Vietnam veteran found dead in SUV 'had the biggest heart'
FORT PIERCE − Vincent Patrick Mulhern loved riding around in his sport utility vehicle and enjoyed taking pictures.
A Vietnam veteran, Mulhern, 73, was so happy after recently getting a Purple Heart license plate for his Chevrolet Trax, according to his sister, Gail Peters, of Port St. Lucie.
Within days – on Aug. 13 – Mulhern would be found dead in that Chevrolet on the southern portion of Indian Hills Drive, east of U.S. 1.
Police have said there were no signs of foul play, and Peters said she thinks Mulhern had a heart attack.
“Vinny was a rolling stone ... everybody loved him,” Peters, 76, said in a recent interview. “He had the biggest heart. He was so generous. He was so good and he was so happy.”
Fort Pierce police publicly asked for help in finding Mulhern after he last was seen about 5 p.m. Aug. 11 at 12A Buoy restaurant, just north of the downtown area.
Peters said she, Mulhern and their sister, Eileen Molloy, 75, of Vero Beach, dined at the restaurant. Molloy and Peters took one vehicle, and Mulhern was in his vehicle.
Peters said she tried reaching Mulhern about 8 p.m. and didn’t hear from him.
“By midnight, I’m frantic,” Peters said.
Peters said that she, Molloy and Mulhern have three deceased siblings. One of their brothers died in March, and Mulhern had that brother’s vehicle.
“He was so happy, because the day before, he got his license plate with the Purple Heart,” Peters said. “And he was just so happy.”
Peters said Mulhern had been living in Eureka, Calif., and arrived in the local area about 10 days before his passing.
The day Mulhern was found dead, he had planned to drive to New York where his son, Vincent Patrick Mulhern III, lives.
Peters said the elder Mulhern, a New York native, enlisted in the military, and served in the U.S. Army in the infantry during the Vietnam war.
“He wanted to serve his country,” Peters said, noting he was proud of his service.
Peters said after the service, Mulhern got married and had a son, but divorced. He remarried, but that wife passed away, Peters said.
She said Mulhern struggled with the impacts of his experience in Vietnam.
He had a number of jobs, including work as a plumber, a baker and a cook.
He also loved his guitar, and Peters said he could make up a song about someone quickly.
“He was retired, and so he didn't want to do anything but ride in the car, take pictures and visit people,” Peters said.
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Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on Twitter @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vincent Patrick Mulhern, 73, found dead in SUV in Fort Pierce
