Association president, unveil a plaque during the Dusters and Quads room renaming ceremony March 27 in P... VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT SILL, Okla. -- As Soldiers celebrated Final Friday March 27, Vietnam veterans took pride in their part of American history.
Nine members of the National Dusters, Quads and Searchlights Association came to Fort Sill for a room renaming ceremony in Patriot Club.
Fort Sill renamed the Fires Side Room the Dusters and Quads Room as part of the rebalancing effort to highlight air defense artillery heritage alongside that of the field artillery.
"Both the Duster and Quad weapon systems saw action in Korea and in anti-aircraft battalions with infantry, airborne and armored divisions, while often deployed in ground support roles. In Vietnam these weapons became famous by stopping many enemy ground attacks," said Lt. Col. David McNutt, Office Chief of Air Defense Artillery director.
Five of the nine veterans in attendance fought together and one of the paintings hanging in the room depicts part of their battle: Ambush on Route 9.
Ambush on Route 9 happened Jan. 24, 1968, when North Vietnamese army regiments ambushed a U.S. convoy in Quang Tri Province, the northernmost province of South Vietnam.
"It's quite an honor for us. It's something we never thought would happen," said John Huelsenbeck, NDQSA president, who fought on a Duster in Vietnam in 1967-1968.
Earlier in the day the men visited the Tedesco Wing in Snow Hall, named after retired Col. Vincent Tedesco, who served as C Battery, 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Regiment commander and was awarded a Silver Star during the Ambush on Route 9.
"This is a wonderful day for the old Vietnam air defenders," said Tedesco.
He said the honor is even more important for those who got out of the Army following the Vietnam War.
"Some of them weren't treated very well when they went home. They weren't recognized at all. And here we are 40-45 years later, a room dedicated to them ... all this attention being paid to them. Just a small part of what they did not receive when they first came home.
"The country has learned a lot from those lessons. Some of these guys here are the greatest men I've ever, ever seen. And for them to finally begin to get some recognition is just wonderful and I can only thank the people of Fort Sill and Lawton for correcting what I think was a big wrong and to do it in such a nice way," said Tedesco.
The 44th Air Defense Regiment was the most decorated unit throughout the campaign receiving Presidential and Meritorious Unit citations, Silver Stars, Bronze Stars, and more than 1,000 Purple Hearts.
They were also the only ADA unit with a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. Mitchell Stout.
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