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VETERANS REFLECT ON MILITARY SERVICE DURING

VIETNAM WAR -- About 100 Vietnam "brothers"

gather for first Texas reunion.

Air Force veteran Arch Ethun, center, is greeted by other veterans as they gather around a map of Southeast Asia to talk about areas where they served. (photo: SMILEY N. POOL, CHRONICLE)

For more information about Vietnam veterans, use the VA Watchdog search engine... click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.
php?q=vietnam&op=and

Story here... http://www.chron.com/d
isp/story.mpl/headline/metro/6053571.html

Story below:

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Veterans reflect on military service during war

About 100 Vietnam 'brothers' gather for first Texas reunion

By JENNIFER LEAHY
Houston Chronicle

With service in the Vietnam War as their only common link, about 100 men from across Texas gathered Saturday in northwest Houston in an attempt to establish what they hope will become an increasingly popular annual tradition.

At the first-ever Texas Vietnam Veterans reunion, the men shared stories, met new friends and reunited with people they hadn't seen in more than 30 years.

Ed Garcia and Charles Ridley pitched the idea after returning from an Indiana Vietnam Veterans reunion that draws about 50,000 people each year.

"There are more than 100,000 Vietnam veterans in Harris County," Garcia said. "It's crazy we don't have anything like this."

Ridley and Garcia approached their peers at the VFW Post 8905 with the idea.

"And we decided that since everything's bigger in Texas we would start a tradition here that will eventually be the biggest," Ridley said.

Marine Joshua Garcia, who served in the Iraq war, attended the reunion to honor the Vietnam veterans.

"Everything we know about combat we learned from these guys," the 26-year-old said, gesturing to veterans nearby. "And these guys never got a proper homecoming. They were spit on and called names. When we got home they were lined up, waving flags and telling us we had done a good job. They need to be thanked, honored."

He purchased an event T-shirt that states: "Freedom is the true possession of those that have the courage to defend it."

Garcia, the co-founder of the event, was reunited with Joseph Najera and David Tamez, who he had not seen since 1966. The three grew up together in Kingsville and all joined separate branches of the military — Garcia served in the Air Force, Tamez in the Army and Najera the Marines.

"But we were all in Vietnam. All brothers," Tamez said.

The bottom of his name tag, like all worn at the reunion, reads: "By veterans, with veterans, for veterans." Attendants also wore colored stars on the tags to indicate the region of Vietnam where they served.

"That's what has been so incredible to watch. You've got the four branches of the military represented here and then the different regions of the country where people were stationed. They are having such a great time, and these guys really do need to be celebrated," said Susan Taylor, wife of Marine Tugboat Taylor and member of the VFW ladies auxiliary.

Tugboat Taylor and the wrestlers from his school entertained the group Friday night, and a dance with a live band was held Saturday night. Veterans also observed a flag ceremony and honored fallen soldiers.

"It was very emotional," said Debra White, gesturing to goosebumps on her arms.

She and her husband were walking to the parking lot after midnight Friday when they stopped to talk to people who were camping on the grounds.

"And they ended up telling funny stories until the wee hours. It's wonderful that they have a place where they can go share with people who have had the same experiences," White said.

Representatives of agencies offering services to veterans also attended the event.

"When you can help someone find a benefit they didn't know they have it's a good thing. For example, most veterans don't know they have state and federal benefits," said Charles Simpson of the Texas Veterans Commission.

Other officials spoke to attendees about possible career changes.

jennifer.leahy@chron.com

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