Military group reunites to honor Vietnam veterans
September 20, 2004 Charlotte Burrous
Daily Record Community Editor It's a tradition for the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing to gather.
Every year, the group flocks from all over the country to rededicate a wing of the memorial at the Fremont County Airport to 102 members of the unit who died in Vietnam. Ron Doughty led the informal ceremony Sunday, which took place at the Col. Leo Sidney Boston War Memorial Park at the airport. As the National Anthem played, 16 veterans, families and friends stood at attention, remembering those who served in Southeast Asia. During the event, Gene Rust presented a check to Fremont County Commissioner Jim Schauer for landscaping. Rust talked about how the drought had taken its toll on the park. "On behalf of the veterans and friends of the 12th, I am going to present Fremont County a contribution of $1,500," Rust said. Schauer thanked the group for its donation and reminisced about meeting Rust over the telephone when he inquired about buying the F-4, which stands in the park. "We told him, 'no.' We're very proud of it," Schauer said. "We were just building this facility to honor veterans. It's a work in progress." He thanked the group for its involvement in the memorial. "We've enjoyed our relationship with the 12th Tactical," Schauer said. "We're glad you're here, and you're a part of our wall and a part of our airplane." Doughty reminisced about the dedication of the memorial, which was conducted Sept. 16, 2001. "Since then, we have gathered here in September every year to informally dedicate this memorial to the veterans and socialize," he said. Doughty also read a letter from Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force Chief of Staff, who was scheduled to be at the dedication of the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing memorial on Sept. 16, 2001; however, because of the events of 9/11, he wasn't able to make the event. A flyover also had to be cancelled in 2001. The letter said, "Today, as we honor the memory of the fallen and missing airmen of the 12th Tactical Fighter Wings, the men and women of the United States Air Force join you in commemorating this solemn occasion," Jumper wrote. "We mourn the absence of dear friends: husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, wingmen and workmates - patriots who answered the nation's call to arms in defense of our liberty." Mark Hunt offered the invocation at the beginning of the ceremony. "We're so thankful for this gathering of veterans, civilians that are here to pay homage for our fallen comrades in Vietnam," he said. "This program (is) dedicated to the men on this wall that they never be forgotten and their families also will always be remembered." Wilbur Anderson read the names on the wall while those in the audience stood at attention, followed by an electronic rendition of "Taps" and the convocation by Hunt. The group, which spent the weekend in the area, included Rick Anderson, Wilbur "Andy" and Dawn Anderson, Ron Arthur, Jim "Boomer" Cockerham, Ron "Rowdy" Doughty, Dan and Sheila Feigenbaum, Hunt, David Hutchings, Bruce "Vernie" Jaeger, Steve and Shirley Knutson, Rust, Jimmie Simmons, Gus and Leslie Stritmater, Ron Matsuda and Charlie and Suzy Wells. The 12th TFW History Project, Inc., began in 1996 after years of searching for an F-4 Phantom fighter jet as the center of a memorial for the unit. When Rust, who lives in Arvada, saw the jet plane on display at the airport, he contacted County Commissioners Jim Schauer and Keith McNew, and other community members. Because Ron Packard, a native of Canon City, died in Vietnam and was a member of the 12th Wing, the commissioners agreed it was a good idea so the Wing immediately started a fund-raising campaign to pay its share of the war memorial. "We raised the money through e-Bay sales; selling paintings, flight manuals and other items," said Rust. The men joked, laughed and played throughout the weekend, but the members haven't forgotten why they came together. "We never served together," said Cockerham. "(Since we met), they've become like brothers to me." Simmons and Knutson contacted the group as friends several years ago and were invited to join the reunions every year. They served in the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing. "I remember the good times and the good people," Simmons said. "There were bad times over there, but I try to forget about it."
Daily Record photo by Charlotte Burrous
Ron Doughty, left, leads the informal dedication ceremony by the Tactical Fighter Wing group Sunday as Mark Hunt stands at attention.
