Fort Campbell plans event to honor Vietnam veterans

Here's an important request from me. If you go to this, could you please take some pictures or write about it? My husband was with the 101st 1970-1971 in Vietnam on Camp Evans and then Camp Eagle. On August 16th we are going to a going away party for a friend's daughter heading back to college. He was with my husband part of the time in Vietnam and while they lost touch for a long time, in 1999, I tracked him down. We get together as much as possible and the two of them act as if they have lost no time at all. So there are two veterans with you in spirit anyway but cannot go to this event.

Fort Campbell plans event to honor Vietnam veterans
By: John Brannon Messenger Staff Reporter

Posted: Monday, July 27, 2009 9:05 pm

By JOHN BRANNON
Messenger Staff Reporter
A recent announcement from the commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky., seeks to right a great social wrong from the 1970s.
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Schloesser stated a Welcome Home ceremony for Vietnam veterans will be held at the fort at 2 p.m. Aug. 16.
Vietnam veterans from all units, branches and services are invited to participate in a special ceremony.
Ed Southern of Union City, a Marine Corps veteran who served two tours in Vietnam, is delighted that after all these years — the Vietnam war was officially ended April 30, 1975 — veterans of the conflict will be properly praised and publicly thanked for their service, at least at Fort Campbell. “It’s a long time coming,” he said.
Joe Alexander, president of the 101st Airborne Division Association, said Vietnam veterans will have the rare privilege of receiving the same welcome home that every member of the 101st receives when they return from the war on terrorism.
“To participate, everyone is to enter Fort Campbell at Gate 7 Aug. 16 and assemble in casual patriotic attire no later than 2 p.m. at the Freedom Fighter gymnasium near the 4th Basic Combat Training (BCT) headquarters,” Alexander said.
Buses will be available at the gymnasium to ferry everyone to and from Hangar 3 at the airfield.
“Vietnam veterans will be greeted by our new commanding general, Maj. Gen. John Campbell,” Alexander said. “What a memorable moment. I am a veteran of the Vietnam war and it touches me deeply to know that our commanding general has made this special effort to include the Vietnam veteran in the same honors given to our active duty soldiers.”
After the Hangar 3 ceremony, buses will ferry everyone back to the gymnasium for a free barbecue meal for Vietnam veterans. Each such veteran is allowed one guest.
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