Florida XXV

 

I have written before about the remarkable Veterans memorial in Santa Rosa County, Florida. It has many unique components and you can read that post here.

Today, once more, I as concentrating on the soldiers, the lost and those who mourn them.

This face, taken from the statue called, "The Warrior" is center state of the Santa Rosa memorial. His face, looking down at the dog tags in his hand, says it all.

The following was taken directly from the Santa Rosa County website:

The Warrior

"The Warrior will be a bronze statue that is approximately 7 feet tall on a 30-inch pedestal, placed in the center of the plaza. He will be leaning on his weapon as though he has come out of battle. He has lost some of his fellow soldiers. His face expresses the agony of war. In his left hand he is holding dog tags that he has taken from one of his fallen buddy’s neck. The Warrior is reflecting on his loss. On The Warrior’s base the inscription reads: “Fallen, Never Forgotten.”

Someday, I may do a separate series highlighting all the faces in one place, but for now, I will simply ask you to join me on the 28th, at 9:00am, as always. We will be revisiting Georgia for more Faces of Remembrance heroes, so meet me there. This time for actual photographs of the heroes.

To see additional memorials from Florida, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Delaware XXI

 

Dover AFB in Delaware is, perhaps, best known as the place where soldiers, lost in battle, are finally brought home. 

The last time I visited, seeking a memorial that I had read about, I was unable to locate it. I gave up and headed home, but before I left I pulled into a post gas station. While there I got talking to the clerk and he said that he worked, during the day, at the post air museum and that the memorial was just outside the building. He told me where it was but by this time it was just too dark to go find it.

So, I left, but now with hope of being able to return.

Today,(6/15/22) I returned.

I found the museum which is actually located off the post, but very near by. The museum itself is not too big but did have a small reference to 'Nam. This Vietnam Airlift building was set up at the rear of the museum in among the various airplanes on display.

This map was inside the small display building

 

Just out side the building was the promised memorial.

The memorial Wall is seen just on the middle left of this picture.

 

It is, however, a general memorial to many. Vietnam, nor any other war is specifically mentioned, except on this one which mentions Korea

However, some of the pavers on the plaza and the long walkway approaching the Wall do honor some who served in 'Nam.

The plaque on the Wall lists only the names of donors.

 

Surrounding the flag area are a number of small stones dedicated to various
air groups that have served our country, but, once again, they are not too specific about particular wars. Meaning, I suppose that they served in several.

These guys served all over, including 'Nam.

After leaving the museum and memorial area, I wanted to head over to the Center for Grieving Families, but more on that next time I write about Delaware.

Next time, on the 23rd, we will revisit Florida, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Delaware, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Colorado XXXIV

Drew Dix is an American hero. One of the 248 who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam.

His statue is among other awardees, from other wars, in Pueblo, Colorado and I have tried, here, to add his face to the ongoing series I call Faces of Remembrance. These pictures were taken before I envisioned this effort, so are taken from lager photos, hence the quality suffers some. 

His deeds, however, are crystal clear and speak for themselves.

Below is the official citation of his bravery, gallantry, and just plain decency in aiding those in need.

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. SSG. Dix distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while serving as a unit adviser. Two heavily armed Viet Cong battalions attacked the Province capital city of Chau Phu resulting in the complete breakdown and fragmentation of the defenses of the city. SSG. Dix, with a patrol of Vietnamese soldiers, was recalled to assist in the defense of Chau Phu. Learning that a nurse was trapped in a house near the center of the city, SSG. Dix organized a relief force, successfully rescued the nurse, and returned her to the safety of the Tactical Operations Center. Being informed of other trapped civilians within the city, SSG. Dix voluntarily led another force to rescue eight civilian employees located in a building which was under heavy mortar and small-arms fire. SSG. Dix then returned to the center of the city. Upon approaching a building, he was subjected to intense automatic rifle and machine gun fire from an unknown number of Viet Cong. He personally assaulted the building, killing six Viet Cong, and rescuing two Filipinos. The following day SSG. Dix, still on his own volition, assembled a 20-man force and though under intense enemy fire cleared the Viet Cong out of the hotel, theater, and other adjacent buildings within the city. During this portion of the attack, Army Republic of Vietnam soldiers inspired by the heroism and success of SSG. Dix, rallied and commenced firing upon the Viet Cong. SSG. Dix captured 20 prisoners, including a high ranking Viet Cong official. He then attacked enemy troops who had entered the residence of the Deputy Province Chief and was successful in rescuing the official's wife and children. SSG. Dix's personal heroic actions resulted in 14 confirmed Viet Cong killed in action and possibly 25 more, the capture of 20 prisoners, 15 weapons, and the rescue of the 14 United States and free world civilians. The heroism of SSG. Dix was in the highest tradition and reflects great credit upon the U.S. Army.^"

