I would spot Leroy, a homeless Vietnam Veteran, at the 34th St. Madison Square Garden station. He would usually be sitting at the bottom of a stairwell with a box for people to throw money in. A few times he would have some artwork he had made expressing certain spiritual beliefs he held, especially of the Islamic faith. There was also a time when he adopted two kittens that stayed beside him. He got more money and attention by having these kittens. Could anyone blame him for this plea for sympathy? Certainly not I.

Throughout the years, I saw his health decline–he complained of being unable to hold down any food except for bread and water, anything else gave him diarrhea, a swelling eye filled with pus, and when I last saw him, he was slumped over in a wheelchair after having fallen down a flight of stairs. I asked him where he had gotten the wheelchair and he said the VA gave it to him.

I made these pictures of him on two separate occassions, however I saw him at least a dozen times throughout the years.