NSA Souda Bay Commemorates National Vietnam Veterans Day

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Delaney Jensen | NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY SOUDA BAY, Greece (March 29, 2023) Capt. Odin J. Klug, commanding officer, Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay, talks about the lasting benefits to our armed forces due to sacrifices made by Vietnam War Veterans during a National Vietnam War Veterans Day commemoration ceremony on March 29, 2023. NSA Souda Bay is an operational ashore installation which enables and supports U.S., Allied, Coalition, and Partner nation forces to preserve security and stability in the European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Delaney S. Jensen/Released)  

GREECE

03.29.2023

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Delaney Jensen 

U.S. Naval Support Activity Souda Bay

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY SOUDA BAY, Greece (March 29, 2023) Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay commemorated National Vietnam War Veterans Day with a ceremony paying tribute to veterans of the Vietnam War and their families during an event on March 29, 2023.

The ceremony was held on the 50-year anniversary of the day the last of the U.S. Armed Forces left Vietnam and included speakers from NSA Souda Bay who highlighted different individuals, forces and teams who led America’s effortsover the course of the 11-year war.

“This year marks the 50th remembrance of the war”, said Chief Navy Counselor Megan Steffy. “Unlike other wars, where the blood of U.S. service members was spilled, those who fought in Vietnam were, for the first time in our nation’s history, not welcomed home as the heroes that they were. After five decades, it is time that these extraordinary patriots are recognized for their incredible, selfless service and sacrifice in defense of the pillars of freedom that America was built upon.”

National Vietnam War Veterans Day honors the special operations teams, Seabees, air support, intelligence experts, medical personnel and more that banded together to answer the nation’s call and their legacy continues to live on. Several of the advances he U.S. made when it came to technology, equipment, science and medical advances still stand today.

“The benefits that we have – the medical, the psychological, the emotional support structure that exists today – we would not have had without those heroes,” said Capt. Odin J. Klug, commanding officer, NSA Souda Bay. “Those proud Americans, our allies and our partners suffered, fought and endured throughout those 11 years. What they had around them were their teammates that forged a tight bond between each other. That allowed our veterans to weather through. It just goes to show that we stand on the shoulders of giants and that we are a part of the legacy that has gone before us.”

NSA Souda Bay is an operational ashore installation which enables and supports U.S., Allied, Coalition, and Partner nation forces to preserve security and stability in the European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. For more information, visit us at www.cnic.navy.mil/SoudaBay or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NSASoudaBay.

• Date Taken: 03.29.2023
• Date Posted: 03.31.2023 03:36
• Story ID: 441628
• Location: GR