Photo By Sgt. William Begley | A Vietnam veteran talks with Lt. Col. Clarence W. Bowman III, commander, U.S Army...... read more read more
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Leaders from 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Hunter Army Airfield Garrison and the 3rd Infantry Division Band gathered at Emmet Park in downtown Savannah, Ga., at the Vietnam memorial to honor prisoners of war and missing in action from all wars, Sept. 19.
Allen Harvey, president of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 671, said the reason this event is held is to honor all POWs and to keep in the forefront of everyone’s mind that we still have MIAs that have given their lives that need to be brought home.
“We gave a solemn promise to our Soldiers that we would bring them all home,” Harvey said. “And, we will never forget that promise.”
Harvey served in Vietnam with the United States Marine Corps.
Tommy Clack was the featured speaker for the event. Clack served as a forward observer with the 25th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. Clack lost three limbs in a firefight, but they didn’t wound his warrior spirit.
“The POW/MIA issue is not just an every third Friday of September issue, it’s an ongoing year-round issue,” Clack said.
Clack was born and raised in Decatur, Ga., and makes his way around in a motorized wheelchair these days, but his voice is being heard throughout the country as a speaker on the topic of POW/MIA. He said his generation was treated poorly upon returning home from the war in Vietnam. He has done his part to make sure that didn’t happen to the veterans of today.
“I say this sincerely that we Vietnam veterans are the ones that made sure this generation was properly honored,” Clack continued. “We want to make sure America understands that we’ve got a lot to be thankful for concerning the young men and women who put this uniform on.”
When Clack had finished speaking, the Soldiers laid flowers on the memorial.
Afterwards, Lt. Col. Scott Leblond, commander, 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd CAB, summed up the emotional experience.
“These are the events where we get to pay our respects to those who laid the foundation before us,” Leblond said. “It allows us to find out that although we come from different parts of the country, and all different walks of life, we all share that common bond of having served our country when we were called to do so.”
| Date Taken: | 09.19.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.23.2014 09:52 |
| Story ID: | 142994 |
| Location: | SAVANNAH, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 65 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, ‘Dogface’ Soldiers remember POW/MIAs, by SGT William Begley, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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