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Vietnam Vet Recalls Friends and Heroes: Invites Listeners to Visit the Wall
St. Louis, Mo., May 31, 2013–The Vietnam Veterans Memorial provides a personalized tribute to more than 58,000 U.S. casualties of the conflict in Southeast Asia. Vietnam veteran Tom Irwin recently gave his own tribute to some of those whose names are on the wall.
Irwin served in the Vietnam conflict in 1968 and spoke at the Show-Me Hero Salute luncheon on Thursday, May 16, at Sunset Country Club in order to promote the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) Traveling wallall event coming to St. Louis.
Irwin, who now serves as the director of Civic Progress in St. Louis, asked all veterans to stand and be recognized before he began to talk about his own experience in the Marine Corps during the war. However, most of Irwin’s message was about three men he knew during the conflict who were killed or were reported missing in action.
Photo above; Guest speaker Tom Irwin, Executive Director of Civic Progress, at the Show-Me Hero Salute luncheon. Tom also served as a Marine in Vietnam. Learn more about Tom: Thomas Irwin Bio.
One of his stories was about Lance Cpl. John Calhoun who died in January 1968 and received the Navy Cross posthumously. Calhoun and Irwin grew up in the same neighborhood. Calhoun was passionate about art and was the first from his South Boston neighborhood to be accepted into the school of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
“He wanted to do more,” Irwin said. “He wanted to serve his country.”
Calhoun joined the U.S. Marines and was assigned to the 1st Marine Division. When his platoon was overcome by heavy mortar and enemy rocket fire, Calhoun repeatedly ran into the danger to resupply his platoon before he was mortally wounded.
A “Southie” from Boston, Irwin told another story about Pfc. Edward Sullivan, who attended the same high school as Irwin. Sullivan was remembered as excelling at football and boxing while also being a sort of chip off the old block. The young athlete was killed in an ambush on June 9, 1968.
The final story Irwin told was about his bunkmate, Gunnery Sgt. James Wesley Jackson, who disappeared while in transit to a hospital for minor shrapnel wound that was not serious. He was seen exiting the helicopter and walking toward the hospital. From there, he vanished with no explanation. According to Irwin, 10 days went by with no contact with Jackson. Jackson was declared presumed dead in the 1980s, but not until after a family search for answers.
“His mother pushed congressmen to investigate,” Irwin said. “She wanted to know what happened to her son.”
Irwin encouraged those listening to see the traveling wall, which will arrive at Lindbergh High School on Wednesday, June 12, and will be on display 24 hours a day from 1 p.m., Thursday, June 13, until Sunday, June 16, at 3 p.m. He said the wall location will be a place where one can see and hear veterans’ stories.
The treatment of veterans, past and present, was also on Irwin’s mind as he recounted his Vietnam experience.
“They weren’t met with hostility. They were met with indifference. These veterans reminded the U.S. of something they wanted to forget,” said Irwin, referring to Vietnam veterans.
Irwin lamented the current treatment of veterans in the country. According to Irwin, veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who apply for disability are waiting an average of five years before their claim is acted on. Irwin called this a national disgrace. He said he wanted to see more concern for returning veterans and more businesses hiring them.
He also talked about the high population of homeless veterans and high suicide rates of veterans. He said military culture and high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have led to this, leading him to call for more health care and job opportunities for veterans. According to Irwin, there is not a day that goes by when he doesn’t remember his experience in Vietnam.
“You never forget it. It’s a life sentence,” Irwin told the Sunset Hills audience.
Irwin said all veterans, whether from Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan, always think that they could have done more for their country or to save the lives of their buddies. He asked the audience to reassure veterans that they “did everything they could” to serve their country.
Prior to his post at Civic Progress, Irwin was the senior vice president of public policy for the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, where he directed the region’s legislative activities in both Missouri and Illinois. Irwin is currently a member of the Board of Police Commissioners for the City of St. Louis and also serves on the boards of directors for the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and the St. Louis Sports Commission.
Sunset Hills Mayor Bill Nolan opened the May 16 event by greeting guests and described the event as a preview for the AVTT Traveling Wall in June. Emcee and KMOX radio personality Debbie Monterrey introduced Irwin for the luncheon.
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For more information on the Show-Me Hero Salute activities, please contact: Morris L. “Butch” Thomas, Chairman, 314-849-2234 or by email: Morris.Thomas@att.net; or publicity contact GeGe Mix at 636-394-6677 or by email: gegemix@charter.net.
Honoring. Respecting. Remembering.
Show-Me Hero Salute invites you to join in this special event,
June 12-16, 2013.
Escort starts at 3:00 pm, Wednesday, June 12.
Viewing starts at 1:00 pm, Thursday, June 13, ends at 3:00 pm, Sunday, June 16.
AVTT Traveling Wall display and programs both are at Lindbergh High School.
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