Dan Roach was a Lieutenant platoon leader in Vietnam. The below is his account of his recent reunion experience. There really is nothing emotionally in the world like being with guys that you literally were in combat with in Vietnam. Here you are in the room with them, the emotional electricity is simply overwhelming.
40th REUNION AFTER ACTION REPORT
BY: Dan Roach, 3rd Platoon Leader, Delta Company 1/501, 2nd Bde. 101st Abn.
Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15, 2008; I’m flying home to California after attending the 2nd Bde. Reunion at Ft. Campbell Kentucky. This was my first reunion and the four day event was packed with activities and good emotions. Thursday was a travel day with vets arriving from across the US and as far away as Alaska, California, Connecticut and local Southern States. Delta Company 1/501 had the best representation with at least 13 troopers. My first evening culminated with heart felt greetings from guys I hadn’t seen in over 40 years. Our departure from Vietnam was fractured to say the least, yet each individual reconnect seemed to involve a glaze that peered through the years seeing beyond the wrinkles, thinning grey hair and weathered structural changes to a rediscovery of that recognizable voice and physical mannerisms that was the essence of each soldier then and now. Heartwarming is a good term yet fails to describe the discovery of GOLD I experienced that first evening. It was like picking up where we left off without the pressures of WAR and with wholesome gracefully aged friends.
Day 2 of the Reunion started at 0800 with the boarding of the military buses which initiated an 8 hour tour of Ft. Campbell. We were treated to several briefings by post staff explaining the evolution of the configuration of the 101st from 1968 to the present. We also toured several memorials and were introduced to the Air Assault Course where several vets got the opportunity to repel off the Air Assault School’s Repelling Tower. A mess hall style lunch was served at a college type cafeteria; boy have things changed. I didn’t even miss the fragrance of the sun baked canvas mess tent or the rattling of stainless steel mess trays. Throughout the day it was evident by their absence that the 101st
Division was missing from Ft. Campbell due to their deployment to the Mid East.
The Don F. Pratt Museum tour was impact full as the history of the 101st was portrayed from inception to the present. One highlight occurred when a visiting family encountered two of our vets from the 3rd Platoon of Delta Company, 1/501 discussing their experience with a 90 mm recoilless rifle. The family was elated that they were actually speaking to a real vet that was an expert 90 gunner. The family’s experience was greatly enriched with their interaction with our vets. Though the evening ended with a BBQ Dinner at the Holiday Inn Express throughout the entire day bonds between brothers were once again forged with gratitude.
Paul Adamic a firefighter/paramedic from Joliet, Illinois brought his 101st display and placed it in our hospitality room at the Holiday Inn Exp. Although Paul never served in the military his passion for capturing our history through “soldiers in uniform” was evident; he got it right. Paul wanted feedback concerning the authenticity of his collection; a collection that Paul’s been working on for the past eight years. Though Paul received some minor feedback he got the opportunity to join in with us in our celebration and enjoy the many stories that ricocheted through the years and the photos that told the story of our “rendezvous with destiny.”
Day 3, Saturday could be described as a “minimum day” since our official activity was an 1800 Reunion Dinner at the Sportsman’s Lodge. Our group spent the morning touring a local memorial trail and military shops in the area. I had forgotten what a “Military Town” looked like yet Oak Grove seemed deserted since the Division was deployed to the Mid East. Once back at the hotel most of us gravitated to the “Hospitality Room” where we continued with our reconnect. I can truthfully say that I laughed till I cried then cried and laughed some more. Chaplain Jerry Autry, though not at the reunion in person, seemed to be present in spirit as he gifted each of us an autographed copy of his latest book the “GUN – TOTIN’ CHAPLAIN;” thanks Jerry and “God Bless!”
Later at the dinner LTG (then COL.) John H. Cushman led the celebration with a “key note” presentation which was extremely inspirational in linking our Vietnam service as part of the continuing legacy of the 101st. I was always proud of my service yet by evening’s end I was bursting with pride. LTG. Cushman (retired) asked for a show of hands of those that would be willing to commit to attending a follow-up reunion next May when the 101st “Returns Home,” from the Mid East. It would be a fitting welcome from those of us that weren’t welcomed home to celebrating a homecoming that we wish we received upon return to CONUS; count me in. The Alpha Company Co. Don Shive, presented Col. Cushman with a book “General William C. Lee, Father of the Airborne,” written by none other than Jerry Autry his chaplain. Once back at the hotel many of us continued the very important business of reconnecting until 0100 Sunday morning. Personally, I had an extremely important exchange with a warrior that was left undone for the past 40 years; our reconciliation of the event was priceless. I slept well that night.
Day 4, Sunday; move-out and return home. Some of us caught a quick breakfast in the hotel lounge and said our “good-buys” as others were already homeward bound. I made the 50 min. drive to the Nashville Metropolitan Airport (BNA), turned in my rental car; it was finally over. I was walking to my gate and was hailed by a soldier from A Company. We hadn’t had an opportunity to talk during the previous three days and for the next 90 minutes had the most interesting and bonding conversation. At one point we were interrupted by a young woman who had just deplaned and spotted my Screaming Eagle Base Ball Cap. She said “it’s Fathers Day and I see that you served in the 101st in Vietnam and I want to thank you for your service.” Shaking my hand, she said “my dad served as a Marine in Vietnam.” I was overcome with emotions though I responded with “I sincerely thank you for remembering and I forgive your dad for being a Marine.” She laughed and said “I can’t wait to tell dad!”
Delta 3-6 OUT; somewhere over Arizona headed west.
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