1 of 5

The audience salutes as the colors are presented during a special ceremony Wednesday recognizing veterans of the Vietnam War. April 30 marked the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, which is widely recognized as the end of the war. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)

Members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 607 in Montgomery presented the colors and provided a gun salute. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)

Jim Levy, U.S. Navy (ret.), speaks about his experience in the final days of the war, going to great lengths to evacuate people from Vietnam. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)

Kent Davis shared history of the war, including more recent actions taken to recognize the sacrfices of the nation’s Vietnam veterans. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)

Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson speaks about Covington County veterans who fought in the Vietnam War, including reading those who were killed in action. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)

Vietnam veterans were honored Wednesday, April 30, during a ceremony held at the Covington Veterans Monument in Andalusia. The event coincided with the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, which is recognized as the end of the war in southeast Asia.

The event was organized by the Covington Veterans Foundation and the City of Andalusia. Mayor Earl Johnson read the names of the 21 Covington County residents who were killed in the war.

“The veterans who did return home after that war found a country deeply divided, which often made their transition into civilian life difficult. But, they persevered and continued to give to their communities, just as they sacrificed for their country. We owe each of these men and women, as well as their families, a debt of gratitude. Most of us will never comprehend what they endured for the causes of freedom and democracy,” Johnson said.

Jim Levy, U.S. Navy (ret.), spoke about his direct experiences related to the fall of Saigon as a helicopter pilot.

“I served aboard the USS Midway in 1975. We got the call while we were in the Philippines that there was going to be an evacuation out of Vietnam,” Levey said. “Originally, it was supposed to be out of a place called Bun Kow. Unfortunately, it was overrun, so the decision was to go to Saigon. On the way up, we steamed by Utapal Royal Air Base in Thailand and picked up a detachment of Air Force H 53s. When we got there, the site we saw was amazing. The desperation of the Vietnamese people who served with us and helped us, was just as emotional there as that was.

“The desperation in the Vietnamese people that did everything they could to get out of there would break your heart. I’m honored and blessed to have been part of it. And, I want you to know many of those folks are in the United States today, and they’ve had children and grandchildren. The last thing I want to say is to all of my Vietnam War brothers and sisters, ‘welcome home.’”

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Kent Davis (ret.) spoke about his visits to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington and the importance of honoring and remembering history.

“It goes without saying that this is one of the saddest episodes in American history. Vietnam War veterans received little to no recognition and gratitude when they initially returned to the United States. Thank God that has changed. And our leaders from both political parties have finally recognized the need to properly honor our great Vietnam veterans,” Davis said.

He said that in 2007, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2008. On Memorial Day, 2012, President Barack Obama launched a Vietnam War commemoration to remember the Vietnam War 50th anniversary over a 13-year period.

“The history of the Vietnam War, more specifically, the long overdue efforts to recognize its veterans, continued in 2017. In that year, the Vietnam War Veterans’ Recognition Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump, designating every March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day,” Davis said.

Following the speakers, refreshments and music from the Vietnam War era were available on the grounds of Springdale.

Others participating in the program included the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 607 in presenting the colors and providing a gun salute. “Taps” was performed by Babs Couch. Covington County Veterans Service Officer Brian Foshee served as the master of ceremonies. Prayer was provided by Andalusia City Councilman Terry Powell and Greyson Hancock performed the National Anthem.

Covington County servicemen who were killed in Vietnam are:

U.S. Army

• Staff Sergeant James Aubrey Cauley
• PFC George Wallace Jones
• Spec. 4 John Wayne Hudgens
• PFC Jimmy Earl Darby
• Sgt. Ronald Gilmore
• Spec. 4 Travis Robert Sutton
• Warrant Officer Horace Gilbert Giddens Jr.
• PFC Dewey Ray Owens
• Spec. 4 Carrel Gorum Ealum
• Sgt. Ralph Gerald Dunn
• Sgt. FC  James Kenneth Sutton
• Sgt. Rodney John Evans
• Spec. 4 Max Duane Kersey
• Spec. 4 James Steven Stanley
• Staff Sgt. Cecil Clayton Schofield

Marines

• Corp. Michael Wayne Johns
• PFC Allan Joseph Gaines
• PFC Douglas Sidney Scroggins
• Lance Corp. Henry Beall Smith Jr.
• Lance Corp. Daniel Patrick Thomas Jr.

Air Force

• Airman FC Michael David Gunnels

More News

Andalusia man pleads guilty in Gantt home invasion

GALLERY: CCYL graduates 35 juniors from fourth class

Andalusia Ballet’s ‘Cinderella’ comes to stage this weekend

Adult Activity Center plans Tennessee trip in November