VietNow National Magazine

A Special Reunion
First Cav Veterans Will Not Be Forgotten

By Karen St. John

The elevators stopped. The doors opened to the plaza level. Invisible, animated chatter smacked against the door frames and poured into the full cars. The lively energy swirled around the shoulders of the guests, gliding them around the corner and into the suite, where veteran First Cavalry members were in attendance for a very special reunion.
A sea of black Stetsons with gold braids, and black nylon jackets with patches, ribbons, and pins flooded the room. Their families and friends, in a kaleidoscope of bright colors, peppered the area. The veterans sat at tables, stood in groups chuckling and smiling, or sat by the windows alone, silent and withdrawn.
Young members of the First Cav honor guard stood at ease against a wall. Memorabilia marking the reunion was on sale at tables in the far corner, hosted by a veteran who cheerfully greeted almost everyone by name.
The ages of the First Cav members are in the 60s to the 80s. Some looked it,
with their gray hair, lined faces and gentle sloping of the shoulders. Some seemed decades younger, with few wrinkles or gray hairs. They come in all shapes and heights, with varying ethnic heritages, and assorted economic and educational backgrounds.
They are quiet and gregarious. Gentle and rambunctious. Withdrawn and outgoing. Much like ordinary men.
But these men are not ordinary. These men are special – belonging to an elite club whose rigid and final rules defined who would belong and who would not. All these First Cav members are survivors. Not of just any war, but of the undefined and strange war of the ’60s and early ’70s – the Vietnam War. More poignantly, most of these men survived three days as evil as the entire war itself – the Ia Drang Valley ambush of November, 1965, where 450 of our men unexpectedly faced 2,000 of the enemy.
The jackets are the give-aways. They bear patches of LZ X-Ray and
LZ Albany, the two deadliest landing zones of the ambush site. A First Cav combat badge is embroidered onto the front. Vietnam… November 1965 – Ia Drang Valley. Band of Brothers. Garry Owen. And Pleiku Campaign – dot the backs. Pins and ribbons are plentiful. Purple hearts, silver and bronze stars intermingle with Medal of Honor winners.
The camaraderie among the men is still thick. They talk to each other in code.
“How are the nights?”
“I go back there.”
“Yeah. I’m still there, too. It’s worse since I retired. Now I have nothing else to focus on.”
Or, “What’s your percentage?”
“30%.”
“Mine’s 100.”
No one had to ask the other, “Do you suffer from nightmares?” They all do. No one had to ask, “Are you getting disability from the VA for your injuries?” or the Agent-Orange related diseases. They all are entitled to, but don’t always receive, VA benefits.
Their stories are varied, but the same. They watched the backs of their comrades – their “brothers” – with a sharply honed instinct. Some of the acts made it to those in authority who awarded the ribbons and pins and medals – but most did not. Most were left private and unacknowledged. Many did not survive their heroism – they are listed on Panel 3 East of The Wall. General (ret.) Hal Moore best described these men: “American soldiers in battle don’t fight for what some presidents say on TV, they don’t fight for mom, apple pie, the American flag. They fight for one another.”
The subject of war in Iraq comes up easily. There is concern that the troops have no real reason to be there. There is grief that perhaps the troops are getting discouraged. There is outrage at the possibility that the troops may not be getting the supplies they need to stay alive. Not once – never – is there any admonishment that the troops in Iraq are getting the public support they never had, or resentment. Not an ounce.
Instead, there is a lot of, “I’m glad the troops are being supported,” with a nod in agreement, and a sad countenance that implies America may have learned from the Vietnam experience – then again – maybe not. Only time will tell.
The book, We Were Soldiers Once and Young, by General Moore and Joe Galloway, is held with great respect: cradled in arms, held against chests, placed protectively in front on a table, hand lain on the cover. For that book is about them, and the tribute they deserved that this wonderful but fickle and often misguided country denied them. Each soldier intuitively understands that those mentioned in the book were often composites of several, and that they, too, are on the pages.
The men gather autographs of each other. Some sign the back cover, some the front. Some open up to a specific page where they and/or their circumstance are mentioned, and sign there.
Galloway and Moore enter the room to sign books. A line immediately forms. There is no sense of rushing or hurrying the soldier through. Joe and Hal talk to each one, and tell the families and friends that their soldier is a real American hero. The book signing becomes yet another tribute to these men, long overdue.
If any group of warriors deserved to swagger over what they survived – deserved to be arrogant over what they accomplished with minimal military supplies and support – it is these men.
Yet, these First Cav vets are dignified, noble, and humble. They hold no grudge against America’s treatment of them. They don’t expect anything from anyone. All they want is for what happened to them, end with them, and the mistakes of the past not be inflicted upon the troops of the present.
It is heartbreaking to imagine these men in a foreign country at such a young age, living unspeakable horrors that they protectively keep from the rest of us.
No, these men are not ordinary men.
They are hardened, glittering swords of steel, forged upon the hills of the Central Highlands in Vietnam.
They are walking, breathing histories of America.
They are the veterans of the First Cav – and they are heroes.

Karen St. John lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can find more of her writing at www.stjohnjournals.com.

___________________

Ia Drang Valley Ambush Facts
First major battle of the
Vietnam War between the Vietnamese army and U.S. troops.
Lasted from November 14-17, 1965.
U.S. suffered 60% casualties; almost one out of three soldiers was killed.
Lt. Col Armstrong Custer commanded the same unit in the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Subject of the book and movie, We Were Soldiers Once…and Young, by Joseph Galloway and Lt. Col. (ret.) Hal Moore.
Sources: We Were soldiers Once and Young (lzxray.com) and PBS “Vietnam Battlefield Timeline” (www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/timeline).

Back to top of page.

VietNow National
1835 Broadway – Rockford, Illinois 61104
800.837.VNOW – 815.227.5100
vnnatl@inwave.com

We can't continue our work without your help.
Please click here to donate now.