ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Illinois (July 30, 2015) -- More than 250 guests, visitors and Rock Island Arsenal employees gathered July 30 in a ceremony dedicating the opening of The Wall That Heals, on display at the Arsenal through Aug. 2.
The display is part of a series of Arsenal events commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the War in Vietnam.
The Wall That Heals is a 50-percent scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. Veterans attending the event received a certificate and a 50th anniversary button recognizing them for their service.
Vietnam veteran and three-time Silver Star recipient Bill Albracht, a former Special Forces officer, was keynote speaker for the event. He and Col. Elmer Speights, Jr., commander of U.S. Army Garrison-Rock Island Arsenal, laid a commemorative wreath at The Wall That Heals as part of the ceremony.
Albracht said he didn't begin to find relief from his own combat experiences until 1999, when he met famed Special Forces commander, Lt. Col. Bo Gritz, at an event held at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"He was legendary -- legendary," Albracht said. "And I had met him once, in Nha Trang. So I went up to him and introduced myself. He said, 'you were there?' and I said that I was there -- and he said 'Welcome home, brother.' It was the first time anyone had ever, ever, welcomed me home. So to all of you who stood before, welcome home."
Albracht spoke of his combat experience at a "worthless piece of real estate" known as Firebase Kate. "There were about 130 of us surrounded by nearly 6,000 of Ho Chi Minh's finest," he said. "We were short on supplies, running out of ammo, and running out of luck."
He said he met a replacement officer, an artillery lieutenant named Ron Ross, who had only a brief time before he would be on leave and see his newborn son for the first time. Ross died due to injuries from a rocket attack while he and Albracht were running from one shelter to another, just seconds apart.
He said a visit to The Wall That Heals in 2007 brought him back to his Vietnam memories, and started true healing, when he began to compose a book about the fight at Firebase Kate. The research led him to Ross' son. "I saw those same blue eyes looking at me again. He's on Panel 16, row 9," Albracht said. "I was able to tell his son about his father, and it closed the circle of life for me, and opened a new one for him."
Asked after the ceremony, if he had spoken to family members of other veterans whose names appear on the Wall, Albracht said he had not.
"There are too many ghosts. It's not easy to come home here knowing that you know people on it. You can sit over there and look at it, but it's different as you get close and see the names."
He said the Wall offers significant closure to veterans and their families, who might not be able to travel to Washington D.C. to see the full-size memorial there.
"It comes to you. When you actually see those 58,000-plus names, you think of every family and friend, every future that didn't happen because they are there," Albracht said.
Speights told reporters that the Wall was important as a gesture in thanks of the support the Arsenal receives from the Quad Cities.
"I've lived in many different places and the Quad Cities area is the most patriotic place I've ever seen. We see this as a gift to the Quad Cities in recognition of their support," Speights said.
He noted the Wall is an important figure for veterans of the war.
"It truly is what its name is -- a wall that heals," Speights said. "It's important to veterans and their families to have closure, and it helps provide closure, so that people know that their fallen Soldier is not forgotten. Nobody ever told these gentlemen and ladies, 'welcome home,'" Speights said. "It's important that we let them know, here during the 50th Anniversary year, that they are welcome home."
Related Links:
Vietnam Veterans of America Quad Cities Chapter 299
U.S. Army Garrison-Rock Island Arsenal
Presidential Proclamation -- Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War
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