Editor’s note: Vietnam veteran and longtime Marion resident Charlie Brown enlisted in the Army in 1966, was selected for Officer Candidate School and upon completion was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He was transferred to Vietnam and assigned to the First Cavalry Division Airmobile, with 430 helicopters – their rides into battle. He was combat wounded in December 1966 and again in January 1967. In January 1968, his division was flown just north of Hue and defended against the North’s Tet Offensive. Following nine months in the field, Lieutenant Brown was transferred to the battalion headquarters that would be attacked and partially overrun. Lieutenant Brown received his third Purple Heart and the Silver Star for actions leading his troops defending the headquarters. In the years since, Mr. Brown has made it his mission in retirement to support his combat brothers, their families, and the families of the fallen. The Wanderer invites the keynote speaker of Marion’s Memorial Day observance at Old Landing to share his words with our readers.
By Charles A. Brown, retired U.S. Army
Our Memorial service in Marion is so special as it reflects the core values of this small town in America. Today is a day to pause and reflect upon our service members who lost their lives serving on behalf of the United States, no matter when, where or which military conflict was involved.
We are a grateful nation that honors and give thanks to the brave who served and sacrificed, and they were brave no matter the role they had. It is a team consisting of all of our services that has kept this country safe.
Many here today have likely lost a family member, neighbor or friend in service to our country. For Gold Star families, those who have lost an immediate family member, today is a day to mourn and honor.
President Lincoln stated in his Gettysburg address, “These dead shall not have died in vain.”
I’d like to ask you to “remember their names!”
Someone once said, “Death is not final until you are forgotten.”
My Cavalry Company, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry (the oldest Cavalry unit in the Army) … First Air Cavalry Division has a reunion each year. Our bond as brothers is stronger today, and they are meeting in Nashville as we speak.
My service was in Vietnam. In Vietnam, it was hard to get to know each other. I knew my medic (they were all called Doc), my Platoon sergeant, radio operator, squad leaders, jokers and troublemakers. The good soldiers blended into the background. Today we know each other well. We know of their families and their lives lived.
Sadly, we lost troopers on the first day they arrived in the field, some nine days before they would go home, and 34 great young Americans on one day. At the closing of our reunion’s final night, we remember the 150 of our brothers who died in Vietnam. We state their name, age, hometown, show their picture and the date they were killed in action or passed. It continues to bring tears to my eyes 57 years later.
These days, I try to spend time talking with the families of our fallen. Although most parents have passed, the siblings, children, fiancés, nieces and nephews, school children, neighbors and fellow veterans are asking about our fallen troopers. The stories are heartbreaking, but the effort to help these family members is beyond rewarding. They are keeping history going by saying – the – names.
About a month after I came home from Vietnam, a soldier in my company was killed by a sniper. His name was Ronald Charles Bakewell from Pennsylvania. His nickname was “Smokey.” A helicopter came out to pick up his body. The trooper was wrapped in a poncho and hoisted out of the jungle. Another son of America was on his way home.
Ironically, the pilot of that helicopter was Howard Burbank of Westport, a good friend now. Howard remembered that day, as he was shot down two hours later, his first week flying in Vietnam. Last week, I was honored to introduce Howard to the brother of Trooper Bakewell. They spoke for an hour. Both the family and pilot were thankful.
“The soldier stops bleeding, but the families never do.”
I quote an unknown author, “Death is not final until you are forgotten. While I breathe, you will live on, and your sacrifice for our freedom will be remembered.”
We will remember you “Smokey” Bakewell!
I encourage everyone here today to take an hour each year to learn a name of someone we honor on Memorial Day. Place flowers or flags at our local or national cemeteries.
But please, never forget, these sentinels of America.
In 1918, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” Moina Michael replied with her own poem.
An excerpt from it said: “We cherish, too, the Poppy red, that grows on fields where valor led. It seems to signal to the skies, that blood of heroes never dies.”
Memorial Day is about our coming together to honor those who gave their lives, for our country. May they rest in eternal peace … never forgotten.
Thank you for being here! It has been my honor to be with you!