued to practice and compete in leagues and has rolled a 279/685, 279/689 and a 685 series in three different centers since his return.

John has been the secretary of the CENTEX Traveling Classic Bowling Association for many years and during his illness his wife and the TCBA President, Tom Christie assumed his secretarial duties.
...
John is back at the helm today.

The illness isn't over for John and he has to be constantly checking for signs that might indicate the cancer has spread.They recently discovered a mass in his sinus area and new treatments are being scheduled.

In the mean time John isn't sitting around feeling sorry for himself, it isn't what an old retired Army First Sergeant would do.Instead, he's bowling.And each Wednesday night he and G.G. meet in the middle of Phantom Warrior Lanes at Fort Hood, they hug each other and feel blessed for their good fortune, good friends and the sport of bowling.