by Gary Vickers

Shirley and Gary Vickers, (Viet Nam 1st Cav) joined a group of 1st Cav guys and their wives of Nam 70-71 for a great weekend 60 miles east of Nashville, TN.

The vets arrived in TN at Edgar Evans State Park on Wednesday as they have done for three years. This group of guys have done a great job of finding men from their group that served in Viet Nam. We all met in Branson in 2014 at a reunion put together by 1-12 of 1st Cav. We are 2-12, but 1-12 had been having reunions for nine years and numbers were getting low so they decided to invite 2-12.

My oldest son, Jason Vickers, is responsible for our reunion and finding men I served with. He also helped the guys of 70-71 with their search for their brothers. Jason has a lot to be proud of and we are all very proud of him. He is considered an Honorary 1st Cav Member of D Company 2-12.

Mike and Vick Cody and Fred and Kelly Wilson are the Command Post for D-2-12. These two guys have made and continue to build their group of 70-71. Mike and Fred are great fishermen and make sure they have enough fish to feed a bunch of people. We had catfish one night and crappie the next, along with all the trimmings.

They have come up with many ways to show appreciation to vets such as Signature Plaques for the vets to sign, camp stools, hats, cavalry sabers, and message t-shirts, the latest one is “Once Strangers, Brothers for Life” along with a beautiful plaque.

Mike and Fred came to Nevada on Nov. 9, 2018, to be part of the dedication of the Viet Nam Soldiers on the front lawn of Elks. Tom Ringwald and myself joined them in Tennessee this year. It’s a brotherhood and any time you get some combat vets together, you feel that bond. Lots of stories, jokes, laughter, hand slaps on the back, hugs and a few tears—all part of our journey and all in that group understand. Some stories they tell may not be exactly the way you saw it but its his story and you realized maybe it affected him differently and it’s helping him feel better and connected. Helping each other is very important.

We are a dying group—300 or more a day—and we need to get together and share our stories and let people know who we are. We were soldiers of the United States and when we get together, we are soldiers still! We hope to have many more reunions and have some great get-togethers at the Viet Nam Soldiers in Nevada this coming year.

Thanks again, Mike and Fred and those serving in Viet Nam in 70 and 71.

“Don’t Mean Nothing to It means a lot.”

Gary and Shirley Vickers