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‘Nobody Else Does’
Retired colonel honors fellow Vietnam veterans
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Sound of Freedom Executive Editor
At Arizona’s Vietnam Veterans Dinner, retired Col. Joe Abodeely will show a video about the Air Cavalry Division and the Marines at Khe Sanh. (Photo courtesy of Retired Col. Joe Abodeely)
Retired Col. Joe Abodeely does not mince words when he speaks about the Vietnam War.
He’s tired of the mistreatment of Vietnam veterans. He’s frustrated that these soldiers and airmen are not remembered accurately nor often.
“We celebrate all the other veterans,” says the Maricopa resident. “We do all this stuff for Memorial Day. We don’t say anything positive about those who served in Vietnam. It infuriates me. I’m a Vietnam veteran and I’m proud of it. I try to honor those guys who served in Vietnam.”
For 10 years, the former Maricopa County deputy county attorney has hosted Arizona’s Vietnam Veterans Dinner with the Arizona Military Museum, a Vietnam War Commemoration Partner. Abodeely runs the Arizona Military Museum and heads there on Wednesdays. The $50 tickets are on sale for the Saturday, October 2, dinner at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort, 7200 N. Scottsdale Road. It begins with a no-host bar at 5:30 p.m. followed by 6:30 p.m. seating and 7 p.m. program. To purchase tickets, make checks payable to Arizona Military Museum for $50 per person and mail check to Arizona Military Museum, 9014 N. Wealth Road, Maricopa, before September 24. Guests are asked to legibly print names, addresses and contact phone numbers of attendees.
Retired Col. Joey Strickland, veterans affairs secretary for the state of Louisiana, is the keynote speaker.
“He is a true friend of all veterans,” Abodeely says.
Educating the public
Abodeely, who turns 78 in July, is a Tucson native, who studied at UA. After he graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts in English, he changed his course of study from law school to business.
“In those days, if you changed your course of study, you’re in the Army now. I was sent to the Fort Benning School for Boys,” he says in jest.
Eventually, he received his orders to go to Vietnam in January 1968 in the 1st Air Cavalry Division during the Tet Offensive.
According to his biography, he was an infantry lieutenant with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). The 1st Air Cav, as they called themselves, was the only airmobile division and the first full Army Division deployed to Vietnam.
“It was a new concept for the Army deployment of light infantry troops, their artillery fire support, supplies and equipment — primarily by helicopter,” he says. “We had mobility and firepower that the other Army units simply did not have.”
Upon his return, he earned a juris doc-
Retired Col. Joey Strickland, the veterans affairs secretary for the state of Louisiana, is the keynote speaker. (Photo courtesy of the state of Louisiana)
tor from the University of Arizona Law School in 1971. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1969 to 1995. As a judge advocate general legal officer, he provided legal advice and training on issues relating to terrorism, the law of war and international law to law enforcement and military personnel in the National Guard, Army Reserve. He also worked as chief legal officer for the MP Operations Agency at the Pentagon.
“I try to educate people,” Abodeely says. “I’m a highly literate guy. I understand what went on. When we do these dinners, I show a video about the Air Cavalry Division and the Marines at Khe Sanh.
“The mass media — and worse, yet, academia, the guys who didn’t go to Vietnam and stayed in school and got their history degrees — put their spin on the history of Vietnam.”
The video theme and challenge coins relate to USMC at Khe Sanh and 1st Air Cavalry.
Vietnam remembrance
This year’s dinner will be held outside due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Abodeely says there will be “nice ambiance.”
“We have a dais and a podium,” he says. “We’ll have risers out there. We’ll have Joey and his wife at the head table. My wife and I will be there. Betsey Bayless usually shows up. There will be five at the head table.”
At 7 p.m. the Vietnamese and the American Legion Post 58 color guards will post the colors.
“We have a mixed color guard,” Abodeely says. “It’s the American Legion Color Guard with a couple Marines in it. They will do rifle drills and come down the aisle.”
Afterward, DK Orchestra will perform the Republic of Vietnam and U.S. national anthems.
From 7:15 to 7:20 p.m., Father Virgil Petermeier will say the invocation and immediately following, Abodeely will welcome attendees and recognize veterans.
During dinner, from 7:40 to 8:15 p.m., the DK Orchestra will return to entertain. Abodeely’s video presentation is from 8:15 to 8:45 p.m., followed by a tribute to Lam Bui, a toast to the fallen and Vern West will play “Taps.”
Strickland will speak from 9 to 9:20 p.m., service songs will be performed and challenge coins will be distributed from 9:20 to 9:40 p.m.
“I honor Vietnam veterans because nobody else really does,” Abodeely says.
“They’re jumping over to the new guys. Now. I do what I do to honor Vietnam veterans because I don’t think other people do. They camouflage Vietnam veterans.”
Arizona’s Vietnam Veterans Dinner
WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, October 2 WHERE: Scottsdale Plaza Resort, 7200 N. Scottsdale Road COST: $50; business casual or military uniform required INFO: Call the Arizona Military Museum at 602-2672676; the hotel has special rates for attendees. Call 1-800-832-2025.
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Aetna Medicare is a PDP, HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare c Medicaid programs. Enrollment in our plans depends on complete description of plan benefits, exclusions, limita and availability may vary by service area. Y0001 _ 4007 _ 11785 Accepted 1/2018 ©2019 Aetna
Aetna Medicare is a PDP, HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Our SNPs also have co Medicaid programs. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. See Evidence complete description of plan benefits, exclusions, limitations and conditions of covera and availability may vary by service area. Y0001 _ 4007 _ 11785 Accepted 1/2018 ©2019 Aetna Inc.
Aetna Medicare is a PDP, HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Our SNPs also have contracts with State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. See Evidence of Coverage for a complete description of plan benefits, exclusions, limitations and conditions of coverage. Plan features and availability may vary by service area. Y0001 _
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Aetna Medicare is a PDP, HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Our SNPs also Medicaid programs. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. See E complete description of plan benefits, exclusions, limitations and conditions o and availability may vary by service area. Y0001 _
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