2-20th Field Artillery Battalion honors two Vietnam veterans

By Fort Sill Tribune staffFebruary 27, 2020

FORT SILL, Oklahoma (Feb. 27, 2020) -- Two retired Vietnam-era Soldiers at the Lawton-Fort Sill Veterans Center were inducted into 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery's Wall of Heroes Feb. 20, during a ceremony at the center.

Sgts. 1st Class Avery Hall and Charles Paxton were honored by about 130 Soldiers, and family, friends, and staff of the veterans center.

"It's an honor, I just do not have words for it," said Hall age 84, an artilleryman who retired at Fort Sill in 1973.

Hall wore his Army dress uniform just like he did when he was married in 1956, like he does when he attends church, and it's what he'll wear at his funeral, he said.

Paxton, 73, said he felt good about the recognition. His advice to young Soldiers was, "try not to let things get you down, keep your momentum, and always strive to be better."

During the ceremony, the 2-20th FA command team of Lt. Col. Andrew Knight, and Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin Bowens presented the inductees with certificates of appreciation, coins of excellence, and unveiled a portrait of each.

Those portraits now make 18 photographs which hang on the Wall of Heroes in the 2-20th FA Battalion headquarters conference room, Bowens said. There they are highly visible to all Soldiers.

"I want them (Soldiers) to see the history and legacy that these honorable and faithful service members left for us," the command sergeant major said. "We do this induction to honor veterans. They are not forgotten."

Sgt. Jerry Perez, Headquarters Battery, 2-20th FA, introduced Hall, and spoke about his childhood and military career. He said Hall will be returning to his hometown of Wayne, Michigan, to receive his high school diploma Feb. 28. Hall dropped out of school when he was 17 to fight in the Korean War.

Staff Sgt. Domonique Castro, B Battery, 2-20th FA, spoke about Paxton, who was thrown OJT into

field artillery during Vietnam, although his training was as a vehicle mechanic.

After a 20-year Army career, Paxton worked as a contract instructor at Fort Sill, a professional truck driver, a security officer, and as a corrections guard.

As part of the ceremony James Leary, and Jonathan Bernstein, Air Defense Artillery Museum director,

took the floor in Vietnam-era combat uniforms and gear.

Leary explained that many of the combat tactics developed in Vietnam are still used by today's Army.

Guest speaker Command Sgt. Maj. Reginald Atkinson, 1st Battalion, 30th Field Artillery, paid gratitude to the inductees.

"Thank you for your sacrifice, for your dedication to this country ... thank you for paving the way for Soldiers like me, and those in the audience," Atkinson said. "If it were not for you, we wouldn't be

where we are today."

Afterward a long line of 2-20th FA Soldiers and friends thanked the inductees, and guests were invited for cake in the canteen.