Jasper County veterans commemorate the 50th anniversary of the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam War

There wasn’t an empty seat in the house. Every chair in American Legion Post 111 was accounted for during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the United States’ withdrawal from the Vietnam War; the last of the American troops were shipped off the battlefields and sent home on March 29, 1973.

Doug Bishop, chairman of the Jasper County Veterans Alliance and a speaker of the National Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony, pointed out that the welcome party for those soldiers was neither glamorous nor respectful. But Bishop was happy, on this day, to see every seat filled in the post to honor local veterans.

The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act was officially signed in 2017, which designated every March 29 as as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. In addition to marking the departure of combat troops from Vietnam, it is also the day Hanoi released the last of its acknowledged prisoners of war.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates there are still more than 7 million Vietnam veterans living in America and abroad to this day.

In the ceremony commemorating the many veterans who fought and died during the Vietnam War, Bishop shared a number of stories and anecdotes to illustrate why he still honors those who served. On more than a few occasions, Bishop’s booming voice tapered to a raspy choke as he was overcome with emotion.

When the Honor Flights and Freedom Flights were established in 2019, he said, Jasper County was one of the first counties in the nation to start sending large planes full of Vietnam veterans to Washington, D.C. Bishop recalled when he started that process and there was small gathering.

“As I looked around the room, it was about half full. I looked at my friend, Keith Thorpe, and said, ‘You know, Keith, I’m sorry. I’m sorry this happened, man. I really expected a bigger crowd.’ Keith says, ‘Don’t worry, man. We’re uses to it.’ Those words stuck with me,” Bishop said.

However, a number of local veterans worked tirelessly to form the Jasper County Vietnam Veterans group in 1991 to form bonds with their fellow brothers in arms. The group offered fellowship and a way for veterans to move on from the war; the members also became known for creating spectacular Fourth of July floats.

“They resurrected the Fourth of July Parade,” Bishop said. “They made floats and carried the colors every year.”

John McMahon of the Jasper County Vietnam Veterans group also spoke at the ceremony. What he has learned from this group and everything they mean to him is they cut the path for all soldiers to enter military service. Many of these veterans are still living with wounds and diseases they brought back with them.

“We get together socially and informally as much as we can,” he said. “We eat together, we laugh together and we have a small business meeting where we take dues that we pay each year and we donate that to not only veterans in our group that need help but (veteran-focused) organizations.”

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the most-visited memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., attracting more than 5 million people each year. The massive wall lists the names of more than 58,000 men and women who died during the Vietnam War.

Bishop recalled the first large flight of veterans who visited the wall. One of the veterans had a hard time finding a soldier, a friend. Bishop and Marta Ford helped the man find the name. When the man reached his hand out to the black granite wall, the sun reflected against the surface just right.

“A set of fingers came from the other direction,” Bishop said. “It still makes my hair stand up on my arms thinking about that. You talk about a connection.”

There is also a traveling monument called The Wall That Heals. In 2018, the wall was welcomed in Newton. Bishop, again, recalled another memory with a veteran and that wall. The man was a chopper pilot with more than 1,200 hours of combat flying time and two Distinguished Service Crosses.

When The Wall was in Newton, the man served as a speaker and kept his back to the monument the whole time. Bishop said he had a hard time looking at it.

“I said I can understand that. It’s gotta be hard on you guys. He said, ‘I always think how many of those guys took a ride in my chopper. I’m not talking about the ride out. I’m talking about the ride back … Knowing how many names are on that wall. It haunts me,’” Bishop said. “…Those stories stick with me.”

In years past, it was believed that only four individuals from Jasper County had been killed in the Vietnam War. However, it was brought to attention that actually six people in Jasper County had given the ultimate sacrifice:

• Lance Cpl. David McMath, United States Marine Corps, killed in action Aug. 12, 1967

• Staff Sgt. Tommy Knapp, United States Army, killed in action April 4, 1968

• Specialist Rollin “Rollie” Davis, United States Army, killed in action May 4, 1968

• Sgt. Ronald “Ronnie” Wearmouth, United States Army, killed in action June 14, 1968

• Lance Cpl. Franklin “Dan” Schrader, United States Marine Corps, killed in action, Jan. 19, 1970

• Sgt. 1st Class Edward James “Jimmy” Brue, United States Army, Aug. 12, 1972

McMahon and Bud Pickett of the Jasper County Vietnam Veterans group rang a bell to honor the memory of these six men.

“Never forgotten,” McMahon said. “May they forever rest in peace.”

Jeremy Heaberlin of the Sons of the American Legion, who is also a fabricator, made a plaque bearing the names of the Jasper County veterans who died in Vietnam. The plaque was presented at the ceremony and will be enshrined in the Patriot Club of the American Legion Post 111.

Post Commander Jerry Nelson said, “Post 111, the American Legion family, the Sons, the Auxiliary, the Riders want to dedicate this to the Jasper County Veterans. It will be hung proudly. I’m glad you guys made it home. We’re always here for you.”

Bishop cannot process what it must have been like in Vietnam. He imagines that 50 years later that pain doesn’t hurt any less, and those memories probably are not any more dull than they were when they happened.

“But we thank you. We honor you. We’re glad you’re all here. Welcome home.”