Topic: Vietnam Veterans

The Week of the Eagles starts August 14th

August 1, 2009 |

Fort Campbell, Ky – The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell will celebrate the Week of the Eagles Aug. 14-20.

The theme for this year’s festivities is “Their Strength and Courage Strike the Spark: Honoring our Sergeants,” in recognition of the Army’s Year of the NCO campaign.

Soldiers will compete in various events throughout the week, which are open to the public as spectators:

• Marksmanship Competition at Ranges 10, 13, and 14, Aug. 14, 10 a.m.
• Toughest Air Assault Soldier Competition at the Sabalauski Air Assault School, Aug. 16, 8 a.m.
• Combatives at the Personnel Processing Center (briefings begin at 8 a.m.), Aug. 17-18, 9 a.m.
• Basketball at Freedom Fighters Gym, Softball at the North Sports Complex (between Kentucky and Indiana Aves. at 47th and 49th Streets), Aug. 17-19, 9 a.m.

Everyone is invited to participate in other events: «Read the rest of this article»

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Absent, but not forgotten!

By Bill Larson | May 25, 2009 |

The Color guard approaches

It’s always a solemn occasion when a nation gathers to honor its soldiers, those who lived to come home, but even more importantly those who did not. There are 33 missing POW/MIA’s from the State of Tennessee. Each one was honored in a ceremony on Public Square in Clarksville this Sunday evening.

The Memorial Day Candle light vigil is held by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 396. This is the 20th consecutive year for the ceremony. It was first held in 1989, the same year the local chapter was chartered. The initial list contained a total of 43 names, since that time 9 comrades have found their way home, the latest in 2005.

The colors were posted as an honor guard of Montgomery Central High School JROTC Students stood a silent vigil around the war memorial on public square. Then a single chair representing all of the POW/MIA’s nationwide was placed in a position of honor before the audience. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and a moment of silence was held. Then Rev. Elijah Oliver of delivered the invocation.

State Senator Tim Barnes was introduced and spoke a few words. «Read the rest of this article»

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Vietnam Vets urged to be tested for Agent Orange exposure

March 18, 2009 |

Veterans who served in Vietnam are urged to be tested for possible damage caused by the defoliant Agent Orange.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), approximately 20 million gallons of herbicides were used in Vietnam between 1962 and 1971 to remove unwanted plant life and leaves which otherwise provided cover for enemy forces. Exposure to Agent Orange has caused 11 different diseases to develop among veterans who served in Vietnam.

It has also been concluded that exposure to Agent Orange could also affect the offspring of these veterans. Please contact the nearest VA medical center for an examination. Visit http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1 to find a center near you.

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Memorial Day vigil honors Vietnam Vets

By Christine Anne Piesyk | May 26, 2008 |

• Vietnam Vets honor POW-MIAs
• Rep. Joe Pitts addresses constituency
• “Eternal” Flame unlit on Memorial Day

One by one, as a bell tolled a single chime and the words “Absent, not forgotten” were spoken by people in the viewing stands, Vietnam veterans carried thirty-three empty chairs draped in the black and white POW-MIA logo, carrying the names of Tennessee soldiers still missing from the Vietnam War, to “center stage” and saluted.

To the side, another veteran lit a candle for each name called. Gery Ezell read the roster of the missing. Reverend Elijah Oliver gave the benediction for this vigil.

Dozens of Vietnam veterans and their families gathered in Public Square Sunday evening to honor their fallen comrades, Tennessee’s 33 POWs and MIAs of the Vietnam War. The event was sponsored by Chapter 396 of the Vietnam Veteran’s of America, who launched this annual service in 1989 when the fate of forty-three Tennessee soldier serving in Vietnam did not return. In the intervening years, 10 soldiers have been returned, the most recent in 2005. «Read the rest of this article»

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