Veterans Day 2007 Washington DC "A Magical Weekend" Ron Detmer (SFC, VVA 97 Color Guard) Here's a rundown as I know it to be, whether experienced or told to me as true. The Color Guard arrived on Friday afternoon and set up the Command Post at the Best Western in Fairfax, VA. Top (LJ), Top 2 (Ski), Dave Fuchs, and Rich Anderson went to the Wall that evening. Names were being read. The three approached one of the panels looking for the name of one of Ski's high school friends. As the name was located, the man's name was read aloud at the podium. Walking further down the Wall, Dave Fuchs located a friend's name just as it was being read. EERIE, huh? This is serendipity number one. Saturday, 11/10/07. The Color Guard arrived at the Mall at about 8:30 AM and established the site for Ohio's place in the VVA Parade. The parade stepped at 11 AM after an opening ceremony. We marched down Constitution Avenue with LCpl Mike Vanderveen in the "lead vehicle" (his wheelchair), followed by the banner carried by Pvt Mary Lane and PFC Linda Harris. Next came the twelve man marching unit: SFC Ron Detmer (right rifle), Chief Rich Anderson (National Colors), Sgt Jim Marchal (POW-MIA flag), Sgt Ron McGonigal (VVA Colors), SSgt Roni Aborn (left rifle). The second rank was Sgt Steve Ratcliffe, PFC Don Warnock, PFC Kenny Weber, SSgt Tom Istvan, and PFC Clem Cwiklinski. The leadership was MSgt Mark Kucharski, and MGy/Sgt Larry Jackson calling cadence. Having secured the flags and weapons after the parade, we then rendered honors at the Korean War Memorial, proceeding in VVA slow cadence ("the slide and glide") offering ceremonial salutes at several places along the memorial site. My friend from Virginia, a retired LtCol that served as a Lieutenant with the Wolfhounds, said we really looked sharp. He didn't even recognize me with the boonie hat down over my eyes as we marched right by him and his wife, but he thought it was likely our unit doing the duty, since I had told him what we do. Sunday, 11/11/07. The Color Guard arrived at the Wall at 10 AM and practiced our entry as the leaders of the "Wreath Presentation" as a part of the official Veterans Day Ceremonies honoring the 25 th Anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. We had the replica weapons cleared by the Park Police and coordinated our entry with the National Park Service Honor Guard. We led the wreath procession and stood in place with our Colors for the entire ceremony, and were an absolute hit! The program's speakers were terrific, especially an Army nurse named Mary "Edie" Meeks, one of the "models" for the Women's Memorial. General Colin Powell, former Secretary of State, also delivered an absolutely outstanding keynote address. After the ceremony, we stowed the flags and weapons and proceeded to render honors at the Wall. We then marched to the Women's' Memorial and on to the WWII Memorial rendering honors there before returning to the hotel. Here's a rundown as I know it to be, whether experienced or told to me as true. The Color Guard arrived on Friday afternoon and set up the Command Post at the Best Western in Fairfax, VA. Top (LJ), Top 2 (Ski), Dave Fuchs, and Rich Anderson went to the Wall that evening. Names were being read. The three approached one of the panels looking for the name of one of Ski's high school friends. As the name was located, the man's name was read aloud at the podium. Walking further down the Wall, Dave Fuchs located a friend's name just as it was being read. EERIE, huh? This is serendipity number one. Saturday, 11/10/07. The Color Guard arrived at the Mall at about 8:30 AM and established the site for Ohio's place in the VVA Parade. The parade stepped at 11 AM after an opening ceremony. We marched down Constitution Avenue with LCpl Mike Vanderveen in the "lead vehicle" (his wheelchair), followed by the banner carried by Pvt Mary Lane and PFC Linda Harris. Next came the twelve man marching unit: SFC Ron Detmer (right rifle), Chief Rich Anderson (National Colors), Sgt Jim Marchal (POW-MIA flag), Sgt Ron McGonigal (VVA Colors), SSgt Roni Aborn (left rifle). The second rank was Sgt Steve Ratcliffe, PFC Don Warnock, PFC Kenny Weber, SSgt Tom Istvan, and PFC Clem Cwiklinski. The leadership was MSgt Mark Kucharski, and MGy/Sgt Larry Jackson calling cadence. Having secured the flags and weapons after the parade, we then rendered honors at the Korean War Memorial, proceeding in VVA slow cadence ("the slide and glide") offering ceremonial salutes at several places along the memorial site. My friend from Virginia, a retired LtCol that served as a Lieutenant with the Wolfhounds, said we really looked sharp. He didn't even recognize me with the boonie hat down over my eyes as we marched right by him and his wife, but he thought it was likely our unit doing the duty, since I had told him what we do. Sunday, 11/11/07. The Color Guard arrived at the Wall at 10 AM and practiced our entry as the leaders of the "Wreath Presentation" as a part of the official Veterans Day Ceremonies honoring the 25 th Anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. We had the replica weapons cleared by the Park Police and coordinated our entry with the National Park Service Honor Guard. We led the wreath procession and stood in place with our Colors for the entire ceremony, and were an absolute hit! The program's speakers were terrific, especially an Army nurse named Mary "Edie" Meeks, one of the "models" for the Women's Memorial. General Colin Powell, former Secretary of State, also delivered an absolutely outstanding keynote address. After the ceremony, we stowed the flags and weapons and proceeded to render honors at the Wall. We then marched to the Women's' Memorial and on to the WWII Memorial