Wayne County Wanderings: A long overdue welcome home for local Vietnam vets
Phil Sheehan and I met up just after lunch on a beautiful, sun-soaked afternoon at the Veterans Monument in Central Park.
He was sitting patiently on a stone bench when I arrived, seemingly lost in thought. Ever the gentleman, though, Phil leapt up as soon as he spied me. He smiled, shook my hand and bade me sit.
“Thanks so much for doing this,” Phil said. “I really appreciate it. Some of our guys are still really hurting and I’d just like to get the word out a little bit.”
The guys he was talking about are local veterans. Phil has dedicated a huge portion of his life to helping them in any way he can … everything from organizing parades and school assemblies to raising funds for the local VFW and American Legion.
We’ve collaborated on stories before, but this one has a sense of urgency about it. The vast majority of veterans in need right now fought in Vietnam … and an alarming number of them are truly struggling.
“A lot of us are still carrying a burden,” Phil said. “Most of us are in our 70s and 80s and time is running out.”
Rude awakening
Phil Sheehan was born on October 18, 1943 in the middle of World War II.
He grew up in Brooklyn, eventually graduating high school and quickly enlisting in the military.
Phil served his country in the United States Army at the height of the Vietnam War. He spent 1965 and 1966 with the 148th Quartermaster Company, which was stationed near Nha Trang.
His deployment nearly came to a horrific end on the night of December 26. A little less than two hours after the Christmas Truce concluded, the enemy attacked his base with overwhelming force.
A total of 18 US soldiers were either killed or wounded during the fierce firefight. Phil was among them. A hail of mortar shells obliterated a jeep right next to him, riddling his body with shrapnel.
Thankfully, brave medics were able to save Phil’s life. However, some of the mortar fragments will be with him forever. Once he recovered sufficiently, Phil was awarded the Purple Heart and successfully completed his tour of duty.
Sadly, when Phil finally headed home he didn’t exactly receive the greeting he’d expected.
“When I came back, someone actually spit in my face,” he said slowly shaking his head. “I couldn’t believe it. It was heartbreaking.
“Here we are coming back after putting our lives on the line and this is how we’re treated? At one point it got so bad that they were telling us not to wear the uniform when we came home.”
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Hoping to heal
The reason Phil had reached out was to extend an invitation.
About 10 years ago, he founded a small group of local Vietnam vets. In the beginning there were only five or six of them. They’d get together a couple of times a month to talk about things weighing on their hearts and minds.
“No one else really understands,” he said. “There’s no way they can. They haven’t been through what we went through. We’ve had the same experiences, over there and here at home.”
Over the course of the past decade, this informal little band swelled to as many as 30 members. Eventually, they outgrew local restaurants and had to seek out a larger space. Now, they meet twice a month at the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce.
Last Thursday, the group arranged a special event at Elegante on Main Street in Honesdale and Phil asked me to attend. I eagerly accepted and am so glad I did.
The gathering attracted more than 20 vets, the vast majority of whom served in Vietnam. They spent about 45 minutes chatting amongst themselves while enjoying pizza and soda. Then, things grew quiet as Steven Davis walked to the front of the room.
Davis grew up in Scranton and served his country during the Iraq War. He now lives in Newton Township and works with veterans as a Readjustment Therapist with men and women just like those assembled at Elegante.
“The members of this group support each other whether discussing combat trauma or physical health conditions,” he said. “The sense of brotherhood and camaraderie here is very visible.”
At this particular gathering, Davis acted as emcee. He led the Pledge of Allegiance, then asked Phil to offer a prayer. After a few moments of silence in remembrance of fallen comrades, Davis introduced several special guests.
Wayne County Commissioners Brian Smith and Jocelyn Cramer were genuinely honored to be present. After offering a few words of heartfelt appreciation, they presented each attendee with the Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin, which “represents courage, honor, and dedicated service to our nation.”
Also on hand to show her support for this special group was Victoria Wargo, Wayne County’s new Director of Veterans Affairs. She was joined by Denise Carey, who’s spent many years working with the VA in Wilkes Barre.
It was a moving ceremony, one whose central message was simple gratitude, and best summed up by Commissioner Smith.
“We just can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done and all the sacrifices you’ve made,” he said.
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Welcome home
Nearly 10 million American servicemen and women served during Vietnam.
Our Armed Forces suffered more than 58,000 deaths during the conflict, which lasted for almost 20 years. It officially ended with the fall of Saigon in April of 1975.
It’s not a stretch to say that this war was the most controversial in the nation’s history. US involvement in Southeast Asia sparked waves of protests and the rise of what came to be known as the Counterculture.
The war served as a flashpoint that consumed an entire generation and left indelible scars on the national psyche. Even now, all these years later, men and women like those who attended Thursday’s meeting at Elegante are grappling with the consequences.
But according to Phil Sheehan, there are simple ways to help his fellow Veterans deal with their daily struggles.
“Hey, anytime you see one of us, just say welcome home,” he said. “Those two words mean more to a Vietnam vet than you can imagine because most of us never heard them when we actually came back.”
If you're a veteran or know one who needs a little bit of help, please reach out to Victoria Wargo at the Wayne County Veterans Affairs Office (570-253-5970 ext. 3114). Or contact the writer at kevsports7@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Wayne County Wanderings: Elegante in Honesdale hosts Vietnam veterans
