FORT BENNING, Ga., (July 1, 2015) -- Veterans of the 198th Infantry Brigade came to Fort Benning June 24-26 for a reunion held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the United State's entry into the Vietnam War.

Doug Giffin, who had the idea to hold the reunion here after he heard the 198th was now at Fort Benning, said that the best part for him was planning it.

"I wanted to give these guys more than they could do and the (installation) has provided that. We had some things initiated and they supersized it for us," Giffin said.

While at Fort Benning, the group observed a Turning Blue ceremony and the F Company, 2nd Batalion, 58th Infantry Regiment graduation and also toured the National Infantry Museum, Memorial Park, World War II Street and the Vietnam Memorial.

But, one of the most exciting things was firing current rifles, Giffin said.

"We never even saw an M4 before," he said.

Giffin said things have changed since his days in the service.

"Back in the day, anything you did, the drill sergeants just wanted you to follow their word," he said.

"Today you have to treat (troops) with respect and dignity, that really impressed me. I don't know which is best. We were instilled to do, no matter what, to follow commands."

Giffin said reunions are important for the men who served together in Vietnam.

The men traveled from all over the U.S., including Oregon, Kansas, Iowa and Virginia, to share fellowship and brotherhood with their fellow Soldiers.

"Some of them can't be here because of PTSD. A lot are here with PTSD who probably shouldn't be, but they came because they didn't want to miss the fellowship. We're Family. We're friends forever," Giffin said.

Larry Waltman, a medic in the Vietnam War, who attended the reunion, said he completed his basic training at Fort Benning.

"It's different. The only thing the same is those buildings right there, the old WWII barracks," Waltman said.

Vernon Lovejoy and Mel Carney were the only two people at the reunion who graduated from Officer Candidate School here.

Carney said the change at Fort Benning has been phenomenal.

"It's just neat to come back. We spent a lot of years ... here. It's neat how the post has grown and how these young people are still involved," he said.

Lovejoy said he didn't recognize anything except the jump towers.

"I went to jump school there," he said. "There's so much new construction here, that's what I noticed most."

Both Lovejoy and Carney had the opportunity to speak with OCS classes during the reunion.

"I talked to them about the impact that general officers can have when they come in to their units, whether it be 100, 50, or 500. Lieutenants, first lieutenants and captains are probably the most important officers on the field, because we are the field. And we're one on one with every Soldier. They depend on you and you depend on them," Carney said.

Lovejoy said he talked to the Soldiers about things they might not learn about in OCS.

"I talked to them about things that would happen to them that the school doesn't teach you. The importance of being in charge, the importance of communication with superior officers, and what they were going to be faced with as junior officers, all the slum duties that would come down to them. I talked to them about the unexpected things that would happen to them and how I dealt with it," Lovejoy said.

Tom Caldwell said it was good to see the others again.

"There are some we haven't seen since the last reunion and some who weren't at the last reunion. It's great. Those of us who are still alive who served together over there, it's great to get together," he said.

Cardwell's wife, Norm, also came for the reunion.

"I'm just one of the guys," she joked.

For Norma, it was important to see her husband catch up with his friends.

"It means everything," she said. "These guys here make you proud. I know if I needed anything, I'd just call one of them. They're like brothers...they're closer than brothers."