Fort Hood paid tribute to America's service members missing in action and reaffirmed her commitment to never leave a fallen Soldier behind during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day September 16.
The solemn ceremony, which was held at the old Carl R. Darnall hospital in front of its Vietnam--era Iroquois helicopter, focused on the 1,618 service members still listed as missing or unaccounted for during the Vietnam War.
Guest speaker for the event was former III Armored Corps and Fort Hood Commanding General Rick Lynch who reminded the audience that Americans today know little about the price of freedom, citing a recent survey that indicated 76 percent of the American public is clueless about the sacrifices and challenges of those who have served.
"That's why today is so darn important," he said, emphasizing the need to continue educating and financing America's search for the unaccounted so those families can have closure. "We have to tell everyone what's happening so they can get fired up and do something about it. Let's reach out to our hometowns and remind them that these families need our help."
Lynch said the POW-MIA issue became personal for him during this 2007 deployment to Iraq when he commanded the Third Infantry Division. On May 12, 2007, three of his Soldiers were unaccounted for following an ambush by an al Qaeda-affiliated group. Lynch said more than 4,000 U.S. troops and 2,000 Iraqi soldiers searched for the Soldiers, staying true to the warrior ethos to "never leave a fallen comrade."
"We spent as much time as we could making it a priority to find those great Americans," he said, adding that the search for their bodies continued until they were all found some 14 months later.
This is why, he said, those who have served have a duty to remind the American public why "freedom isn't free" and why when people stand for the national anthem they are honoring those in uniform. While the retired general said he respects the First Amendment's rights of all Americans, he challenged those who are sitting in protest during the playing of the national anthem to utilize their resources to help people in need.
"And let's make it a point to tell them that there's a cost to freedom, and we've been paying the cost," he said as the 100 plus military service members and veterans attending the day's ceremony loudly cheered and applauded Lynch's punctuated remarks.
Lynch closed his remarks by recognizing Vietnam War veterans, encouraging all who attended the morning ceremony to thank them for their service and to honor them with the welcome home they never received.
Following Lynch's remarks, representatives from more than 20 veterans' service organizations and supporting groups placed wreaths next to the POW-MIA Memorial in front of the old hospital. There also was symbolic bell tolls for the unaccounted Vietnam-era Texas service members.
The annual National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony is observed the third Friday of September and is held to remember and honor service members who were prisoners of war or are still considered missing in action. More than 83,000 Americans remain missing from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Gulf Wars/other conflicts. Out of the 83,000 missing, 41,000 are presumed lost at sea. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency is tasked with providing the fullest possible accounting for the nation's missing service personnel and deploys its workforce worldwide in support of bringing closure to those families and to the nation.
The Armed Forces E9 association hosted the ceremony.
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