I just received this e-mail letter from the brother in law of Ed Cribb, my buddy who was killed in Vietnam. Don also served in Vietnam. I'll let the letter and the attached pictures speak for themselves. ---------------------------------------------------------------- I have just returned home from Fort Benning's and the new Infantry Museum Welcome Home Celebration for all Viet Nam Veterans and I want to share my experience there today and some pictures that my wife took for me. I had often felt how wrong it was that Viet Nam Veterans had to welcome each other home because the public would not. Today that all changed. In conjunction with the Welcome Home Celebration, the traveling Viet Nam Memorial Wall was there as well as a part of this celebration. All of the Viet Nam veterans were separated from the rest of the crowd. The veterans went one way down to the recreated and restored World War II company area buildings and the the non veterans were directed to the stadium. In the pictures you will see Patriot Guards, must have been 150 of them, each carrying an American Flag split in two groups which became our left and right flanks. They stood at attention as the Viet Nam Veterans were marched between the two flanks of Patriot Guards onto the Parade Deck. Behind the Patriot Guards were company size representatives of every Infantry Brigade and the Ranger Bn stationed at Fort Benning stood in attention in formation as we marched. The Fort Benning Band also played military marches as well. Once we got onto the parade field, we were all greeted to a Standing Ovation which must have lasted at least 10 minutes or more. We heard a few speeches of course but one thing that struck us as a heavily decorated Korea and Viet Nam Veteran, a retired Full Bird Colonel, speech to us told us that over the past several years most of the most outspoken protesters of the Viet Nam War and the Draft Dodgers that went to Canada were interviewed. One thing that came out of those interviews was that they were ashamed of what they did, they apologized for their actions and admitted they were entirely wrong in the treatment of the returning Viet Nam Veterans. After the speeches the all of the Infantry Brigades were dismissed to mingle among us. They thanked each and every one of us personally. I have never shaken so many hands as I did today. I was personally welcomed home and thanked from Full Bird Colonels down to Pvt. E-1's still in Basic Training. I can't remember how many Sergeant Major's I shook hands with. During the time we were being personally welcomed by the Fort Benning military, I overheard two young soldiers commenting how excited and thankful they were for being chosen to come down to the parade field to meet and thank us. We all were made to feel really special today. During the Celebration there was a flyover of two UH-1 Huey Helicopters which later returned to give rides around Fort Benning. As soon as one bird took off the second one was approaching for a landing. Later as I was walking through the Infantry Museum I was approached by a Captain who happened to be Fort Bennings Commanding Generals Aide. He told me with pride, after welcoming me home and thanking me for me service in Viet Nam, that Fort Benning had been planning today's event for over 6 months and from the General on down each soldier looked forward to todays event as one that was going to be very special for Fort Benning and us alike. Also during my walk through the museum many civilians came up to me to thank me as well. Please enjoy the photo's I have attached. Don ------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome home, guys. Your service in Vietnam is appreciated. John
From Fort Benning: Welcome home, Vietnam veterans
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