Photo By Staff Sgt. John Couffer | William Conner, a Company C, 2nd Battalion “Lancer,” 5th Cavalry Regiment Veteran,...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas - “The 1st Cav. lost over 5,000 men when they went in (to Vietnam), but there’s pride in my sadness. There really is,” said Spc. (ret.) Kathy Mosher, a Desert Storm veteran whose adopted brother was killed in Vietnam. “It’s such an honor to be here with troopers who understand who we are and what we do.”
Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion “Lancer,” 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, hosted a reunion of over 100 Veterans who served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1972 Oct. 3 at Fort Hood, Texas.
Mosher spoke fondly of her brother, saying he was the best example a baby sister could ever have. She even brought a photo of him taken while he was in theater, dressed in jungle fatigues and shirtless, but with a smile. The photo was taken three days before he was killed in action.
In honor of her brother, Mosher decided to join the Army. She said she had to do it for him, but for herself first.
“I had to pick up that fallen guidon and carry-out and finish the mission,” Mosher said.
She said she came to the reunion, not just because of the camaraderie, but because this is the home of the 1st Cav.
During the four-day reunion, the veterans toured Fort Hood, the Lancer Battalion’s area, the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Detachment and Museum. On the evening of the third day, the veterans were witnesses to a memorial to Lancer Battalion fallen comrades of Vietnam.
At the memorial, over 100 Lancer Soldiers, a small portion of the unit, stood in formation before the congregation of veterans to pay their respects to the fallen.
“The Soldiers here before you are a representation of the thousands of Soldiers who have born the burden of freedom, paid with the lives of those we honor,” said Lt. Col. Carter Price, commander of the Lancer Battalion during his opening remarks at the memorial.
During the ceremony, every name of every Soldier the battalion lost in Vietnam was called and a bell tolled for each name. One identification tag for every name was placed on the memorial which consisted of a pair of boots, a rifle and a helmet. Three currently serving Soldiers and three veterans took part in the ceremonious posting of the tags and saluted as their turn in the ceremony passed.
This particular reunion had been in the works for quite some time.
“We’ve been planning this for about a year and a half,” said 1st Lt. (ret) John McCorkle, a Vietnam veteran and the reunion coordinator. McCorkle said the veterans decided it would be nice to see the current troopers of their old unit, as it is still in service.
McCorkle went on to say the veterans were really excited to see what today’s Soldier looks like and that they weren’t disappointed.
| Date Taken: | 10.03.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.07.2014 11:52 |
| Story ID: | 144492 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 69 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Cav hosts 1965-1972 Vietnam veterans and memorial, by SSG John Couffer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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