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Military vet, 75, found dead in West Melbourne on Veterans Day. Police seek info about his death

Daniel George Grala found dead near Wickham Road and Rodes Place

WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. – West Melbourne police are asking for the public’s help in a death investigation involving a 75-year-old military veteran.

Around 7:30 p.m. Monday, first responders arrived in the area of Wickham Road and Rodes Place, where Daniel George Grala was found injured and unresponsive in the roadway, according to a news release.

Details about Grala’s cause of death have not been released.

Grala served in the U.S. Army for 22 years, including tours in Korea and Vietnam.

His neighbor, Chris Mullins, served in the U.S. Marines.

“It’s a pretty horrible thing to happen to any veteran or anyone, for that matter,” Mullins told News 6 reporter James Sparvero.

The USMC veteran said Grala was friendly and liked saying “Hi” to his neighbors.

“We waved in the morning,” Mullins remembered. “It is nice to know exactly what happened or how the incident happened.”

Sparvero learned Grala was seen Monday night at a bar at the Metro West shopping plaza by the U.S. 192 intersection with Wickham Road.

The bar told James Grala was there every day, and usually, he took an Uber home, but Monday night, he walked.

Anyone with information about his death is asked to contact the police department or THI Investigator Jason Wheeler at 321-723-9673.

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