A Gathering of Heroes

by Tim Holbert

Everywhere one looked, from November 9 through 11 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, in Arlington, Virginia they saw a hero. Gathering there for the American Veterans Center’s Ninth Annual Conference were distinguished veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Here, they met with and spoke to their fellow veterans from across the generations, a grateful public, and several hundred high school and college students, eager to hear of their experiences in service to America.

The conference proved to be a who’s who of American heroes, and featured such legends as veterans of the “Doolittle Raiders” and “Band of Brothers” from World War II, former prisoners of war from Vietnam, Medal of Honor recipients, and decorated veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Joining them were such prominent veterans as Lt. Gen. Dave R. Palmer, former Superintendent of West Point and noted military historian; Dr. Lewis Sorley, veteran of Vietnam and the preeminent historian on the war today; Lt. Gen. Harry W. O. Kinnard, aide to Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe during the siege of Bastogne and commander of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in Vietnam; and Brig. Gen. R. Steve Ritchie, the only Air Force ace pilot from Vietnam.

While the conference provided an opportunity for these veterans to share their stories with each other and the public, the focus was on the many high school and college students, who were given the opportunity to learn from some of America’s greatest heroes. During a panel featuring Medal of Honor recipients George “Bud” Day and Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura, Lt. Col. George Malone, recipient of the Navy Cross during Vietnam and panel moderator, invited each and every one of the students in attendance to come forward and shake the hands of these two men. Miyamura received the Medal of Honor for his service on April 24-25, 1951, where during an intense battle north of Seoul, he killed over 50 Chinese attackers before being felled by an enemy grenade. He was captured and held as a POW for the next 28 months.

“Bud” Day needed little introduction to the audience. Shot down by the North Vietnamese on August 26, 1967, Day was seriously wounded and captured. Despite being tortured and physically spent, Day escaped from captivity, nearly reaching the safety of a unit of U.S. Marines. He was eventually recaptured, and sent to the infamous “Hanoi Hilton.” Day became one of the great leaders among the Vietnam POWs, and was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. John McCain, his cellmate in Hanoi, would call him “the bravest man I have ever met.”

At the conclusion of the panel, Malone told the students, “Each generation has an obligation to future generations to make things better. Your turn will soon be here.”

For the next panel, four young men who were not much older than the students in attendance, their time has already come. Moderated by former Marine Lieutenant Wade Zirkle, the panel featured decorated veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, young men who have already answered their country’s call. Among the panelists was David Bellavia, who as an Army staff sergeant during the battle of Fallujah, single-handedly cleared a house full of insurgents, and was later nominated for the Medal of Honor.

“America does not owe this generation anything,” Bellavia said. “I think we owe America, and that’s why we fight for our country. We volunteered for this.” He continued, “I think that the enemy today completely underestimated what we have to offer. If they are going to take us on, they better wear their hardhats and pack their lunches.”

Following the three days of speaker sessions and wreath laying ceremonies at the war memorials, the event was capped off with the annual awards banquet, this year expanded to honor veterans of not only World War II, but each era since. Presented with the Audie Murphy Award for Outstanding Service in World War II were the legendary “Doolittle Raiders.” Given the Ray Davis Award and Joe Ronnie Hooper Award for Korea and Vietnam respectively were Hiroshi Miyamura and George “Bud” Day. Also on hand to be honored were the men of 3rd Platoon, E Co., 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division—the men who scaled Mt. Suribachi leading to the famed flag raisings during the battle for Iwo Jima.

Despite the great heroes of the past, it was the heroes of the present who left the most striking impression on those in attendance. Honored with the inaugural Paul Ray Smith Award for Outstanding Service in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom were Marine SSgt. Anthony Viggiani and Sgt. Timothy Connors. Until recently, Sgt. 1st Class Smith was the only Medal of Honor recipient from the current struggle against Islamic radicalism. He was killed during the initial invasion of Iraq in a firefight where he was credited with saving the lives of dozens of his comrades.

SSgt. Viggiani, presented the award by Sgt. 1st Class Smith’s widow, Birgit, stood out in a room full of heroes. Currently a drill instructor for the Marine Corps at Parris Island, Viggiani, wearing his “Dress Blues,” looked the part of the legend that he has quickly become. On June 2 of popped a few aspirin, and rejoined his men in pursuit of the enemy. For his actions, he was awarded the Navy Cross. Now, as a drill instructor, he is charged with forging the Marines who will continue on the fight in Afghanistan and Iraq. If SSgt. Viggiani is any indication of the kind of Marines America is producing, the insurgent forces do not stand a chance.

Leaving a different impression was Timothy Connors, who despite being one of the great young heroes of Iraq, could have walked through the room largely unnoticed. Now a college student at Holy Cross, the 23-year-old Connors might have been mistaken for one of the many ROTC students who were in attendance, or possibly the grandson of one of the veterans of World War II. In fact, Connors, sitting at a table with the World War II Marines who took Iwo Jima and their wives, might have appeared slightly out of place. However, once his story was read, it quickly became clear that he belonged right alongside these heroes of yesterday. Then-Cpl. Connors was the veteran of a dozen house battles during the brutal fight for Fallujah two years ago, the most house fights ever recorded in American military history. During a particularly vicious fight, Connors was responsible for retrieving the body of a fallen comrade, saving him from falling into enemy hands, and is believed to have taken out Omar Hadid, Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi’s top man in Fallujah. He was later awarded the Silver Star.

The evening ended with a tribute to the soldiers of the 101st Airborne who fought in World War II, and those who are continuing on their tradition of excellence in Iraq today. Veterans of the now-famous “Band of Brothers” bestowed medals upon six current servicemen of the 101st who recently returned from Iraq, a symbolic passing of the torch from the Greatest Generation to this latest generation. As a crowd gathered around them all to take photographs, master of ceremonies Gene Pell remarked, “Folks, this is what it is all about.” Seeing the heroes of yesterday and today together, no more needed to be said.