​Rogue Chapter Chairman Terry Haines presented WW2 Medallions to David Samples on behalf of his father, Navy veteran Charles Samples and Charles Facey on behalf of his uncles, Army veteran Ariel Facey, Navy veterans Thomas Beers and Willie Facey. He then presented a Korean Medallion to Charles Facey on behalf of his uncles, Army veterans Albert Facey and Eldon Bingham. All presentations took place at a Chamber of Commerce Greeters in Medford, OR.

​Story Credit - Zak Keeney for the Klamath Falls Herald and News
Klamath Falls, Oregon - In a ceremony nearly 60 years in the making, heroes in the truest sense of the word were finally welcomed home over the weekend.

“Good morning, Vietnam!” Retired Air Force Colonel Steve Harper’s voice boomed through Hancock Hall at the Klamath County Fairgrounds and Event Center.

At its height, more than 500,000 fighting men and women would hear that sign-on slogan played across the Armed Forces Network in Vietnam every morning at six a.m. while battling for South Vietnamese independence and the prevention of further communist spread in the region.

What would become America’s longest and most divisive military conflict, the Vietnam War is often reflected on with somber regret and considered a failure despite American troops winning every significant battle. Over 3.1 million US Armed Forces personnel were stationed in Vietnam, an estimated 25 percent of those being draftees, with 57,939 members either killed or missing as a result of the war.

But, on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, 51 years after the end of US involvement, a gathering of more than 90 servicemen and women who’d seen the war firsthand, finally were given what many veterans of that era longed for: kindness and respect.

“These men and women never got the homecoming they deserved,” Non Commissioned Officers Association Command Chief and Master of Ceremonies Peter Gleason said. “This is something long overdue.”

For most, returning home from Vietnam was met with indifference, hostility and blame. These knightly men and women were often spat on and called baby killers. They were treated with coldness and hostility for doing what only 7 percent of all living Americans have done, serving their country.

“They (American citizens) weren’t too keen on us (Vietnam Veterans),” Doug Leehmann, a paratrooper in the conflict, said.

While attitudes toward the war have improved, many veterans of the era felt isolated and unheard, and while most of those veterans say they would never do it again, according to recent statistics, 90 percent say they are proud of their service.

“We saw you and still see you,” Klamath County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot said in a welcoming speech. “You are strong and you are courageous. You taught us what service and sacrifice means. You are our heroes. It’s definitely late, but welcome home. We are grateful that you all are here, and thank you.”

In an invitation to all Vietnam Veterans, The Klamath County Veterans Service Office and the Non-Commissioned Officers Association held a welcome home luncheon and ribbon ceremony.
The former Kingsley Field base commander and a Vietnam Veteran himself, Col. (Ret) Harper gave out what he described as a “well-earned piece of brass” to 90 service men and women that afternoon whose names were: Adolf, Gerald; Applegate, George; Ballard, Ronald; Brown, Bennett; Burrus, Dan; Caillouette, Courad; Campbell, Ronald; Cogdill, Bill; Crandry, Harry; Crowley, Ted; Dean, Gerald; Defransico, Nicholas; Depweg, David; Ebinger, Henry; Field, John; Flory, Gail; Frei, Warren; Garich, Homer; Garland, Fred; George, Jerry; Glick, Kirth; Gogo, William; Gogolin, Thomas; Grace, James; Gray, Charles; Gregory, Gray; Guerrero, Richard; Hansen, Norman; Harmon, James; Harper, Steve; Harper, Sherry; Haugen, Warren; Henslee, Joe; Hollinger, David; Holcomb, Ralph; Honish, Robert; Hoy, Chuck; Huseby, Ronald; Hutchin, Jerald; Icenbice, Kenneth; Ivie, Ray; Jameson, Phillip; Kelly, Michael; Kilpatrick, Earl; Krupnak, Walter; Leehman, Douglas; Liskey, Rocky; Lopez, Jesus; Macomber, Phil; Manard, Aldon; Mathews, Allen; Meek, Leon; Meredith, Robert; Mick, Robert; Morris William; Murphy, Ronald; Muzzey, Thomas; Nelson, Mike; Norlin, David; Newnham, Doris; Oosterman, Nicolas; Pattee, Roger; Quen, Benjamin; Ritter, Robert; Rhodes, George; Roberts, Dennis; Ronningen, Kenneth; Rott, Dave; Stembridge, Montie; Shaw, Robert; Smith, Larry; Smith, William; Stoke, Larry; Storey, Douglas; Thompson, Michael; Telle, Pete; Trumbly, Anthony; Tucker, Steven; Tyler, Roy; Van Buren, Phillip; VandeZandschulp, Conrad; Walbotn, Avery; Walters, James; Waters, Marell; West, Paul; Wheeler, Thomas.

“These are all a great bunch of guys (and gals). I’m proud to be in attendance with them,” 94-year-old veteran of Korea and Vietnam Earl Kilpatrick said.
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October 5, 2024 - NCOA Board member, Past Grand Knight, and member of the NCOA Fort Sam Houston Chapter CMSgt Ted Pilihos, USAF (Ret), recently presented NCOA Korea and Vietnam War Medallions during the 39th Annual Chief's Gathering at the Blue Bonnet Dance Hall in Selma, Texas. 

Pictured below from left to right are:  CMSgt Bobby Valdez, USAF (Ret), CSM Mack Clanton, USA (Ret), Sir Ted Pilihos, CSM Paul Greenwood, USA (Ret), CMSgt Fil Villarreal, USAF (Ret); and CMSgt Bob Layman, USAF (Ret).  Valdez, Clanton, and Villarreal were recognized with Vietnam War Medallions while Greenwood and Layman were recognized with Korea War Medallions.