Vietnam Vets Reunite and Give Back

By Spc. Elizabeth Gorenc

Indiana National Guard veterans from Company D, 151st Airborne Rangers, 151st Infantry, gathered to celebrate the 40-year anniversary of their deployment to Vietnam.

The veterans' reunion lasted for several days and included golf outings, motorcycle rides, banquets, guest speakers, supporting and learning opportunities about current troops, and even healing.

"It's a healing process to get together and be with people you served with overseas," said Larry Rhodes, a veteran from the 151st. "We were around combat quite a bit and the physical and mental wounds from that need healing. It's hard to talk about it at all," he said. "But it's easier to talk to with friends who went through the same thing and understand what you went through."

Indiana National Guard veterans from Company D, 151st Airborne Rangers, 151st Infantry, fired weapons at the engagement skills trainer 2000 at Camp Atterbury. Veterans fired the weapons at the EST as part of their 40th reunion of their deployment to Vietnam. During the reunion, the veterans received hands-on training that current mobilizing Soldiers complete. Photo by Spc. Elizabeth Gorenc (Released)

Being the only National Guard unit to be activated to Vietnam at the time, the 151st experienced plenty during their training. They completed radiotelephone operator, Rigger, Airborne, Pathfinder and Ranger schools before deploying to Vietnam. These schools taught the Soldiers how to communicate, pack parachutes, jump out of aircraft, establish landing zones, provide air traffic control and become qualified combat leaders.

"We used every skill we learned from every school to complete our missions in Vietnam," said Rhodes. "We were six-man teams inserted into the jungle by helicopter to work as a forward outpost and act as early warning devices when enemies were approaching. We've got the ribbons, awards and scars to go with it."

Rhodes said that the unit as a whole was successful because of their training.

Mike Slabaugh, a veteran from Company D, 151st Airborne Rangers, 151st Infantry talks with Soldiers at Johnson County Park. The veterans hosted a free concert at the park during their 40th reunion and anniversary of deploying to Vietnam. The concert was held to honor current Soldiers working and training at Camp Atterbury. Photo by Spc. Elizabeth Gorenc (Released)

"Competence creates confidence," he said. "If you've got all of the training and equipment and you know how to interact within the company, you will be confident and successful. That's why I'm so happy that Camp Atterbury is still here working as a training installation."

Tom Blanchford, a Company D veteran, said that he and other veterans were happy to be back at Camp Atterbury.

"It's our home," he said. "It's where we came from. It's where we worked on becoming the most trained unit to go to war."

As part of their reunion, the veterans not only reminisced about their past military experiences, but took a physical walk down memory lane with a tour of the camp that they called "home." They also were brought up to speed with hands on experiences of some of the same training current mobilizing Soldiers complete: convoy training and firing weapons in the engagement skills trainer 2000, a simulated firing system.

Veterans from Company D, 151st Airborne Rangers, 151st Infantry wave their hands along while watching country singer, Rodney Watts at Johnson County Park. The veterans hosted a free concert at the park during their 40th reunion and anniversary of deploying to Vietnam. The concert was held to honor current Soldiers working and training at Camp Atterbury. Photo by Spc. Elizabeth Gorenc (Released)

"It's exciting to see everything because I like the new equipment and we get to confirm our thoughts that Soldiers are receiving the best training possible," said Blanchford. "It's also thrilling to be around all of the Soldiers, seeing the uniforms and the marching; it's just brings back good memories of military times."

During their stay, the group of men wanted more out of their reunion than just somber recollection and fun activities for themselves. They also used their reunion to reach out to and benefit others by hosting a free concert for Soldiers who work and train at Camp Atterbury.

Blanchford said that since [the veterans] were already going to be in the area for

the reunion, they wanted to do something for the troops.

"In line with our reunion, we help support each other," said Blanchford. "But we also want to help support the troops. We want to use this concert to give them a break from everyday training and show them that they can be proud of being Soldiers."

The concert involved a disc jockey, a comedian, a country music singer, a performance and pictures with the Colts cheerleaders and a jazz/soul band. It was also a time for Vietnam veterans and current Soldiers to interact and exchange stories.

Along with supporting each other and troops at Camp Atterbury, the 151st veterans used their network to set up a fund to financially assist families of deployed troops.

"We took what we learned in 'Nam and that is you should support the warrior and always help your friends and allies," said Blanchford. "We try to have our reunions help make a contribution to this idea."

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