A formal Vietnam Veterans Day recognition celebration was held at the Southern Ute Veterans Memorial Park in Ignacio, Wednesday, March 29. Hosted by the Southern Ute Veterans Association, the event brought veterans, families, and tribal dignitaries together for this day of recognition and remembrance.
Southern Ute Veterans Association Commander, Howard Richards Sr. served as Master of Ceremonies, joined by Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Vietnam veterans, reflecting on their experiences in Vietnam, and the impact it has had on their lives and their generation.
“I landed in Vietnam on my 19th birthday,” Vietnam Veteran Rod Grove said. “[I was there] 13 months and 22 days — it was hot and humid, there was malaria …we filled a lot of sandbags,” he said reflecting on his military service in Southeast Asia.
The Southern Ute Veterans Association acknowledged the other veterans in attendance and spoke to the long history of tribal participation in this country’s many wars — defending Native soil in the same manner as those who came before them.
“Sometimes it’s kind of hard for a Vietnam veteran to open up, to speak about the past,” Richards said. “That was 54 years ago — that was a long time ago, but it feels like yesterday. Those memories will never go away.” Richards served in the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam, from Jan. 1 — Aug. 16 of 1969.
“Seventeen Southern Ute tribal members went to Vietnam — they all came back home,” Richards said. “We only have six left.”
“The VA (Veterans Affairs) and the federal government failed to live up to its promise,” Richards said — expressing his frustration and sorrow at the loss of so many veterans following the conflict in Vietnam. He saw many his fellow tribal members, those who served alongside him in Vietnam, survive the war itself, only to lose their lives back home — on native soil as they buried their grief and trauma in drugs and alcohol. Others succumbed to injuries sustained during those years, such as Agent Orange. Richards himself described his ongoing health struggles as a result of his exposure to Agent Orange during his time overseas.
Agent Orange, which contained the deadly chemical dioxin, was used by the U.S. military to wipe out vegetation and crops during the Vietnam War. The chemical was later proven to cause serious and prolonged health issues for both U.S. soldiers and the Vietnamese people, including the families of those who were exposed.
The Association paid tribute to one of their past members, Vietnam combat veteran Ross Denny. Denny’s son, Damon White Thunder and daughter, Heather White Thunder were also recognized. Heather carried the military burial flag presented to the family on their father’s passing, folded 13 times into a perfect triangle. Denny worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and soon after joined the ranks of the Southern Ute Veterans Association.
Richards thanked attendees for taking the time to recognize the Vietnam veterans, the program opened with a Flag Song sung by Ute Mountain Ute Vietnam Veteran, Terry Knight and closed with a presentation of the “Taps” by Southern Ute Vietnam Veteran, Ronnie C. Baker.
©2023 Southern Ute Indian Tribe
