GREENFIELD – The most highly decorated infantry company during a single year in the Vietnam War will be honored this weekend in Greenfield.
The Indiana Rangers, an Army National Guard unit based out of Greenfield, will be celebrated for their service in Vietnam with a new memorial dedication.
Remembered for their bravery during the war but receiving little thanks upon their return, local officials say it’s time for the community to formally thank them for their service.
The event is open to the public at 11 a.m. this Saturday, Nov. 9 and is one of several events coming up across Hancock County to honor veterans.
“They were the most highly decorated unit in the country at the time — they were grunts, they were infantry. They were down in the hollows and the swamps with the snakes and the bugs and everything, fighting a very tenacious enemy on the enemy’s turf,” said Butch Miller, who was instrumental in getting the new memorial in place. “They were just a bunch of country boys from little old Greenfield, and they did their thing for their country — like all of us did – and they came home and they weren’t looking for glory or anything.”
A new memorial has been placed at the Vietnam Veterans Park, located at the intersection of Ind. 9 and Davis Road. A ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday is expected to include several members of the unit, a 21-gun salute, “Taps” and remarks from local dignitaries. The event is hosted by VFW Post 2693.
It was rare at the time for a national guard unit to be called to duty in a foreign country. According to armyhistory.org, a nonprofit organization that preserves military memories, only a small portion of guard units were deployed to Southeast Asia. The group departed Indianapolis in 1968 with eight officers, one warrant officer and 195 enlisted men. During the group’s time in Vietnam, they conducted 974 patrols, killed over 100 enemy soldiers and lost four of their own in direct combat. Two additional soldiers died in a helicopter crash.
The Indiana Rangers reported 134 separate enemy observations within the unit’s first six months in Vietnam and participated in 94 combat engagements with enemy forces.
At the time of their return in 1969, they had been decorated 538 times, more than any other Army infantry company during a one-year period in Vietnam.
Their awards and decorations included 19 Silver Stars, one Soldiers Medal, 123 Bronze Stars (88 with “V” device for valor), 101 Purple Hearts, 111 Air Medals, and 183 Army Commendation Medals (twenty-nine with “V” device).
When they came home, the Indiana Rangers were awarded a key to the city of Indianapolis and a ceremony at the Tyndall Armory. But more should have been done, Miller said. Due to the anti-war culture at the time, the public generally did not acknowledge their sacrifice.
Locally, photos of the group decorated the walls of VFW Post 2693 for years, Miller said.
But they were recently taken down from the building in a renovation project. Miller said Richard “R.J.” Clark, a Korean War veteran, raised concerns that the Vietnam troop might be forgotten.
“We got to talking and he made mention in the fact that there were a lot of promises made and never happened,” Miller said, referring to a possible memorial that was to be erected years ago. “He said, ‘You know it’s not too late.’”
So, the VFW designed a new memorial for the park.
“We as a country have learned our lesson, at least from a veteran’s organization standpoint, and we just want to say, ‘Thanks.’ There ought to be something here,” Miller said. “It should make the community feel good that these guys did what they did in such a fantastic manner and then come home to plant their crops and run their gas stations.”
The event is one of several happening across Hancock County to remember local veterans. On Tuesday, the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual veterans lunch.
Other local veterans events coming up include:
-Greenfield-Central schools welcome veterans to participate in local school programs. Two ceremonies are Friday, Nov. 8: 9 a.m. at J.B. Stephens Elementary School; and 10 a.m. at Maxwell Intermediate School. Six ceremonies are Monday, Nov. 11: 8:15 a.m. Greenfield Intermediate School; 9:30 a.m. Harris Elementary School: 10:30 a.m. Weston Elementary School; 1 p.m. Eden Elementary School; 2:15 p.m. Greenfield-Central High School; and 2:30 p.m. Greenfield Central Junior High School.
-In addition to the Veterans Day program at G-CHS, high school students are hosting a parade and a reception for veterans. Any veteran is welcome to join in the car parade. Line-up begins at 12:45 p.m. at the Hancock County Fairgrounds. The community is encouraged to line the parade route in support from 1-1:30 p.m. The route goes along U.S. 40 west to Ind. 9, south to Hancock County Road 100 South, west to Franklin Street, west on U.S. 40, and North on Broadway Street to the high school. A large flag will welcome the parade participants at G-CHS.
The high school will host a reception for veterans at 1:30 p.m. in the G-CHS Library, 810 N. Broadway St., Greenfield, followed by the ceremony at 2:15 p.m.
A winter clothing drive to support veterans is also ongoing from now to Nov. 8. Drop off coats, hats, scarves, gloves and socks to the high school, Hancock County Public Library or Curry’s Chapel Church.
-The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution is sponsoring Wreaths Across America. The Brandywine Creek Chapter of DAR is seeking donations or volunteers to help place wreaths on the graves of veterans to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach the next generation the value of freedom. Learn more or donate at wreathsacrossamerica.org/IN0151P.
-If your community organization is hosting an event for veterans this month, email [email protected]
