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It’s been 50 years since the first Americans were killed in Vietnam, and veterans of that war are finally getting some recognition.
Charles H. “Chuck” Hoagland Jr., Girard, recently received a certificate and medallion in appreciation for his service in Vietnam.
The recognition came about partly by coincidence. Hoagland, a retired printer, went to the induction ceremony for his grandson, Nicholas Large, Belton, Mo., into the Sons of the American Revolution. When it was mentioned that Hoagland was a Vietnam veteran, he was asked to fill out a form for the Vietnam Veterans Town Hall Appreciation Event that U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, Missouri, was sponsoring Sept. 12 at the Truman Library in Independence, Mo.
Hoagland wasn’t able to attend the event, but received his certificate and medallion.
A native of New York State, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 2, 1954.
“I was just 17 and my mother didn’t want me to go, but she finally let me enlist,” Hoagland said. “I spent three years with the army, got out and was home four months, then I joined the Air Force.”
He was in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. He served as a flag line supervisor, seeing to it that incoming aircraft were refueled and sent back into action as fast as possible. Aircraft included Blackbirds and C-123s, which were nicknamed “Ranch Hands.”
“The Ranch Hands dropped Agent Orange,” Hoagland said.
He also dealt with C-130s, which had the grim duty of carrying body bags of American casualties. These planes had plenty of work to do.
“We had 550,000 American troops on the ground in Vietnam when I was there,” Hoagland said. “There were 58,000 troops killed in the Vietnam War.”
And, he noted, they started dying earlier than many Americans realize. The first, Maj. Dale Richard Buis and Msgt. Chester M. Ovnand, who were with the United States Military Assistance Advisory Group, were killed in 1959 by Vietnamese soldiers under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh.
Hoagland earned 14 or 15 military honors, including the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, four Air Force Commendation Medals, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal and U.S. Vietnam Service Medal.
He admitted that his service in Vietnam “was kind of rough at certain times. We were under siege for four days under Operation Duc Lap. On Jan. 14, 1969, we got overrun, and we were overrun again on June 24, 1969. I’ve got shrapnel at home that landed within 25 feet of me. When it was all over I went out and collected it up.”
The rough times didn’t end when he left Vietnam.
“When we landed at St. Louis, a bunch of hippies in the area where we got off the plane,” he said. “They called us baby killers and spit on us. Some of us were bothered by it, but others knew it was coming.”
Hoagland is a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars No. 7479, Girard, serving as post chaplain for many years. He’s also a member of American Legion Post No. 26, Girard, and Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 1, Pittsburg.
“I was very proud when KOAM TV had me as a 4-State Hero,” he said.
He’s also glad that Vietnam veterans are getting some appreciation.
“It’s getting to the point now they’re trying to recognize some of us,” he said. “But this honor was from the state of Missouri. As far as I know, Kansas doesn’t do anything like it. At least Missouri has a little appreciation for us Vietnam veterans.”
The Vietnam Wall at the Pittsburg State University Veterans Memorial pays tribute to those lost in Vietnam, but it’s not easy for the former master sergeant to go there.
“The first time I went to the Veterans Memorial, I could not go to the Wall,” Hoagland said. “The second time I went, I talked myself into it.”
The motto on his cap says it all. “All gave some,” he said. “Some gave all.”
It’s been 50 years since the first Americans were killed in Vietnam, and veterans of that war are finally getting some recognition.
Charles H. “Chuck” Hoagland Jr., Girard, recently received a certificate and medallion in appreciation for his service in Vietnam.
The recognition came about partly by coincidence. Hoagland, a retired printer, went to the induction ceremony for his grandson, Nicholas Large, Belton, Mo., into the Sons of the American Revolution. When it was mentioned that Hoagland was a Vietnam veteran, he was asked to fill out a form for the Vietnam Veterans Town Hall Appreciation Event that U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, Missouri, was sponsoring Sept. 12 at the Truman Library in Independence, Mo.
Hoagland wasn’t able to attend the event, but received his certificate and medallion.
A native of New York State, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 2, 1954.
“I was just 17 and my mother didn’t want me to go, but she finally let me enlist,” Hoagland said. “I spent three years with the army, got out and was home four months, then I joined the Air Force.”
He was in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. He served as a flag line supervisor, seeing to it that incoming aircraft were refueled and sent back into action as fast as possible. Aircraft included Blackbirds and C-123s, which were nicknamed “Ranch Hands.”
“The Ranch Hands dropped Agent Orange,” Hoagland said.
He also dealt with C-130s, which had the grim duty of carrying body bags of American casualties. These planes had plenty of work to do.
“We had 550,000 American troops on the ground in Vietnam when I was there,” Hoagland said. “There were 58,000 troops killed in the Vietnam War.”
And, he noted, they started dying earlier than many Americans realize. The first, Maj. Dale Richard Buis and Msgt. Chester M. Ovnand, who were with the United States Military Assistance Advisory Group, were killed in 1959 by Vietnamese soldiers under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh.
Hoagland earned 14 or 15 military honors, including the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, four Air Force Commendation Medals, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal and U.S. Vietnam Service Medal.
He admitted that his service in Vietnam “was kind of rough at certain times. We were under siege for four days under Operation Duc Lap. On Jan. 14, 1969, we got overrun, and we were overrun again on June 24, 1969. I’ve got shrapnel at home that landed within 25 feet of me. When it was all over I went out and collected it up.”
The rough times didn’t end when he left Vietnam.
“When we landed at St. Louis, a bunch of hippies in the area where we got off the plane,” he said. “They called us baby killers and spit on us. Some of us were bothered by it, but others knew it was coming.”
Hoagland is a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars No. 7479, Girard, serving as post chaplain for many years. He’s also a member of American Legion Post No. 26, Girard, and Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 1, Pittsburg.
“I was very proud when KOAM TV had me as a 4-State Hero,” he said.
He’s also glad that Vietnam veterans are getting some appreciation.
“It’s getting to the point now they’re trying to recognize some of us,” he said. “But this honor was from the state of Missouri. As far as I know, Kansas doesn’t do anything like it. At least Missouri has a little appreciation for us Vietnam veterans.”
The Vietnam Wall at the Pittsburg State University Veterans Memorial pays tribute to those lost in Vietnam, but it’s not easy for the former master sergeant to go there.
“The first time I went to the Veterans Memorial, I could not go to the Wall,” Hoagland said. “The second time I went, I talked myself into it.”
The motto on his cap says it all. “All gave some,” he said. “Some gave all.”
