|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Our
primary
mission was
to safely
deploy 5
Honor Riders
with Rolling
Thunder's
1244 riding
out of La
Crosse to LZ
Lambeau
while at the
same time
deploying 5
from KIA
gravesites
in Door
County to LZ
Lambeau on
Friday, May
21, 2010.
The 1244
represent
the number
of Wisconsin
solders
killed in
action,
missing in
action, or
who were
prisoners
during the
Vietnam War.
All Door
County
riders made
it safely to
LZ Lambeau.
Two of
Rolling
Thunder's
riders went
down in the
rain on the
way to La
Crosse
suffering
only minor
injuries.
Three went
down in the
rain during
the first
deployment
sending one
to the
hospital,
and one went
down later
in the day
suffering
minor
injuries but
totaling his
bike. The
FAA grounded
the chopper
planning to
fly over the
1244.
Our
primary
mission was
to guard the
Moving WALL
while
landing Door
County
Vietnam vets
with KIA
family
members
safely on
the ground
at LZ
Lambeau
Saturday May
22, 2010.
We
all landed
safely
in-country!
was a ecumenical kite flying celebration of our
religious traditions
and Christian
heritage. Five kites
bearing the picture and
panel patch of our
5 KIAs were
launched with a
brigade of kites from Hansen's
Century Farm across
Hwy 42/57 from
Shepherd of the Bay
Lutheran Church
(11836 Hwy 42) just
south of Ellison
Bay.
|
|
|
Rich Woldt and Lee Patza HQ Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACVn) January 11, 1969
"Door County had 5 solders killed in action during the Vietnam War" Randy Wagner, Lee Patza and I left Egg Harbor about the same time. Lee landed in Vietnam March 23, 1968, Randy on September 11, 1968 and I landed on November 10, 1968. Randy was killed by a demolition bomb on November 11, 1968 the day after I landed at Long Bien Ben Hue. David Schaefer, son of Roy and Helen (Rohr) Schaefer, Sturgeon Bay, landed in the Mekong Delta as part of the Ninth Infantry Division on March 1, 1969 and was killed 61 days later on May 1, 1969; leaving three brothers; Steve, Rick and Mark and paternal grandmother, Nellie Schaefer behind. I remember hanging out with David at his family's Shell Station on Jefferson where he spent many hours working on his '62Corvair. Sergeant Schaefer was awarded several medals posthumously for valor in combat. The Silver Star with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster. The first was for picking up an armed Vietcong grenade from beneath a wounded soldier and hurling it away, where it exploded shortly thereafter. The second was for courageously leading an attack against a Vietcong bunker where he took machine gun fire that cost him his life. Also awarded were the Bronze Star and Bronze Star first Oak Leaf Cluster for meritorious achievement while participating in sustained aerial flight in support of combat forces and the Purple Heart. Rick Perez, Washington Island, was scheduled to leave for home on September 22 (we called it "DEROS" to "CONUS" or "Date Expected to Return from Overseas to Continental United States"). He was killed by a fragmentation grenade in Quang Nam province on September 6, 1969; sixteen days before he would have safely landed at home on the Island. Dan Pfister, born in Jacksonport, had been in the Army since 1955. He was the oldest and first Door County vet to be killed in Vietnam. Dan and I were attached to the same MACVn command. We called him a "Brown Boot" because once you're in Nam for over a week you're boots are red-brown from the mud in the rivers. Dan was a medic on an operation out of Binh Thuan when he was first listed as MIA but than the same day (June 18, 1968), his body was recovered and he was official reported as Killed in Action. Philip Overbeck, Son of Henry and Thea, brother of William and Charles and Michael and Margi and Elizabeth and Jennifer; a 1965 graduate of Sturgeon Bay High School, was the fifth and last Door County vet to be Killed in Action on June 10. 1970. Phil was a paratrooper serving with the 173 Airborne Brigade, Company B-4, 503 Infantry when he was killed by an explosive device while on an operation out of Binh Dinh. Phil's brothers William and Charles are both Vietnam vets. Lee landed safely back in the U.S. February 9, 1969. I was scheduled to go home November 10, 1968 but extended my tour to get the --- who killed Randy. I landed back in the U.S. January 10, 1970.
