Monday, March 31, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
Eldon "Butch" Plotner, a Vietnam War casualty and founder of the Southern Nevada Amputee Support Group, practices what he preaches about how disabled people can live active lives.
Last week, he won a participation medal for competing on the advanced slope on a mono-ski at Crested Butte, Colo., during the 11th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic.
Plotner, who lost a leg in a construction accident during the war, also participated in the snowmobile event, where he hit a bump, flew off the vehicle and landed in a snow bank. He scraped his chin, blackened an eye and was nicknamed "Crash" by his fellow competitors.
"My husband is a very determined and remarkable man," Eleanor Plotner said. "He is not an advanced skier, but he decided at the last minute to try the advanced course and he had an excellent run of about 50 seconds.
"He said when he looked down on the course before the run he thought it was really high and really steep."
Butch Plotner, 50, regularly visits local hospitals and talks to patients who are about to lose a limb and recent amputees. He encourages them not to give up hope and to live active lives.
Plotner founded his support group six years ago and was its first president for two years. He recently returned to the presidency of the organization that numbers about 70 members and their families.
Last week was Plotner's third trip to the national veterans winter clinic. In all, he has won four medals.
Medals were awarded to all participants who completed courses in Alpine and Nordic events. There were no gold, silver or bronze awards.
However, Plotner, a 23-year Las Vegas resident, is no stranger to gold medal performances. He won two gold medals and a bronze at the 1995 National Paralyzed Veterans Games in San Antonio.
It has been a miraculous road back for Plotner, who last year acknowledged the 30th anniversary of his becoming an amputee.
Eleanor, his wife of 13 years, said Butch was working in demolition for the Army in Vietnam when a bulldozer ran him over, severing his left leg below the knee and crushing his right leg.
After the war, Plotner became a house painter. After 20 years in that field, he retired.
In 1991, noting a lack of support available for local amputees, he founded his organization.
"My husband just wants to fit in like anyone else," Eleanor said. "He helps others accomplish that as well."
Plotner was one of two Las Vegans to compete in the clinic. The other was Jean Bukuku, 61, also an Army veteran.
More than 300 disabled veterans from 36 states participated in the Rocky Mountain clinic. Other events included wheelchair basketball, scuba diving and self-defense.
All participants were U.S. military veterans who had either spinal cord injuries or diseases, specific neurological conditions, orthopedic amputations, visual impairments or other disabilities.
The event was sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Disabled American Veterans and hosted by the VA Medical Center of Grand Junction, Colo. The clinic was part of the VA's recreational therapy program.
Before the week-long games, VA Secretary Jesse Brown, a disabled veteran, said in a news release: "During the clinic, these veterans will be challenged by the mountain ... by the conditions ... by the limits they think they have.
"And when they pass the test with flying colors -- and they will -- their lives will be forever changed."
Martin Begosh, the first American soldier wounded in Bosnia, competed in a past clinic and noted: "Everyone here has really motivated and inspired me. Everywhere you go, guys are giving it their all. No matter what their disability they are not stopping -- they're not giving up."
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