Fifty years ago on June 6, a group of Air Force reservists attached to Bakalar Air Force Base in Columbus returned home after a tour of duty in Vietnam.
Members of the 71st Special Operations Squadron were greeted at Bakalar by a crowd of about 250 people, including then-Gov. Edgar Whitcomb, military officials, family members and friends.
Two weeks from today, more than 50 members of the 71st Special Operations Squadron will reunite to commemorate exactly a half-century since their return to Columbus. They’ll gather on June 6 for a 1 p.m. luncheon at Blackerby’s Hangar 5 restaurant at the Columbus Municipal Airport, which will include a program and guest speakers. After that they’ll spend time at the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum for tours of the displays, including one for their squadron.
At 4 p.m., an honor guard presentation will be performed outside the museum on its lawn in support and recognition of the squadron. The presentation is open to the public.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
“It’s a great thing for all of them. It’s time they get the accolades they deserved 50 years ago,” said Dixie Wall, wife of 71st SOS member Earl Wall, and an organizer of the reunion.
While about 250 people greeted the squadron upon return 50 years ago, in general, military members returning from the Vietnam War didn’t come home to great fanfare, said Earl Wall, an Indianapolis resident.
“We were not very popular when we came home in 1969. This is kind of the icing on the cake for me,” he said.
Wall and other reservists worked with full-timers at Bakalar to fix and maintain aircraft to get them ready for their next missions.
The reservists were activated April 11, 1968, and reported for active duty at Bakalar a month later on May 13. They arrived at Nha Trang Air Force Base in Vietnam on March 2, 1969, and spent their time at Phan Rang Air base, a forward operating location in the southeastern part of the country.
The squadron’s mission was to protect U.S. ground troops with AC-119 gunships and eliminate the enemy. The squadron returned home without any loss of life.
“We were not over there to be heroes. We just did out duty when it was our turn to serve our country,” Earl Wall said.
“Thankfully, by the grace of God, we returned,” he added.
Lt. Col. Matthew Shrull, current commander of the 71st Special Operations Squadron, and Mike Drzyzga, president of the AC-119 Gunship Association, will both make short speeches during the luncheon, Dixie Wall said. Jason Johnson, state director for U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., will read a letter from Braun, she added.
In all, about 120 people are expected for the event, including spouses and family members, Dixie Wall said.
“They are so very excited about seeing each other again,” Dixie Wall said of the squadron members.
While some gather annually at the museum, others have not seen each other for 50 years, she added.
Nick Firestone, president of the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum board, said some banners will be displayed welcoming squadron members. Also, the standing display, tables with memorabilia and digital picture frames with images will be available at the museum for people to see, so they can learn about the squadron, he added.
“We think it’s a really big deal,” Firestone said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Singing a salute” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Columbus native Abigail Beerwart, 22, who has just completed vocal performance studies in opera at Wheaton (Illinois) College Conservatory of Music, will perform Friday during the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic’s annual SALUTE! concert, a tribute to military members. The concert is 7 p.m. Friday on the lawn of the Bartholomew County Memorial For Veterans, Second and Jackson streets in downtown Columbus. Read more about Beerwart in today’s Go! section.
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Read inside” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Inserted in today’s Republic is its annual section dedicated to veterans, called "Salute." The project aims to tell the stories of those who served their country.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
