by Gary Vickers

Gary Vickers had the honor and privilege to spend his 3rd reunion with the 1st CAV, the unit he served with in Vietnam in 1968-1969. It was the 11th reunion for the 1st of the 12th but, the 3rd for the 2nd-12th that he served with.

The Lawrence Welk Resort has hosted all 11 of the reunions at Branson. Three years ago, the Welk Company purchased a Vietnam Traveling Wall which they placed on the lawn for the 1st CAV Reunion. It was a beautiful setting. This year, I had  Show-Me Metal cut out a Soldiers’ Cross special for the Welk Resort as it was my hope for them to leave it there permanently. They were proud and honored to accept it. My son, Gerrad, built Battle Flags and Angel Wings in honor of the fallen and we were able to display them at the reunion. They were the centerpiece for the group picture. This Battle Flag he personalized for L-Z Grant, one of the major battles for my company D-2-12. The plaque at the bottom read, “Honoring those that survived L-Z Grant and remembering those that didn’t.” It was a very moving tribute, and a beautiful work of art.

The reunion was filled with many stories of good and bad, but being with these that made it home gave us a special feeling of closeness. We share the same emotional feelings and concerns for each other and our active duty soldiers. I can’t think of a better group of Americans to spend a weekend with.

One of the speakers at the banquet was a colonel who was with Col. Hal Moore when the 1st CAV went into Vietnam in 1965. He was a captain at that time, but became company commander and survived the Massacre at I Drang Valley. I’d met five of his men at the reunion, and during his speech, which at the age of 80, was very good even though emotional at times. I watched his men as he spoke and you could see the respect and admiration in their eyes and faces, and they told this was the kind of officer we needed in Vietnam and on any battlefield. Col. Moore was also a Korean veteran.

It was sad to see what the passing of time and the battle scars had done to those men. When they served they were 18-24 years old, and are now in their late 60s and early 70s. We are passing at the rate of 300 a day, so we need to make the most of each day. The cost of war has an immediate result and it is life-long lasting. As a result, we have to be ready to answer the call to preserve our way of life. Be a good American. Do your part to help keep our country strong.

Angel Wing 3 cc

ANGEL WING – Gary Vickers with angel wing made by his son, Gerrard, for the army reunion.