|
|
Door County' Veteran
Operations Would not have been possible without the hard work and support of so many over the past year. Following are just a few critical liaisons. |
 |
| From Door County's Veteran Service Office |
 |
| From Iraq |
 |
| From 1st Sergeant Thomas Blohowiak and his 372 Engineer Company... |
 |
 |
| and VFW District 8 Commander Steve Conto |
 |
| with the 372 Engineer Co. (VERT) |
 |
| The line at the WALL ran through LZ Lambeau. |
 |
| Panel Patches by: Woody West |
 |
| From Wisconsin National Guard and Emergency Management |
 |
| From Wisconsin Department of Homeland Security |
 |
| From leaders of the World Credit Union Movement |
|
|
|
From Lambeau Credit Union in Tobago |
 |
| From Door County's Sheriff and our local and State Emergency Management |
 |
| From bikers across the State |
 |
| From front-line firefighters |
 |
| From LZ Lambeau planners and organizers |
|
|
|
From fellow bikers across the US |
|
|
|
From Northeast Wisconsin Bikers Association Members |
|
|
| From Door County Motorcycle Clubs |
 |
| From local radio stations |
 |
| From my fellow VFW Post 8337 members |
|
|
|
From the Door Devils of Door County! |
|
|
|
They're covering our back! |
|
|
|
Door Devil rider Emmitt's sister-in-law was engaged to Randy when he deployed to Nam. Randy was killed the day after I landed in country. |
|
|
|
LZ Lambeau vets will be flying Vietnam era aircraft! |
|
|
|
We'll be building ramps for the wall the week before! |
|
|
|
Flyovers were friendly! |
 |
|
We're bonded through generations of military service |
|
|
| We'll never be caught off guard again! |
 |
| Choppers provided LZ Lambeau air cover! |
 |
| Door County Honor Riders answered roll-call well trained, properly equipped, and mission ready to roll! |
| Disclaimer:
As Nixon would say, I want it made it "perfectly clear"
that operations launched from this site are by one old
Vietnam Vet who's only interested in putting back
together the lives of his comrades who've been wounded
too often by politicians more interested in their
re-election than standing up for the Christian
principals on which our country has been built.
If my lack of tact or unconventional tactics offend you, I apologize. It is precisely because of my passion at times that I must clearly state so there can be no misunderstanding; "I do not in any way, shape, form, or fashion represent any veteran post of which I'm a member, nor do I represent any credit union or credit union affiliate for whom I've been privileged to work" If you or any of your associates chose to follow any of my recommendations or adopt any of my protocols, you do it at your own risk. Now that that has been said, Let us proceed full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes! Rich Woldt - Proud Army Strong Vietnam Vet
|
|
|
|
As each deployment started so it closed with a prayer to our "Eternal God!"
|
|
Prayer: Eternal God! Written by: Pastor Roger Falk AMVET Post 51 Prayed Graveside: 0600 Hours May 21, 2010 Eternal God, Supreme Commander of us all, Lord of the far-flung battle line, to whom all ranks of life report, we bow before you with reverent hearts and in sublime faith, knowing that you lead us on in death as you do in life. Once again you ordered servants of our country to lay down their arms and dwell forever with the unnumbered multitude. Mindful of service nobly done, you have called them to everlasting rest. You have sealed their lips. You have called them to eternal peace. Hear now the sorrows of those who mourn. Touch their tired hearts with healing. Protect them with your holy care. Keep clean and bright in memory the splendid flame that now has flickered out! Shelter us with your divine compassion. Join us with those whose daily lives are an offering to duty and their native land. Inspire us by their example that we may die worthy of like service. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ who gave his life as a sacrifice for all mankind. Amen.
|
