Fort Stewart Welcomes Vietnam Veterans Home

UPDATE

At long last, Vietnam Veterans welcomed home in Fort Stewart ceremony
Savannah Now
By Corey Dickstein
Posted: June 19, 2015

Lydia Lee, of Savannah, cheers alongside her niece Rebecca Hill, of Athens, as they help "welcome home" about 500 Vietnam War veterans Friday evening during a ceremony at Fort Stewart's Cottrell Field. Lee, whose father served in the Air Force, had no relation to anyone participating in the ceremony that honored Vietnam vets for their service, but she wanted to support them. "It's time to welcome them home. Just like what my sign says, I wanted to thank them for all of our freedoms," she said.

Ian Maule/ Savannah Morning News- Vietnam veteran Jim Miller, of Savannah, Ga., poses for a portrait before the start of a Welcome Home Ceremony for Vietnam Veterans at Fort Stewart in Hinesville, Ga. on Friday, June 19th, 2015. Miller served as an Army EMT during the war.

In the front line of the massive formation of aging warriors, Carl Muthersbaugh marched proudly toward the rowdy crowd of excited onlookers gathered just below the grandstands at Fort Stewart’s Cottrell Field.

Wearing a camouflage vest covered in patches bearing the names and insignia of the units he once served with, Muthersbaugh grew emotional as he discussed the short, symbolic walk he and some 500 other Vietnam War veterans took across Fort Stewart’s parade grounds Friday evening amid the massive crowd. “It’s a great day,” said Muthersbaugh, of Savannah, after embracing his wife Judy at the completion of the march. “It’s a great day that should have happened 50 years ago.”

As the nation begins to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the long, controversial conflict in southeast Asia, Fort Stewart officials decided to honor Vietnam veterans in a special way — by giving them the homecoming ceremony they could not have a half century ago.

“After everything these guys have gone through, this is just so very emotional,” Marie Neal said. “I think this is one of the most important decisions (the Army has) ever made. For years, as family we’ve had to say ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you’ to our Vietnam veterans because no one else would. read more here