Fort Polk Names Mission Training Center In Memory of Viet Nam Sky Soldier

An OEF VIII Sky Soldier sent me the link to this story from the Leesville Daily Leader in Leesville, LA.  Thank you Jay!

The Mission Training Complex at Fort Polk, LA was recently named in memory of CSM Thomas Berry who passed away in 2005.  CSM Berry was a member of th 173d Airborne Brigade that was stood up on Okinawa and the first Army unit deployed to Vietnam.  He served in Vietnam for seven years straight.

From the Leesville Daily Leader: "When the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk decided to name its Mission Training Complex for retired Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Berry, they chose to honor the life of a soldier who earned a reputation as a source anyone could turn to for help — from privates to four-star generals.

 According to those who served with Berry, the decorated Vietnam veteran spent his life committed to the soldiers under his guidance. He continued that commitment after retiring from active duty, taking a job at the JRTC where he could continue to work with his beloved soldiers."

The accolades bestowed upon CSM Berry from military personnel are numerous.  And the stories of his committment to anything and everything he did are inspiring.

“He never quit anything he started and he always gave it his best shot,” Taylor said. “We had an annual 52-mile race in Panama that pitted the senior NCOs against officers. The officers had an advantage because, typically, we could choose from a younger group, plus we had Special Forces, Rangers and Infantry troops to choose from.

“The commanding general and command sergeant major always ran the last five-mile leg. When the baton was passed to me, Command Sergeant Major Berry was nowhere to be seen. I was taking my time when I happened to look over my shoulder and here comes Berry. He was running barefoot because his shoes had rubbed blisters on his feet, but he didn’t stop. His feet looked awful, but that was how he was about everything.”

I hope you will go read the entire story from the Leesville paper about CSM Berry.  I regret that I never had to privilege of meeting this great American treasure.

Against All Odds With No Losses - The Rescue of Capt Roger Locher

One of my very dear friends and a Vietnam Veteran shared the link with me for the video below. WOW! Just WOW! It reminded me of how many stories of prior wars are out there that should be told or have been told but not heard by so many of us. My friend who shared this with me was the Commander of Company B (Bravo Co), 2-503rd, 173rd that was brought up on Okinawa and part of the first combat jump into Vietnam.

It also reminded me of another Vietnam Veteran friend of mine, Pete, who I've been meaning to write about for a few years now. I'll devote an entire post to Pete.

Meanwhile I hope you will watch this video about the rescue of Capt Roger Locher as told by Brig. Gen. Steve Richie.  I recommend tissues.  I am grateful EVERY day for the men and women who place everyone else before themselves to keep each other and our nation safe and free.

The Chicken Place - NOT to be confused with the Chicken Ranch - And Meeting Two Great Vietnam Veterans

I mentioned in this post a couple of days ago that Connie and her husband, Jim, who I hadn't met yet, were taking me to dinner at "The Chicken Place" in Ireland, IN.  Well, tonight was the night. 

That's the owner 4th from right

Yeah, that's where all the locals hang out - in the bar.  HOOAH!

The highlight of the night wasn't the chicken - which get's TWO THUMBS UP! - it was getting to meet Jim and a friend of his, Ron.  More on them is a second.

The chicken livers were the absolute best I have ever had in my life.  The chicken was fantastic.  There's no website for this place but the current owner tells me he's got someone working on that.  If you're ever cruising through Ireland, IN make plans to EAT AT THE CHICKEN PLACE.  The recipe they use has been handed down through four generations and is just YUMMY!  Be warned....it opens at 4:00 PM and closes, well, whenever they decide to.  LOVE IT!

Jim and Connie picked me up and away we went.  Connie has told me that Jim is a Vietnam Veteran.  I was so excited to meet him.  And what a wonderful gentleman he is.  I feel terrible that I don't remember what unit he served with back in 1966-67.  I'll ask again and update here.  He did, however, share great stories with me about how he went to basic at Fort Knox, AIT at Fort Polk, then to Fort Benning for his MOS training.  That, in itself, was an interesting story.  He was assigned MOS 11 H.  I'd never heard of that one.  Turns out it's for anti tank.  Since there were no tanks to destroy in Vietnam he was trained on Armored Personnel Carriers.  THEN they loaded them on buses.  Yeah, buses, and drove them to Oakland for their trip to Asia.  Holy Smokes!

Jim and Connie introduced me to most of the people who came and went.  Just one of those neighborhood places where, well, everyone knows your name.  And they even have a decent single malt scotch.  YAY!  One of the gentlemen they introduced me to is the father of the current owner, MAJ Ron Himsel (R).  CO D, 1-151 INF AIRBORNE RANGER.  Well you know I was in love immediately.  Yes, those three words that just make me melt...Infantry, Airborne and Ranger.  Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!  Ron is a member of and, I'm told, former Commander of VFW Post 673.  He, like Jim, was such an incredible gentleman.  What a wonderful experience I had tonight being in the company of those two men who served our nation so PROUDLY and well.  I am thankful for them.

While we were there two of Jim's and Connie's daughters stopped by.  One is the mother of their youngest grandson, Cooper.  Cooper is cute, smart, fun and so much fun to hang with.  I'll share two pictures.  Jim has his eye on the Cincinnati Reds game and I didn't get a good shot of Cooper and him at the same time. 

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL night.  Sure hope I get the opportunity to spend more time with these great Americans.