Legion leader has privately recalled lost buddies, now he's front, center
by Edythe Jensen - May. 27, 2011 08:05 AM
The Arizona Republic
Photo courtesy Damon Cecil
Chandler resident Damon Cecil was a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War in 1968 and 1969. The photo was taken after one of his missions.
In the 43 years since he returned from combat in Vietnam, Chandler veteran Damon Cecil has avoided Memorial Day ceremonies, preferring to privately remember his Army buddies killed in conflict during the late 1960s.
On Monday as the commander of Chandler American Legion Post 35, Cecil, 64, will deliver his first public Memorial Day speech at Valley of the Sun Cemetery, 10940 E. Chandler Heights Road. It comes after years of therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and struggles with the negative way returning soldiers were greeted after an unpopular war.
"It is a pretty personal day for me. I have the memories of guys I flew with in Vietnam, their names, their wives' names. I wasn't sociable on Memorial Day," he said.
Cecil and hundreds of others will stand before the graves of 4,240 veterans for an annual ceremony that has been part of Chandler for 30 years. It starts at 9 a.m. with about 20 American Legion motorcycle riders carrying flags into the cemetery from Chandler Heights Road. Participants will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America" before a trumpet plays "Taps" followed by a 21-gun salute.
A decorated helicopter pilot, Cecil said he and other Vietnam vets weren't welcome by the American Legion when they returned from combat. He tells how he walked into a South Gate, Calif., Legion hall in 1971 wearing his uniform. An older member "asked me how come we're losing the war over there; are we smoking too much dope or what? I didn't want to hit the guy so I just finished my beer and left."
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Vietnam vet from Chandler to give Memorial Day speech
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