FORT SILL, Okla. (April 30, 2015) -- Fort Sill, the 214th Fires Brigade and 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery were honored to host over 80 Vietnam veterans and family members who visited Fort Sill to catch up with each other and learn how Army artillery has changed in 45 years.
The veterans all served in Vietnam with 6th Battalion, 29th Field Artillery between 1968 and 1971.
"A number of years ago I started tracking down my men, and we held battery reunions," explained Larry Brainerd, event coordinator and C Battery commander in 1969. "Now, we have expanded to include the whole battalion with the hopes of expanding further to become the official "Redlegs" chapter of the 4th Infantry Division."
Past reunions have been held all over the country, from Las Vegas to Lexington, Ky., but one place they all had in common, other than Vietnam, is Fort Sill. It was here at Fort Sill that they all learned about artillery and became the masters of precision fires needed for their missions in Vietnam.
"Fort Sill is our home," said a smiling Larry Teague, a C Battery veteran. "No matter how long ago it was, we have all been through here. We came from all over the country and went to basic training all over, but before we ever got to Vietnam we met here."
The veterans began their visit to Fort Sill at the Army Field Artillery Museum, where vintage guns brought memories flooding back and gave the perfect opportunity to explain to their families what they did in Vietnam. This look at history was then followed by classes at Call for Fire Training and Computerized Battlefield, where the veterans were introduced to the technology currently in use on battlefields across the world.
"I loved seeing that new technology and equipment," said Chuck Johnson. "Talking to these Soldiers I could hardly believe how integrated computers are into modern artillery. It seems like there is a perfect harmony between the Soldier and equipment, both working perfectly together. Incredible."
Then after a lunch break at the Staff Sgt. Juan Garcia Dining Facility, they headed to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery motorpool, where they talked with their modern counterparts and got hands-on with modern artillery rocket systems like the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System and M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.
Soldiers and veterans shook hands and told stories, closing the gap between Army past and present, learning that while the technology and weapons systems have changed, the spirit of the Soldier never has. The new friends discussed the sacrifice of deployments, artillery and the similarities and differences between jungle and desert warfare among countless other topics.
But, one thing remained constant across all conversations, ranks and ages: the mutual respect that lives in the heart of Soldiers.
"Getting to interact with the new Soldiers was the highlight of my day," said Brainerd. "They sincerely thanked us and welcomed us home, from both Vietnam, a welcome we never had, and also back to Fort Sill. Even with more than 40 years between us, they seemed no different than the Soldiers I had in 1969: true Soldiers, Redlegs and heroes."
For long into the night following their tour of Fort Sill, the Vietnam veterans of the 6-29th FA caught up on the intervening years since their meeting in Southeast Asia and told stories to the laughing approval of their comrades. Many in attendance had not spoken in 45 years, but to the unknowing bystander, it would seem that they still all lived within arm's reach of one another in an underground bunker.
"A lot of guys have their college reunions," said Rich Jacob, another veteran of C Battery, "but this is our reunion. For a full year we lived together, ate together and fought together. We are still all brothers and the best friends we've ever had, we just want to stay in touch and never forget who we are."
Social Sharing