FORT SILL, Okla., May 26, 2016 -- Basic training Soldiers of B Battery, 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery, looked on as two Vietnam War veterans unveiled a red guidon during a ceremony at the battalion headquarters, May 20.
Thurman Cousins, the former command sergeant major of the 1-40th FA, and Lynden Couvillion, who was a mechanic in the battery, both served with the unit during its time in the Vietnam War, from 1969 to 1970.
They, along with Lee Roper, a retired colonel who was also the battalion commander in Vietnam, visited their former unit.
"I love today's 1-40th," said Cousins. "The people are intelligent, sharp, good looking, dressed like Soldiers and act like Soldiers are supposed to act with military courtesy. It's just no different than it was 50 years ago."
The group began the day with veterans observing the graduation of F Battery and then lunch with the battalion command team. Following lunch Cousins and Couvillion attended the guidon ceremony. Capt. Christopher Shepherd, B Battery commander, addressed the audience and said the Vietnam conflict officially ended April 30, 1975 and that 41 years later, almost to the day, the battery picked up its current group of trainees.
"That's a long time, 41 years, and time is what the Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery gave us when they fought in Vietnam," said Shepherd. "The time to be with friends, family, to cherish the moments in life without the fear of oppression. Today the battery continues the mission that has been given, so that those who follow us have the time and freedom which we have been afforded."
Shepherd said the guidon was flown over Vietnam and given to his predecessors before it was passed down to him. He considered keeping the guidon in the battery's building but believed the history of the battery and the visible reminder of the guidon of former Soldiers in the unit deserved a more prominent home.
"It is my honor to bring the Bravo Battery guidon back to the halls of the 'Gauntlet' and the 'All-For-One' Battalion," said Shepherd.
The guidon now resides behind glass, surrounded by images from the unit in Vietnam. Many of the photos were donated by Couvillion who once worked as the museum curator of field artillery on Fort Sill. Lt. Col. Carl Chasteen, the commander of 1-40th FA, thanked Couvillion for donating the items and said basic training Soldiers, while waiting for their next class, would have time to stand outside and look at the walls to see those who were part of the unit they now make up.
"These people were before me and on their backs am I walking and able to be where I am today," said Chasteen of the Vietnam veterans. "I only hope that as (basic training Soldiers) walk through here and see this, that they understand the sacrifices y'all made and that they do every last thing they can do to make you proud that they are coming from this battalion."
Chasteen recounted the history of the unit, its fight in World War II and Vietnam, how they were activated and deactivated several times over the years but now has the task of training Soldiers and preparing them for advanced individual training. Chasteen said the battalion should remember its history because the future is open.
"We've got a very important mission that still goes on," said Chasteen. "Who knows where this battalion will be 10 or 20 or 40 years from now."
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