I was on a Mediterranean cruise when President Lyndon Johnson announced our new position on Vietnam, from advisers to fighters.
He asked for volunteers, and being young and freshly trained, two from our unit answered the call.
We were told that we would have a life expectancy of 3½ minutes after touching the landing zone. Of course, as Navy photographers, we would carry only a sidearm and shoot a camera. That did not dissuade us for one second, as we did a quick turnaround from the beautiful beaches of Cannes, France to the green, green rice patties of Vietnam.
John Wayne would have been proud.
That’s the type of scenario that thousands of young Americans lived in that era – before and after Vietnam – and through today’s generation of those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The problem is the leftovers, the ones who still hurt. Those coming home with parts missing, physically and emotionally. Those we have heard about.
It’s not prime-time news anymore. But it remains vivid, painful and real for those Americans who wake up every morning with wounds. We try to remember, but it’s hard unless we were those who actually paid the price.
I’m always been proud of Kent, but never prouder when I was asked to help our residents improve Veterans Drive up to Military Road. The street was set aside a couple of years ago for the city to honor those who served to keep us free and safe.
The city wants to make Veterans Drive longer with American flags flying and places for veterans and their families and friends to sit and remember. It may even include a couple of picnic tables, so that our kids could learn over lunch about those who gave everything for their freedom.
The city asked me to start a Kent Veterans Association that would bring out those who served. It’s an opportunity for veterans to be more visible in our city – the foundation and strength that they are.
Kent does not want our city to become complacent with the memories of the fallen. An appreciative Kent wants to honor our neighbors, our police officers, our firefighters, people we work next to every day, the homeless on our streets, those who served and offered their lives for our freedom.
We need your ideas, we need your help, we need you, the veteran. We need families of veterans to bring proud memories and pride of service together.
We have been offered a place to meet and have coffee, to kick around some ideas and share old sea stories. We want to begin a drive to keep remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, our veterans.
Don DinAlpha XR, a Navy veteran and Kent resident, regularly contributes to the Kent Reporter. He can be reached at dditto777@gmail.com.
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