rendering honors there before returning to the hotel. Monday 11/12/07. This day was set aside for site seeing and relaxation. Most of us had sore feet, legs, and ankles, but the heartwarming fire inside made the pain seem trivial by comparison. On a personal note, this day marked the 40 anniversary of my receiving the Purple Heart. On Nov. 12, 1967, my infantry company was involved in a firefight in the Iron Triangle. As the senior medic, I was called to the flank where one platoon was pinned down with several wounded. I started treating casualties, and while treating SP4 Carl Davis, I was wounded in the hands. The platoon radio operator, or RTO, SP4 Elzie Sanders Jr. grabbed my aid bag and bandaged my hands, stopping the bleeding. When he started to work on Carl's wounds, he took a fatal round to the chest. Our Company Commander, Capt. Charles Springer, and his RTO, Sgt Greg Goslin were also killed while leading the advance on the enemy positions. One of the platoon sergeants, SSgt Jacob Ortiz, was killed trying to reach Capt. Springer to render aid. Jude and I were joined on this 40 th anniversary by Phil Springer, Capt Springer's son, Linda Hodges, Elzie Sanders' sister (and her long time friend Eva), Didi Lunsford, Jacob Ortiz' sister, and Andy Barber, one of the other platoon sergeants there that day in 1967. After several hours of photographs, rubbings, hugs, tears, and laughter, we walked for a while. We were all gathered at the Korean Memorial, saying our goodbyes in route to the cars parked in opposite directions, when my cell phone rang. It was Carl Davis calling from Salt Lake City, calling on a lark, to wish me a happy 40th Anniversary. I had found out at the 12 th Evac Hospital in Cu Chi a couple days after being wounded, that Carl and I were true blood brothers, hit by the same bulletTotally unknown to me, the round went through his face before entering my hands, mixing his blood in mine, and mine in his as I held his wounded arm. Anyway, he got to talk to Phil, Linda, Didi, and Andy as well, making this the ultimate of serendipitous event of the weekend. I didn't get to see (Chief) Rich Anderson before he left for the airport, and later that night as we were driving west toward Columbus, I was thinking about him and what a great treat it was to march with him once again. (It always seemed like we were competing with each other for the top honors in drill competition during training. It's just an Army versus Navy thing, I guess.) I'll swear it wasn't five minutes after thinking about Rich that my cell phone rang. It was Rich calling from West Palm, Florida, thanking me and the Color Guard for including him in this weekend, and telling me how proud he was to march with us once again. All in all, the weekend was spectacular. It was a special time in a very special place shared with very special people. Unforgettable magic happens at the Wall. Monday 11/12/07. This day was set aside for site seeing and relaxation. Most of us had sore feet, legs, and ankles, but the heartwarming fire inside made the pain seem trivial by comparison. On a personal note, this day marked the 40 anniversary of my receiving the Purple Heart. On Nov. 12, 1967, my infantry company was involved in a firefight in the Iron Triangle. As the senior medic, I was called to the flank where one platoon was pinned down with several wounded. I started treating casualties, and while treating SP4 Carl Davis, I was wounded in the hands. The platoon radio operator, or RTO, SP4 Elzie Sanders Jr. grabbed my aid bag and bandaged my hands, stopping the bleeding. When he started to work on Carl's wounds, he took a fatal round to the chest. Our Company Commander, Capt. Charles Springer, and his RTO, Sgt Greg Goslin were also killed while leading the advance on the enemy positions. One of the platoon sergeants, SSgt Jacob Ortiz, was killed trying to reach Capt. Springer to render aid. Jude and I were joined on this 40 th anniversary by Phil Springer, Capt Springer's son, Linda Hodges, Elzie Sanders' sister (and her long time friend Eva), Didi Lunsford, Jacob Ortiz' sister, and Andy Barber, one of the other platoon sergeants there that day in 1967. After several hours of photographs, rubbings, hugs, tears, and laughter, we walked for a while. We were all gathered at the Korean Memorial, saying our goodbyes in route to the cars parked in opposite directions, when my cell phone rang. It was Carl Davis calling from Salt Lake City, calling on a lark, to wish me a happy 40th Anniversary. I had found out at the 12 th Evac Hospital in Cu Chi a couple days after being wounded, that Carl and I were true blood brothers, hit by the same bulletTotally unknown to me, the round went through his face before entering my hands, mixing his blood in mine, and mine in his as I held his wounded arm. Anyway, he got to talk to Phil, Linda, Didi, and Andy as well, making this the ultimate of serendipitous event of the weekend. I didn't get to see (Chief) Rich Anderson before he left for the airport, and later that night as we were driving west toward Columbus, I was thinking about him and what a great treat it was to march with him once again. (It always seemed like we were competing with each other for the top honors in drill competition during training. It's just an Army versus Navy thing, I guess.) I'll swear it wasn't five minutes after thinking about Rich that my cell phone rang. It was Rich calling from West Palm, Florida, thanking me and the Color Guard for including him in this weekend, and telling me how proud he was to march with us once again. All in all, the weekend was spectacular. It was a special time in a very special place shared with very special people. Unforgettable magic happens at the Wall. |
