Photo By Sgt. Brian Glass | Spc. Joseph Brown, unit supply specialist for Headquarters Headquarters Battery, 18th...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. - For soldiers serving today, they would not be here without the blood, sweat and tears of service members who served before. Whether it be World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, etc., our brave men and women have fought to protect their country. One thing with soldiers serving today is that they will jump through hoops to do anything for Veterans and Spc. Joseph Brown, unit supply specialist for Headquarters Headquarters Battery, 18th Fires Brigade spent some time with a Veteran and loved every minute of it.
The veteran is James Butler, 64, was drafted in 1969 and went to Fort Bragg and shortly after was in Vietnam from 1970-71. Butler is proud of being in the Army despite being drafted into the service as it gave him greater opportunities in life. Now he resides at the Cumberland Nursing and Rehab Center in Fayetteville, N.C. Brown went to visit him and was excited to see Butler and learn of his past.
"He was very interesting, he has a lot of good stories to tell about the history of Fort Bragg, what he did on Fort Bragg and what he did in Vietnam," said Brown.
Along with talking about the differences between the Army then and now, they got to spend quality time together by playing a few games in the common room.
"We did some activities together, we played a matching card game and I lost to him at checkers. He is definitely better at checkers than I am," said Brown.
"I think he was excited to see me and talk about how things have evolved in today's Army," said Brown. "He was definitely inspirational because he sacrificed so much for us while serving in a time when most people didn't support the war. You look today and we have much more support available to us."
Butler, who spent 23 years in the National Guard after returning from Vietnam, retired in 1994 as a Staff Sergeant. Butler, still remember the time at Bragg and serving in Vietnam fondly.
“If it hadn’t been for the military I probably wouldn’t have ever gotten out of North Carolina,” said Butler. “I visited sixteen states in my time in the active service and the guard.”
Butler told Brown he still keeps in contact with some of the guys he fought hard with still to this day.
“We (me and my unit from Vietnam) had a reunion last June in Nashville, Tenn.” said Butler. “We got together and had a great time.”
The smile Butler had from just a short time with Brown shows that no matter your job in the military, what your rank is, or what time of year it is, spending time with veterans is important to understand where we are today.
"I think everybody should spend time with veterans. They are an important part of our history and if (Mr. Butler) seemed excited to see me I imagine other vets would be happy to spend time with soldiers regardless of rank or what month in the year it is," said Brown.
| Date Taken: | 11.20.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 12.06.2013 12:49 |
| Story ID: | 117850 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 65 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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