Fighting Eagles receive a visit from Vietnam veterans and Medal of Honor recipient

Photo By Spc. Paul Harris | Sgt. Michael O'Neil, a scout with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 8th Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, shows Diana Androsky how to fire the M-249 machine gun during a live fire demonstration at Fort Carson, Colo.  

07.24.2007

Story by Spc. Paul Harris 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By Spc. Paul J. Harris
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FORT CARSON, Colo. – Soldiers from 1-8 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, hosted a live-fire demonstration July 17 for veterans and their spouses from the 8th Infantry Association that served during Vietnam.

Among those in attendance was Medal of Honor recipient retired 1st Sgt. David H. McNerney who was the first sergeant for Company A, 1st Bn., 8th Infantry during the 1960's. McNerney earned the medal for his actions during the battle at Polei Doc in which he was wounded by a North Vietnamese grenade but continued to direct fire against the enemy and help coordinate the evacuation of wounded Soldiers. A barracks complex on Fort Carson, building 2052, is also dedicated in his honor.

"I feel like I am awful lucky," McNerney said. "All of those people that were with me that day that were wounded or killed, they have a part of that medal because I could have not done it by myself."

McNerney enjoys spending time with the next generation of combat veterans and offered the same advice to the younger Fighting Eagles that he offered his Soldiers 30 years ago.

"Well I know what I told my troops when we went to Vietnam," McNerney said. "We are not in a game. I have taught you for ten months. This is serious business and some of us are going to be killed, some of us are going to be wounded and some us will come back."

The veterans were treated to a special live-fire demonstration from Humvees, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and M-1 Abrams tanks July 17 at Fort Carson's Range 109. After the demonstration the veterans and spouses were able to fire weapons ranging from the M-4 rifle to the 25 mm M-242 Bushmaster chain gun.

"It was indeed scary, you felt the vibration," said Diana Androsky, the spouse of a member of the 8th Infantry Association, after firing the .50 caliber machine gun. "It is exciting, you can't overlook that point and it is fun."

Fun for the veterans but also informative as they were able to swap stories about what was different in the Army back then but also about what has not changed.

"Obviously we can relate to the stories we had and we can see the differences in what they are having to go through in Iraq," said Ted Schultz, who served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967.

"They are carrying about another 20 pounds than we had to carry. The biggest thing that has not changed much is the dedication to their job and what they are trying to accomplish."

For most of the Fighting Eagles Soldiers it was a chance to show they are carrying on the same dedication to service that was handed down to them from previous generations.

"It (was) an awesome opportunity," said Sgt. Michael Walther, Bradley Fighting Vehicle gunner, Co. A, 1-8 CAB. "The guys from Vietnam really did not get the homecoming they should have. It is one way we can show our appreciation to them, show off what we have become and let them know we are still fighting hard."

• Date Taken: 07.24.2007
• Date Posted: 07.24.2007 09:32
• Story ID: 11440