Salute: Army vet teams up with National Cemetery volunteers in Bushnell

Ashley Bowron
·3 min read
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A rare moment of repose of Doug Gardner at home in The Villages.
A rare moment of repose of Doug Gardner at home in The Villages.

Former 1st Lt. Douglas “Doug” Gardner, 74, is an Army veteran from Topeka, Kansas, now living in The Villages with his wife of 50 years, Kathleen. Doug was deployed to Germany and Vietnam between his enlistment in 1967 and his release from active duty in 1970.

Following his military service, Doug traveled extensively throughout Asia, Latin America, and South Africa as a consultant in the export of chemicals used in glass manufacturing.

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Doug's "life lessons" from his Army time included opportunities to relate to others of different backgrounds and experiences; and his observation that the best leaders don’t have to bark to get the job done.

And one of his favorites: “Don’t sweat the small stuff!”

Q: Where did you graduate from high school?

A: Hayden High School Wildcats in Topeka, Kansas.

Q: Did you play sports for the Wildcats?

A: Basketball and football.

Q: College?

A: Earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Washburn University; and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Drexel University.

Bush hat, golf hat, hard hat, Army helmet: The headgear doesn't matter when folks are working or playing with cool, calm, and collected Doug Gardner.
Bush hat, golf hat, hard hat, Army helmet: The headgear doesn't matter when folks are working or playing with cool, calm, and collected Doug Gardner.

Q: Service?

A: United States Army.

Q: Specialty?

A: Engineers.

Q: Why did you join the Army?

A: It was during the draft and before the lottery. I enlisted to get the branch, service, and occupational specialty (OCS) that I wanted.

Q: Duty stations?

A: Fort Leonard Wood for basic training; Germany; Fort Belvoir for Officer Candidate School; Fort Riley, Kansas; and Vietnam.

Weather-beaten ports, heavy equipment, and lots of oil, mud, and sand are part of the scenery when you’re a combat engineer as was Doug Gardner in Vietnam.
Weather-beaten ports, heavy equipment, and lots of oil, mud, and sand are part of the scenery when you’re a combat engineer as was Doug Gardner in Vietnam.

Q: Conflicts participated in?

A: Vietnam. Assigned to 84th Construction Engineers Battalion and stationed in Qui Nhon.

Q: Who was the best leader to whom you were exposed?

A: Several excellent leaders in the 84th Engineers. Company Commander was Wes Ludwig; and Billy Whitworth, who I was assigned with in OCS, Fort Riley, and Vietnam.

Q: How did you and your wife meet?

A: I met Kathleen on a blind date after my return from Vietnam.

Q: Do you have any children?

A: Three daughters in their 40s; three sons-in-law; and nine grandchildren (three from each family) ranging in age from 4-18.

Father and son could still get in their uniforms as they shared a toast a few years back.
Father and son could still get in their uniforms as they shared a toast a few years back.

Q: Have you had any other family members serve in the Armed Forces?

A: My father served in WWII as a Master Sergeant in the Army. He spent time in the Pacific, New Zealand, Luzon, and the Army National Guard. My great-great-grandfather served in the Civil War.

Q. Describe your philosophy

A: Respect others. Show respect for veterans. Get things done by not sweating the small stuff.

Q: What are your hobbies?

A: Golf and volunteering at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.

Q: What are your top war movies of all time?

A: Patton and Saving Private Ryan.

The Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, where Doug Gardner and so many others volunteer their time, has an average of 7,000 burials a year with approximately 131,000 veterans already laid to rest.
The Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, where Doug Gardner and so many others volunteer their time, has an average of 7,000 burials a year with approximately 131,000 veterans already laid to rest.

Q: Could you tell us a little more about the goings on at the cemetery?

A: The Joint Veterans Support Committee for Florida National Cemetery has embarked on a very large project to put Monuments at Florida National Cemetery.

The first one, the Gold Star Families' Memorial Monument, was dedicated last year in an area referred to as Freedom Memorial Plaza.

Four more projects are in the planning and approval stage: the Revolutionary War Monument, The Vietnam Memorial, the Military Working Dog Handlers and Training Units Memorial, and the Military Honors Monument.

The Military Honors Monument will be the centerpiece of the Plaza and will include bronze figures of a soldier presenting a flag to the next of kin, surrounded by eight columns. The eight columns will include ceramic pictures depicting other facets of a military honors funeral, e.g., taps, folding of the flag, missing man flyover, and caissons.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Army vet Doug Gardner teams up with National Cemetery volunteers in Bushnell