One digit apart: Two Rochester Vietnam veterans find a shared Vietnam past after chance meeting in Spencerport

SPENCERPORT, N.Y. — A chance meeting at a gas station in Spencerport brought together two Vietnam veterans who discovered a remarkable connection. John Hoomans and Gus Giannovola sat down with News10NBC investigative reporter Jennifer Lewke to share the story. Gus Giannovola works part-time pumping gas at the Quick Fill on Ridge Road in Spencerport. A few months ago, when John Hoomans pulled in, it was Gus’s turn to pump. As Gus walked to the car, John noticed his Vietnam Veteran hat, “I said, wow you re a Vietnam vet, so am I… were you in the army, he said yea, I was in the army, were you drafted, yea I was drafted I said so was I,” John recalls. That’s when John recited his service number: US51773492. “I stop pumping gas and I said, what did you just say” Gus remembers. John repeated himself. That’s when Gus recited his service number: US51773491. Their service numbers were nearly identical—one digit apart. “We got emotional and I said, this is crazy that we h