Vietnam era veterans were honored during ceremonies held on Saturday at the Major John Hack National Guard Armory in Trenton.
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A total of 56 individuals received the Vietnam War Medallion, recognizing their service to the U.S. during the Vietnam era. A medal and certificate were also presented by Missouri National Guard officials, including Lt. Col. Rick Dickinson of Jefferson City, Major George Acree of Lexington and 1st Sgt. Chad Smith and Sgt. Jesse Wills of the local guard unit. Mayor Cathie Smith and Rev. Barry Boulware were also part of the official recognition ceremonies.
Sen. Brad Lager of Maryville was the guest speaker and thanked those individuals being honored for their service to the United States during a time in which such a conflict was not popular among its citizens.
“It (thanks) is long overdue,” Lager said. “We want to thank you for stepping up to defend the freedom and way of life of this country. Our soldiers sacrifice so much to preserve our way of life. They know that freedom isn’t free.”
Lager noted that it is freedom that makes the United States a great country and that it is important that we, as Americans, “always welcome our soldiers home with the respect that they deserve.”
“They think not of themselves or their families, but of their country,” Lager said. “We need to appreciate and honor the devotion those soldiers have in defending our freedom and our way of life.”
Mayor Smith told of how those serving in the military during the Vietnam era were not always welcomed home because of the many individuals who were against the conflict that was taking place at the time.
“We were not allowed to call it a war; it was a police action,” she said. “Troops who were in uniform were the target of protesters and did not have the support when they came home. This (ceremony) is long overdue and we are also long overdue in welcoming them home.”
Tony Ralston of Trenton, who served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam era and helped plan the ceremony, welcomed those attending the event and presented a plaque to 1st Sgt. Christine Chaney of the local National Guard Unit for the unit’s assistance in the recognition efforts. Rev. Barry Boulware of the Wesley United Methodist Church gave the invocation and benediction and members of the local guard unit presented the colors.
Trenton High School student Michelle Gay sang the National Anthem. A moment of silence was also observed to remember those individuals who were either Killed or Missing In Action.
Receiving recognition during Saturday’s ceremonies and the branch of service in which they served were Sgt. Stephen Wayne Allen, U.S. Army; SSgt. Donald Paul Altes, U.S. Army; SP4 Edward L. Arnold, U.S. Army; SSgt. Jack Bain, U.S. Air Force; SN Steven Darold Booth, U.S. Navy; MM1 James Daniel Bush, U.S. Navy; Sgt. Margaret Gale Bolling Bush, U.S. Marines; SP5 Gary M. Dolan, U.S. Army; Cpl. Donald “David” Eads, U.S. Marines; Sgt. Thomas R. Eads, U.S. Marines; Sgt. Ellis Joel Farris, U.S. Air Force; Sgt. William Joseph Foster Jr., U.S. Air Force; YN2 Larry A. Griffin, U.S. Navy; MM3 David Lee Groom, U.S. Navy;
SSgt. Steven R. Hammond, U.S. Air Force; PFC Lannie L. Harkins, U.S. Army; 1Lt. Donald M. Henry, U.S. Marines; A2C William Frederick Heyle, U.S. Air Force; Sgt. Richard Dale Hickman, U.S. Air Force; Cpl. Russell Wayne Hickman, U.S. Marines; AMS Larry E. Huffstutter, U.S. Navy; SP4 Charles William Jennings, U.S. Army; SP4 Kenneth A. Keith, U.S. Army; Sgt. Jerry A. Keuhn, U.S. Army; SSgt. Raymond Ward Keuhn, U.S. Air Force; AO3 Robert Hall Lewis, U.S. Navy; SSgt. Hubert Michael Lowrey, U.S. Air Force; SSgt. John Woodrow Maples, U.S. Air Force; SP4 James Mac McGowan, U.S. Army; SP5 Bill G. McLain, U.S. Army;
PO3 Dale E. Meeks, U.S. Navy; HM3 Richard Daniel Meighen, U.S. Navy; SP5 Thomas W. Mock, U.S. Army; BM2 Danny Noel Moore, U.S. Navy; SP4 Billy Rex O’Banion, U.S. Army; Capt. Gary Paul Peterson, U.S. Air Force; Sgt. Paul J. Pfaff, U.S. Air Force; SP4 Charles A. Quilty. U.S. Army; Sgt. Anthony W. Ralston, U.S. Air Force; Sgt. Charles David Reid, U.S. Army; SP4 Larry D. Robinson, U.S. Army; SP4 Kerry R. Sampson, U.S. Army; SP5 Donald Lloyd Scott, U.S. Army; Sgt. John Sam Smith, U.S. Marines; SN Douglass F. Spears, U.S. Navy; SP5 Larry R. Spencer, U.S. Army;
SR Larry Dale Starrett, U.S. Navy; MSCS Jerry L. Stevenson, U.S. Navy; LCpl. Richard Troester, U.S. Marines; SP4 William R. Vaughn, U.S. Army; PFC Harold E. Walker, U.S. Army; SP5 Herbert G. Walker, U.S. Army; Lt. John Noel Whitley, U.S. Navy; AA Jerry R. Wilson, U.S. Navy; RD3 Richard Eugene Wilson, U.S. Navy; and SFC Wayne Eudell Griffin (deceased), U.S. Army.