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Tinker retreat commemorates end of Vietnam War

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Woodrugg
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, OKLA. --  To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam War's end, Tinker officials stood alongside Vietnam veterans during a ceremony at the Maj. Charles B. Hall Memorial Airpark.

Retired Col. Chuck DeBellevue, a Vietnam War ace and the guest speaker for the April 30 event, said more than 2 million served in the war. Some volunteered, while others were drafted. He said at one time there were half a million troops in country and another 1.5 million in areas around it.

"Vietnam wasn't like other wars. It wasn't popular," Mr. DeBellevue said. "We didn't come home to parades or even to shop owners offering a military discount.

He said if they did wear their uniforms in public, store owners didn't want them in their store.

"We still went. We still served," he added. "We were scared. I know I was. Going to Hanoi every day, if you weren't scared, I wouldn't fly with you. We rose to the occasion -- we did what was required for God and country."

Mr. DeBellevue said for him there are days the war seems just like yesterday, and other days it feels every bit of 43 years ago. He saluted the Vietnam veterans in attendance and told them that, hopefully, this event will bring them some closure.
"Hopefully the 'thanks' we missed is being given today," he said. "Thank you for a job well done, thank you for your patriotism, your courage and for wrapping yourself in the cloth of this country -- it means a lot."

Air Force Sustainment Center Commander Lt. Gen. Bruce Litchfield was also on hand to offer his thanks. General Litchfield, who was 15 at the time, saluted the veterans and thanked them for their honor and courage from a grateful nation.

"My belief, the way we left Vietnam did not honor all the sacrifice and your service," said General Litchfield. "I don't think 'thank you' is enough."

The general said he witnessed the war through his father's eyes, seeing it on the nightly news and in the newspapers.

"From my dad's perspective, it was for our nation, so I'm declaring victory," he said.
General Litchfield said today's military, which "can operate day or night, in good weather or bad and who can put precision weapons through windows," was built on a foundation from the Vietnam War.

"America's security is at the forefront every day," he added. "Our Army is different and reorganized. We now operate as a joint force, and we operate with respect of chain of command, and we know our mission objective. We are different because of your victory in Vietnam.

"We are different because of what you did to make our Air Force the greatest this world has ever seen. Your sacrifice and your service is a victory as far as I can see."

At the end of the retreat ceremony, many Vietnam veterans stood in formation alongside active duty military members. All the veterans came down from the stands to join in the formation and watched as the flag was lowered.

Taps was played to remember the 58,000 American lives lost, 2,300 still missing in action and hundreds of prisoners of the Vietnam War.