Memorial Day is next Monday. The day is a US federal holiday wherein the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces are remembered. The holiday, which is celebrated every year on the final Monday of May, was formerly known as “Decoration Day” and originated after the American Civil War to honor the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. Today we honor all Americans who have died while in the military service.

Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.
As we gather with our families and friends this weekend, I reiterate a brief synopsis of my comments the night we honored Command Sergeant Major Roy D. Nelson at the mini-reunion. That evening I said, “When we returned from Vietnam, we each have our own story - return to Dong Tam to check out followed by a helicopter ride to Bien Hoa and an airplane ride to the United States. With a single airplane ride, we made the transition from “combat veterans” to “veterans with combat experience”. I acknowledge it is a thin line that I draw between the two, but words have meaning and words are powerful. As veterans with combat experience we have three solemn responsibilities.” The three responsibilities are:

• To preserve the memory of our men who fell on the battlefields in Vietnam and whose names are immortalized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
• To celebrate the men and women who, today, volunteer for military service and swear allegiance to the United States of America and to defend her against all enemies – foreign and domestic.
• To honor ourselves, as veterans, who survived the Vietnam War.

The three responsibilities are my continuing agenda as your Unit Director.

On April 26th we honored one of our own - CSM Roy D. Nelson.

On April 27th we honored our KIAs with a brief and meaningful remembrance ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. and recognized the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

On May 26th we, in our own way, honor all Americans who have died while in the military service.

In pursuit of our three responsibilities, I have attached a list of our KIAs and two photographs of the guys who attended the remembrance ceremony. Not shown in the photographs are Roy Nelson, Jeff Webb, Bob Copeland and Bill Christiansen. The lady in the photographs is Rebecca Myers, sister of Robert Bryan, who was KIA in 1970 while serving with E75.

Thank you for your service.
God Bless each of you and the United States of America.