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Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor and high esprit de corps of the Rangers.
Bill Anton has compressed vertebrae, two shot knees, a bum shoulder, no feeling in his feet, suffers from diabetes, beat bladder cancer and has post-traumatic stress disorder.
He is a man's man. Tough and dependable.
He also can't finish a sentence about a certain honor bestowed him without his voice cracking and tears falling from his eyes.
"Shocked, humbled and honored beyond belief," Anton said. "You can't politic for this. It has to come from your soldiers and NCOs. My men. They pushed for it. It touches me more than you can imagine."
He is a retired lieutenant colonel who in August will be inducted into the United States Army Ranger Hall of Fame, the first Nevadan to receive such recognition and a man who guided the most decorated Rangers unit of the Vietnam War. He has seen and experienced things few can comprehend.
Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster, and fight harder than any other soldier.
Anton on Saturday evening threw out the first pitch at Cashman Field before the 51s-Tacoma game, a ceremonial toss on the day we again remembered the largest amphibious attack in military history.
His D-Day lob made it across the plate on a night meant to honor local disabled veterans, a 60-year-old lefty who also played a little football at Nebraska but whose love of sports always was bested by that of his country.
Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong, and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one-hundred-percent and then some.
He once was the country's highest-ranking ROTC cadet who later took part in the first tactical parachute jump onto a polar ice cap in Alaska.
If you fell into the water, you had three minutes to get out or die. If you fell in with as much equipment as Anton carried that day in 1971, you weren't getting out. You figure a first pitch wouldn't rattle him much.
"I did lose a little sleep over it this week," Anton said. "I wanted to get it over the plate. At least I did better than Mayor (Oscar Goodman)."
I knew there was something I liked about this guy.
Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress, and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow.
Anton's son, Mike, is a Double-A pitcher in the Angels' organization, and his daughter, Susan, is a presidential scholar from Georgetown University who works for Homeland Security. Anton moved to Las Vegas in 2003 from Maryland. He likes the weather here better. So does his sore and damaged body.
The effects of Agent Orange, like with so many veterans, have guaranteed him a life of physical struggle. But he expresses no regret in his words. No anger in his message.
He is entirely devoted to Company H (Ranger) 75th Infantry (Airborne), to the 177 men who served under him in Vietnam, to those who made this Hall of Fame moment possible.
"Every man we had deserves to stand with me" on Aug. 5 in Fort Benning, Ga., Anton said. "Never have I seen such gallantry and intrepid bravery every day as I did displayed by those men."
Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle, for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.
He lost just one man in Vietnam. One day, he was injured extracting members of his team when his helicopter was shot down. So he called for another and went back in twice more to get more Rangers.
This is a courageous man who has led a fascinating life, a 100 percent disabled veteran who after his retirement in 1990 has dedicated himself to improving the lives of those who also fought.
Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission, though I be the lone survivor.
"It's a good night to honor veterans," Anton said after his first pitch. "We are just a humble, normal group of guys."
I don't know much.
I know this: Bill Anton has led his life by the Ranger Creed, and nothing is normal about that. ~ by Ed Graney ~
BILL ANTON
Sat 25 Jul 2009
Service Dogs help War Veterans Gain Independence
Posted by Audrey Wong under News, Uncategorized
(This is a portion of the blog posted by Audrey at
http://www.ilovedogs.com/blog/?p=1832)
In her former life, Sierra was chained in front of a methamphetamine lab in Wyoming.
Sierra’s rescuers took the Labrador mix to an animal shelter and noticed her good temperament and eagerness to please. They brought Sierra to Freedom Service Dogs in Colorado where trainers and war veterans from Fort Carson taught her how to be a service dog.
In October 2008, Sierra met Artie Guerrero, a Vietnam veteran who uses a wheelchair because of multiple sclerosis and injuries from combat.
“It was like she knew me and I knew her,” Guerrero said of their first meeting. “We haven’t parted since.”
Sierra assists Guerrero around the clock. She picks up items Guerrero dropped, unloads clothes from the dryer, and elevator buttons. The only time Sierra barks is when Guerrero needs his wife and the dog will find her or when someone is at the door. When Guerrero was in the hospital for recent shoulder surgery, Sierra was at his bedside. Sierra also gives Guerrero a sense of purpose because he must care for the dog as well.
The canine boosts Guerrero’s visibility when he advocates on behalf of veterans in Denver – Sierra is more popular among the senators, Guerrero jokes. Guerrero serves on the legislative committee for the United Veterans Committee of Colorado.
Sierra’s constant companionship produced a side effect, Guerrero added – she lowered his blood pressure.
Now Guerrero calls for pairing more injured war veterans with service dogs because the animals help the veterans live independently and provide comfort.
“So many guys are on drugs because of injuries, PTSD and traumatic brain injury,” he said. “If they can get off the pills it would be savings for the government and the taxpayer.”
