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NEIGHBORS NAME: Linda Harris FAMILY: Husband Michael, two grown children, four grandchildren BORN: Seattle, WA, resides in Florence OCCUPATION: Works parttime marketing Senior Health Care book SPECIAL INTERESTS: Gardening, biking, kayaking WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT FLORENCE? Warm friendly people, mild weather, the beautiful library WHO OR WHAT HAS MOST INFLUENCED YOU? “My parents who showed me by example how to love and serve others.”
NOVEMBER 8, 2017
VOL. 37, NO. 47
Monument honoring Vietnam veterans to be unveiled BY BRENDA HARRISON Editor of The News Journal Florence, S.C. A new memorial honoring Vietnam veterans will be dedicated at the Veterans Day Ceremony set for 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 in Florence Veterans Park. This recognition may be a long time coming, but greatly appreciated by four area Vietnam veterans who talked about their memories of serving in what was called the Vietnam Conflict. There was no fanfare or special welcome ceremonies for these soldiers after their service in this controversial war. “It was very different. We didn’t come back in groups like soldiers today,” commented Henry Moree of Society Hill. Moree, a Marine, remembers dreaming about a cheeseburger on his return from Vietnam. On his way home, while still in uniform, he stopped at restaurant in his hometown, “I didn’t have any civilian clothes, all I had was my uniforms,” he explained. “When I walked in the restaurant, I was told that I was welcome to eat there, but not in uniform,” he recalled. Roosevelt Wallace, U.S. Army, first stepped on U.S. soil in California after leaving Vietnam. He remembers there were barriers erected at the airport to shield returning soldiers from angry protestors. John Galloway, a Navy veteran, doesn’t remember anything specifically targeting him, but he does recalls whispers, such as “baby killer,” said behind his back. Roosevelt Wallace of Darlington, joined the Army in 1967, got special training for reconnoissance at Ft. Benning, GA. He was sent to Vietnam in June of 1968. In August he was wounded and sent to Japan for medical treatment. He went back to Vietnam in March of 1969 but got a different assignment – this time serving on APC tracks. Wallace was wounded a second time in April of 1969, sent
VIETNAM VETERANS – John Pendergrass, left, Roosevelt Wallace, John Galloway and Henry Moree. away for healing, and returned to the war in June of 1969. He exited military service in 1970, receiving the Purple Heart, first and second. John Galloway of Florence County joined the U.S. Navy in 1966 and served several tours of Vietnam on the Navy Destroyer, USS Duncan (DER 874) from 1967 until 1970. He was a gunners mate. Galloway left service in 1970, but rejoined the Navy in 1973 and served until 1993, including service in the Gulf War. He retired with 26 years of service. John Pendergrass, Florence, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, served in Vietnam from 1970-72 at Phan Rang Air Base. As security police, Galloway’s job included providing flight line and base security. After leaving the Air Force, he joined the Air National Guard, retiring with 21 years of military service.
Henry Moree of Society Hill joined the U.S. Marines after being drafted by the Army in April of 1969. Following training at Parris Island, he was sent to Vietnam aboard the USS La Salle in early 1970. While serving with the First
Recon in the bush near Da Nang, he was wounded and flown to the Vietnam Navy Hospital. He returned to the bush where he served until exiting in 1971. He then served in the U.S. Marine Reserves for a short while.
Veteran’s Day ceremony A Veterans Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 in Florence Veterans Park. The guest speaker will be US Army retired MG Richard S. “Steve” Siegfried. The Vietnam monument will be unveiled and dedicated during the program. Also a new panel to the Wall of Honor will be unveiled. A SEE
VETERAN’S DAY PAGE 2A
MG RICHARD S. SIEGFRIED
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