DVIDS – News – Weapons Station Yorktown salutes Vietnam War Veterans at local event

Williamsburg, Va. (March 29, 2025) Sailors from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown joined service members and veterans alike on the Veterans of Overseas Wars (VFW) Publish 4639 in Williamsburg to honor Vietnam Battle Veterans this previous Saturday, March twenty ninth. Today paid particular homage to the almost 50 Vietnam Battle veterans in attendance, different veterans, their households and a number of dignitaries attended.

A singing of the Nationwide Anthem commenced the occasion, adopted by opening remarks by Tom Monahan who’s the Chapter President of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 957. An invocation was learn by Reverend and Vietnam Veteran Chuck Mullaly. The checklist of visitor audio system took their turns on the podium, together with Consultant Robb Wittman of Virginia’s First Congressional District and James Metropolis County Board of Supervisors member, Jim Icenhour. Additionally in attendance throughout this occasion was Delegate Amanda Batten, representing the 71st District within the Virginia Home of Delegates. Batten can be a member of the VFW Publish 4639’s Auxiliary.

Representing the mixed group of Sailors and civilians at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and offering remarks concerning the U.S. Navy through the Vietnam Battle was Lieutenant Junior Grade Sayd Hussain. LT Hussain, who serves because the set up’s Building Supervisor, additionally honed in on among the contributions of the U.S. Navy Seabees through the warfare.

“The Navy’s contribution to this battle is usually neglected. Over 1.8 million Sailors served through the warfare, with over 220,000 deployed to the [Southeast Asia] area. The Navy performed a vital position commanding the seas, dominating the skies, and delivering fight energy, logistical help and strategic mobility when it was wanted essentially the most,” stated LT Hussain within the opening notes of his remarks. Many within the viewers had been certainly U.S. Navy Veterans of the battle, and his remarks resonated humbly with them.

His remarks additionally centered on the contributions of the U.S. Navy Seabees through the warfare.

“From 1965 by means of the tip of the Vietnam Battle, over 10,000 Seabees served in lands removed from dwelling. Organized as Building Battalions, we constructed and maintained vital shore infrastructure all through Vietnam,” remarked LT. Hussain.

“We even helped deliver a contact of dwelling to our service members by establishing the levels, establishing the lights and the sound programs for comic Bob Hope’s USO excursions; Seabees actually did all of it,” he remarked, with a lot head nodding and chucking within the viewers.

Certainly, many within the attendance that afternoon remembered attending a USO tour the place comic Bob Hope carried out. His vaudeville acts the place he took to the stage along with his signature golf membership had been usually a welcome respite for a lot of, together with Sailors and Marines throughout that timeframe. The maritime pre-positioning roll on/roll off ship, USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR-300) was named in honor of the legendary comic. The ship was in service with the Navy Sealift Command from 1997 till 2022; moreover, the Nationwide Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida homes an exhibit devoted to the famend performer.

Over the course of the Vietnam Battle, over 1,600 Sailors of almost each score perished in that land removed from dwelling. Of those that perished are 85 Seabees who embodied the 4 easy phrases of the Seabee motto, “We construct, We battle.” Of these Seabees who perished was 26-year-old Steelworker Second Class William Hoover, from San Diego, California. He perished whereas serving as a member of Seabee Technical Help Crew 1104 in Dong Xoai, Vietnam in June 1965. He was the primary Seabee to perish in fight through the Vietnam Battle; and was the primary Seabee to be awarded the Bronze Star. Fellow Sailor, Building Mechanic Third Class Marvin Shields additionally perished throughout that fateful battle in June 1965; and was the primary Seabee to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Knox-class Frigate, USS Marvin Shields (FF-1066) was commissioned in 1971. The warship is known as in his honor.

Virginia Division of Veterans Companies Deputy Commissioner, Stephen Combs learn a proclamation from Governor Glenn Youngkin. Veterans certificates and commemorative pins had been distributed by Consultant Rob Wittman and Artwork Garrison, of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 957. Tom Monahan offered closing remarks, and the ceremony concluded after faucets and a second of silence was noticed.

This native ceremony honoring Vietnam Battle Veterans was echoed that day throughout the state and throughout the nation, as promulgated by the Vietnam Battle Recognition Act of 2017. The act formally designated March twenty ninth as Nationwide Vietnam Battle Veterans Day and joins six different army centered observances honoring the sacrifices of service members each previous and current.