Senators Al Franken and Johnny Isakson also think service dogs provide invaluable help to wounded war veterans. The two recently sponsored a bill to pair at least 200 veterans and dogs in a three-year pilot program, according to published reports. The program would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to partner with non-profit groups. The Senate passed their bill Friday. Guerrero said he and Freedom Service Dogs will support the bill and Guerrero plans to tell Colorado legislators to back Franken’s proposal.
Artie and Sierra
A note I received from Bruce Hill,
Brother to Robert Oren Hill
8/18/09
This past weekend, Cindy and I went to a memorial ceremony for the 133 men who died in VN from Bucks County, Pa. The traveling Wall was there, a Dustoff huey, Army jeeps and trucks and numerous weapons. Nice ceremony and large crowd, despite the heat!
Cindy and I had a nice surprise: A large semi-trailer is used to transport the traveling Wall and other items. It's also a 'display piece'. The entire sides of the trailer raise up (three sections to each side) and they tell the history of the War, show memorabilia and photos of some of the men who died. On the top row, third from the left, was a color photo of our brother! See attachment. I took it the last time we got together in Vietnam--circa July 1970.
Hope you all are well.
Bruce
Cindy &
Bruce Hill
CWO. Robert Oren Hill
KIA ~ Sept. 27, 1970
God Bless Our Veterans
"We were soldiers once,
and young..."
Jim Bracewell (1st Cav. helicopter pilot/Vietnam) with
SMAJ. Basil Plumley (who's character was played by
Sam Elliott in "We Were Soldiers" 2009
I was so honored, that Bob Sims took time to
copy my brother's name from The Wall, for me.
Pictured Left to Right
Lafon Spencer, Bob Sims, Ray Long and Lewis Holland
Vietnam Veteran, Robert Sims, from North Carolina, went to Washington, DC recently, as a guardian for WW II Veterans. They were being escorted to DC as part of the "Flight of Honor" program to make sure that all WW II Veterans get to see the WWII Memorial.
"THANKS BOB, FOR CONTINUING TO SERVE"
Standing L-R Ron Rorah, Wolf Seuling, Clarence Finkboon
Seated L-R Bob Sims, Pete Otis, Phil Short.
(548th LIGHT MAINTENANCE COMPANY REUNION OCT 23-25/2009)
Never Forget
Our Military
Kaufman County, Texas
Honoring Their Fallen
Kaufman County is a county located in the state of Texas. As of 2000, the population is 71,313. Its county seat is Kaufman, and the county is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Kaufman County is named for David Spangler Kaufman, a U.S. congressman from Texas.
"Awesome Memorial"
Leaving THE JOB and Being a Veteran (Sent to me by Bill Carpenter)
When a Veteran leaves the 'job' and retires to another life, many are jealous, some are pleased, and others, who may have already retired, wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know.
1. We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times.
2. We know in the Military life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet.
3. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.
These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and always will look at the rest of the Military world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing.
Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are only escaping the 'job' and merely being allowed to leave 'active' duty.
So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment that you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.
From Bill Carpenter's brother(Stationed at the South Pole)
Attached are a few photos from this morning’s Veterans Day ceremony. As you can see, it was rather well attended considering that we just had a fire alarm (false alarm from burger smoke in the Galley), and flight operations were in progress. I think that I’m correct in claiming that this was the most southern (90S), coldest (-61 F wind chill), and highest (10,016 feet) such ceremony of 2009. Participants included Ron Carpenter, who read the Presidential Proclamation and helped fold the flag; William Cariker, flag folder, Martin Lewis, organizer/logistician for the event; Al Baker and Andy Martinez, photographers; and yours truly, master of ceremonies. I’ve also included the program of the event for your reading enjoyment. Happy Veterans Day!
Nov 11 2009 10:36 am
11 Nov 09
Dear Garnet …
Here we are experiencing another Veterans’ Day. For some reason, they seem to come quicker as I get older.
I’m still on the road, heading back home from my annual reunion with friends from my second RVN tour. Couple of days here in South Carolina, and I’ll head back to the swamp in Florida.
It’s refreshing to see the outpouring of love and appreciation received from many sectors of our country for our veterans. As I watch the celebrations on TV, and reminisce about my brothers-in-arms, many names and many faces without names flood my mind.
This year a name really stands out. It isn’t one of the many heroes I know, including a couple of Medal of Honor winners. It isn’t the LRRPs, whom I place on the highest pedestal of all. It isn’t my father, son, or any other of countless relatives of mine who served as far back as the American Revolution. It isn’t the guys with whom I shared extraordinary experiences in the same outfits in Vietnam.
I have never even met this person in eyeball-to-eyeball contact, but the magic of the internet has given me a feeling of respect and admiration that is unsurpassed by any civilians I know. I don’t think I have met anyone who demonstrates more devotion, appreciation, and outright love for veterans past, present, and future. I made sure that those who attended last weekend’s reunion were briefed about this person’s activities, and they were amazed.
It’s you, Garnet Jenkins, and I think I can safely say for all veterans …. Thank You! Your sacrifice so many years ago, and your constant support of veterans ever since, in my mind, make you as much a veteran as any of us.
