Vietnam veterans receive annual honor at food court

Retired Staff Sgt. Tom Finch remembers being attacked by protesters at the Seattle airport in 1969 when he returned home from Vietnam.

He appreciates today that the United States celebrates Vietnam War Veterans Day every March 29. On Friday he was among about a dozen Vietnam veterans and Vietnam-era veterans who received commemorative lapel pins and cake during the annual observance at the Exchange and Commissary. They gathered for a brief ceremony in the Exchange food court.

Finch, 78, of Madison, served in Vietnam in 1968-69. He was drafted in 1967 and retired from the Army in 2004 after 37 years of service.

“I’m glad they’re doing it,” he said of today’s recognition for Vietnam veterans. “But we were treated so badly when we came home that it makes me angry at people my age that yelled at us, called us names, yet they weren’t brave enough to go in the military. When I came home, I was attacked by protesters at the airport in Seattle, Washington.”

Garrison Commander Col. Erin Eike and Command Sgt. Maj. John Fritz thanked the veterans for their service during the Vietnam War era from Nov. 1, 1955, to April 30, 1975.

“Sincerely thank you so much for your service,” Eike said. “We wouldn’t be here without you.”

Fritz referred to Vietnam as “a conflict unlike any other in our nation’s history.” American service members were generally shunned in the U.S. for their involvement in an unpopular war.

“Many of you did not receive the welcome home that you deserved,” Fritz said. “I’d just like to say personally from me, thank you for what you’ve done.”

Marcellous Love, 80, of Madison, served in Vietnam from 1967-68 and 1970-71. He retired from the Army as a first sergeant in 1986 after 21 years of service.

“Honestly, I’m glad to see them truly recognize the Vietnam veterans because for so many years we just were like overlooked,” Love said. “So, I’m just glad to see they’re recognized now. I really appreciate today.

“I think a lot to do with that is education. It was an honor to serve. And finally, they get a little recognition, not just for me but as a whole. I see a lot of homeless veterans by my church, they stay at the mission. My church does a lot to supply them with food, clothes, counseling. We have a service center there. We try to honor and take care of (the veterans).”

Jim Campbell, 77, of Harvest, served in Vietnam from 1970-71 at Cam Rahn Bay with the Air Force. He left the Air Force as a sergeant after four years and he moved here six years ago from Chicago.

“I think it’s about time,” Campbell said of this nation’s recognition of Vietnam veterans. “They were ignored for so many years. … It’s well overdue, well overdue.”

Dennis Andersen, 75, of Huntsville, is a Vietnam-era veteran who was drafted in September 1972. He stayed in the Army and retired as a major in December 1992 after 20 years and four months of service. He worked 15 years in civil service at Redstone and retired in January 2015 from the Missile Defense Agency.

“It’s well-deserved, it’s about time,” Andersen said of Vietnam War Veterans Day. “There’s a lot of people that are still suffering from that war and don’t get any credit for it.”

Commissary Store Director Samuel Somerville, himself a Vietnam-era veteran, expressed his appreciation to the group. He entered the Army in 1970, and he retired as a command sergeant major in 2000 after 30 years of service.

“It’s about you,” Somerville told the veterans. “That’s what it’s all about.”