Spc. Jimmy D. Lane Jr.
1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Div. PAO
FORT STEWART, Ga. -- In a ceremony on Caro Field, Jan. 5, Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment were presented with a set of the regiment's colors veterans carried with them during the Vietnam War.
The colors were presented to the unit to carry during their deployment to Iraq. The Soldiers deployed later that week in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III and Task Force Liberty.
"It is with absolute honor, pride and thankfulness that we accept these battle-tested colors today," said Lt. Col. Jody L. Petery, battalion commander, during the ceremony.
"We'll carry them proudly to Iraq and wherever else our nation calls us to serve. These colors, the presence and support of the great veteran's of the 5-7 Cav, and the support we receive from our nation, truly strengthen us as we prepare to deploy."
Veterans who served in the unit in Vietnam shared memories with those who attended the ceremony.
"A Soldier came up to me and asked if I would pray with him," said retired Lt. Gen. James Vaught, of his time in Southeast Asia. "He said he never really believed in God, but that day he said he needed a prayer, so I prayed with him.
That same Soldier went on to fight bravely and was awarded a Silver Star."
Some of the stories that were told were not of glory. Many Soldiers were lost during the unit's time in Vietnam, while those who survived emerged from the war totally different people.
"In church, you are baptized by going under water," Vaught said. "In Vietnam, we were baptized by fire. If you didn't believe in a higher power before then, you sure started praying when the bullets started flying. We were (cavalry) Soldiers -- there wasn't anywhere we wouldn't go and nothing we couldn't do."
Some Soldiers presently assigned to the cavalry unit said they appreciated the veteran's support, and accepted the colors with humility and pride.
"We are humbled by the support we receive," Petery said. "We hope that all veterans understand how much the Soldiers of today appreciate and respect the tremendous services to our nation and Army that you . . . provided during the Vietnam (War)."
The Soldiers who served in Vietnam set a standard for future generations of 5/7 Soldiers to follow, he added.
"The standard of excellence that 5-7 Cav achieved in Vietnam has truly set the bar high for our unit, but we're anxious and ready to earn our place in the proud ranks of 5-7 Cavalry veterans," Petery said.
He added that the occasion reminded him of a line from a song.
"At West Point, part of our training centered on learning the importance of history and heritage within our Army," Petery said. "One line stands out that sums up how we feel about our experience with the great veteran's of the 5-7 Cav and it comes from a song entitled the "Corps" -- "we sons of today we salute you, you sons of an earlier day, we follow close order behind you, where you have shown us the way." This group has truly shown us the way, and we'll follow proudly."
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| Date Taken: | 02.23.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 02.23.2005 11:19 |
| Story ID: | 1191 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 258 |
| Downloads: | 24 |
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