A tribute to the brave men and women of the United States military.
Today, as we do every year, we take this moment to embrace those gentle heroes of Vietnam and of all our wars.
We remember those who were called upon to give all a person can give and we remember those who were prepared to make that sacrifice if it were demanded of them in the line of duty. Though it never was.
Most of all we remember the devotion and gallantry within which all of them ennobled there nation as they became champions of a noble cause.
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In honor of my husband, First Lt.Charles Leonard Campbell, who served in Pleiku,Viet Nam from September 1968-September 1969, earning both the Bronze and Silver Stars for bravery. Whistling “Dixie” saved not only his life, but also those of his company when they were pinned down by the enemy(see front page article in Stars and Stripes 1969.) Always my hero, then and now. He volunteered,performed his duty admirably, and with honor and integrity. So proud of my veteran.
In honor of my father, Edward C. Dunn, who served in the US Army from 1936 to 1968. From 1942 to 1945, he was in the European Theater of Operations (save for a 6-month furlough to the continental United States to recover from a gunshot wound to the posterior, during which I was conceived). He commanded the 4th Cavalry Task Force during Operation Overlord, on D-Day, the 6th of June, 1944, and during the ensuing invasion of France and Germany. His mission on D-Day was to land on, and clear the island of St. Mere E’Coufe of any enemy forces, prior to the 1st wave landing at Normandy. The events of that morning are recounted on two pages in the book, THE LONGEST DAY. There were no enemy forces, but the island was heavily mined and booby-trapped, causing heavy losses, but assurance of no enemy fire coming from the island to interfere with the main force landing. Later, in 1960-1961, he was posted as the Chief of Joint Services Support Division, in the Military Assistance Advisory Group, in Saigon, Vietnam. He retired in February 1968, as Chief of Staff of 4th Army, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He spent his retirement as a writer, self publishing several books of poetry, and writing, USAA: LIFE STORY OF A BUSINESS COOPERATIVE, published by McGraw-Hill, 1970. Dad passed on December 12, 2005.