^{As I have traveled the country I have found that several states, four I think, actually claim Mr. Dix as their own. He was born in New York, but was raised in Pueblo and I am not sure of the connection to other states.}

^{He attempted to join the Special Forces upon enlisting at 18 years old but was considered too young. Three later he was accepted to this elite force.}

^{He was later given a promotion to officer status and retired years later as a Major.}

^{Mr. Dix was the first Special Forces member to be a recipient of the Medal of Honor.}

^{Next time, I hope to have found something new in Delaware. Check back on the 18th, as always, at 9:00am, to see how that worked out.}

^{To see additional memorials from Colorado, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.}

California XL

Coronado Island is not actually an island, but a peninsula. I could find no explanation for why it is called an island. That, however is neither here nor there. It is a remarkably beautiful place with some of the world's finest beaches and is the home to the famous Hotel del Coronado and just two miles from San Diego.

It is, also, home to the Coronado Amphibious Naval Base and the site of a beautiful memorial to the 2,564 Navy and Coast Guard members who gave their lives in Vietnam. Most of these in what is called the Brown Water Navy. 

I have written before about how I served in the Brown Water Navy, even as a Army member. We trained at Ft. Eustis, Virginia and at Norfolk Navy Base. Running up and down the Mekong River, we were basically unarmed and were often escorted by our better armed, Navy comrades. The PBRs had many other duties, but we were always grateful for their presence and support.

The memorial on the base is quite magnificent and I have posted previously about some of its components. You can see that post here.

 Today, we will concentrate on the main memorial.

 

The names of these honored fallen are listed on several of these plaques attached to The Wall.

The memorial is located near the intersection of Tulagi Road and Rendova Circle on CISM Field.

Note:  If you do not have a DoD ID card, you must make previous arrangements to enter the Base. See Their web page for directions.

Next time, on the 13th, we will return to Colorado, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from California, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page..

I will ask, as I do at the end of nearly every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state, or anywhere you may have visited, from the list at the left.

Arizona XXX

So, today we have another of my dilemmas that I hope you can help me figure out.

I was, as so often now, looking through files and ran across this picture. My notes say that I have worked on it in the past, but I can find nothing that tells me just where it is located. Except for the fact that the file it was in is labeled Arizona.

So, if you can, help me out here. Anyone from Arizona know this memorial?

I had planned to write about something else today but this caught my attention and i would really like to know more about it. I searched all relevant files and can not find any other matching or even similar pictures.

So, come on AZ help me out!

Hope I hear from someone, you have so often come through in the past.

Next time, on the 8th, we will take another trip to California, so join me there at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Arizona, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.

Memorial Day 2022

This weekend, as we gather with friends and family to celebrate Memorial Day, let us not forget the reason. Memorial Day began after the Civil War, as Decoration Day, and has gone through a number of changes over the years. What does not change is the devastating price paid by the few for so many. I found this sign in Heck Park in Monroe County, Michigan. I have written about the Park in previous posts, but I wanted to post this image on this day, May 29. Tomorrow is the original Memorial Day and even though we celebrate it, now, on the last Monday in May, May 30 will always be the "real" memorial day for many of us. This year, 2022, we happen to have the dates sync up correctly. The sign is old enough that nothing after Vietnam has been included, but it still delivers a sobering message even if the years of our involvement in 'nam are off by nearly 10.

Take a minute today to remember and read a fascinating history of Memorial Day at;

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html  

Also, it seems that Rolling to Remember (formerly Rolling Thunder) is alive and well and making a strong comeback in D.C. this weekend.

I just read that, now, 40 years after it was built, the The Wall is still the number 1 tourist attraction in Washington DC  visited by five million people a year.

Welcome brothers and sisters!

Next time, on the 3rd of June, we will revisit Arizona, so join me then at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials, from any state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Alaska XII

In traveling around the country I have come upon varied and interesting sites and it is true that not every single one of them honors only Vietnam and our brothers and sisters that served, were lost, or missing.

Alaska as I have mentioned previously does not seem to have many Vietnam memorials. I was once told that this is because the state does not want to single out a particular war or Service for special recognition.

As you know, if you have been following this effort, that this is mostly true. However, their answer to their desire to honor Alaskans that have served is to have built the memorial found on the highway between Anchorage and Fairbanks within Denali Park.

At mile marker 147.1 on the Park Highway is the memorial and I have written about it elsewhere on this site and today I want to just share the faces found here. You can find the earlier post here.

 

What I find striking about these faces is how little of them you actually can see. It makes me wonder if this is purposeful, creating an anonymity of sorts so as to, once again single out no one. Just a thought.

These faces do seem to differ quite a bit from the one I found in Nome.

Nome, 2020

While these may seem like a bit of a stretch for a Vietnam post, Alaska makes it quite clear that these are meant to represent all soldiers from the 49th state.

Next time, on the 29th , I hope to have something up for Memorial Day. Join me then at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Alaska, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.