Vietnam veterans honored at breakfast in Frackville diner, 50 years after last U.S. troops left South Vietnam

Mar. 29—FRACKVILLE — Fresh off a tour of duty in Vietnam, 21-year-old Army Sgt. Walter Hummel encountered an anti-war protester who spit on him at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in May 1971.

What did this protester know of what he had endured pursuing Viet Cong guerillas in remote villages, of the comrades who'd been wounded, of those lost?

Hummel, in full dress uniform fought back the urge to retaliate and kept his composure.

"We came home, we had no job and they called us baby killers," said Hummel, 73, a retired PennDOT worker who lives in Frackville. "It's something I'll never forget."

Hummel was among dozens of Vietnam veterans who turned out Wednesday for a complimentary Vietnam Veterans Day breakfast at Lewie's Restaurant.

The occasion also marked the 50th anniversary of the end of America's direct military involvement in the Vietnam War, which occurred on March 29, 1973.

Some military advisers, Marines providing security to U.S. installations and civilian Defense Department workers remained until April 30, 1975, when U.S. involvement in Vietnam formally ended.

Time is the ultimate healer, and Vietnam veterans in their 70s and 80s enjoyed the camaraderie of a shared experience over generous helpings of eggs, bacon and home fries.

In the homey atmosphere of a diner on Lehigh Avenue, Vietnam vets felt they were getting the recognition that long eluded them.

Guy Wiederhold, an Army medic in Vietnam, praised the people of Schuylkill County for their support of veterans.

"We were welcomed home in Schuylkill County," said Wiederhold, 68, a retired public workers union representative who lives in Mill Creek. "A lot of other places didn't have that."

Still, just below the surface, lay emotions forged in a far off land at a time when they were young and their country was at war.

A sergeant in the Army's 1st Cavalry Division, Paul Martin was wounded seven times, including one involving land mines.

"They took me to a hospital in Yokohama, and doctors took out 69 pieces of shrapnel from me," Martin said with a chuckle. "They put some Band-Aids on me and sent me back to the bush."

Holder of a Bronze Star, three Purple Hearts and South Vietnam's highest medal, Martin is Schuylkill County's most decorated Vietnam soldier.

Someone, he said, was watching over him.

"I sat there many times thanking God," said Martin, 76, retired owner of Broad Mountain Construction who lives in Frackville.

The sentiment of many veterans were not with themselves but with those who did not come home.

"Today is a day to remember all those who were lost," said John Russell, whose unit lost two-thirds of its members in November 1965 during the Battle of Ia Drang Valley, the first major battle between the U.S. and the People's Army of North Vietnam.

"We were ambushed when we got out of the choppers," recalled Russell, 81, of Pottsville, a staff sergeant in the Army's 7th Cavalry who is commander of American Legion Post 38 in Schuylkill Haven. "We were pinned down for three days."

Ron Liem joined the Marine Corps while still attending Ashland High School.

"Two weeks after I graduated, I was receiving a reality check in Parris Island," said Liem, 76, who did a 13-month tour of duty in Vietnam in 1964-65.

Liem's unit, HMM 163 Squadron, ferried the wounded from the battlefield to field hospitals and hospital ships. Then the unit returned to retrieve those killed in action.

"On my 21st birthday, our base in Quang Tri province was overrun by Viet Cong," said Liem, of Frackville. "The only thing that saved us was Puff the Magic Dragon."

The AC-47 gunship, dubbed Puff the Magic Dragon, fired 6,000 rounds per minute and carried 54,000 rounds of ammunition.

Dennis Wiederhold, 78, of Port Carbon, Guy's brother, served two terms in Vietnam and was a Naval intelligence officer during a military career that spanned 26 years.

He handled classified communications as a radioman aboard the carrier USS Midway during two tours in Vietnam.

Coincidentally, as he spoke, a 50th anniversary commemorative ceremony was held Wednesday on the flight deck of the decommissioned USS Midway in San Diego.

On April 30, 1975, the Midway evacuated 3,000 people from Saigon as North Vietnamese troops entered the city.

Donna Mihalov accompanied her husband, Tom, to the veterans breakfast. The two live in Schuylkill Haven.

Seated at a table with the Wiederhold brothers, John Russell and Navy veteran Bill Siegfried, of Port Carbon, she thanked Lewie's Restaurant for hosting the veterans.

"It's nice," she said, "that we can get together to honor these men."

Restaurant owner Lewie Eyster started the veterans breakfast about 10 years ago, according to manager Linda Clark.

Standing at a grill, preparing platters of eggs, sausage and home fries, Clark paused for a moment.

"We do this because they deserve it," she said. "We want to let them know that they are appreciated."

Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007