TET - Forty Years Ago Today

The communist attack of at least 100 cities, the Tet Offensive ,broke out on the Tet's Eve(Lunar New Year) - in the early morning of January 30, 1968 at many cities of Central Vietnam, such as Da Nang and Qui Nhon (Pictured above), as well as cities in the central coastal and highland areas. Other cities to the south that included Saigon, were attacked 24 hours later at the small hours of January 31. Thus the offensive lost its element of total surprise and was a military disaster for the Communists: they lost over 10,000 men and did not manage to hold any of their objectives. Nevertheless the Tet Offensive created a crisis within the Johnson administration, which became increasingly unable to convince the American public that it had been a major defeat for the communists. American losses were said to exceed 500.
Most Americans know someone who served during this dramatic and difficult war. Many of us remember the evening news bringing the horror of battle into our homes; Americans were exposed to the plight of the ‘boy next door’ on a daily basis. For many, concern for these brave young men and women translated into respect and gratitude for them. For others, the American Soldier became a symbol of oppression and someone to blame for any and every disagreement they had with our government.
Some say the wounds of Viet Nam will never heal and when some ultraliberal names are mentioned, even after 40 years, the hair still stands up on the necks of most veterans. I personally like to remember those who served. When I noticed today was 31 January, I immediately remembered the CBS Evening News showing the fighting in Saigon and the full face camera shot of my best friend, an MP, firing at VC from the roof of the of the MP HQ, no helmet, just a flack jacket, a M-16 and a desire to stay alive in an awesome firefight. He did. He will probably read this and say, “No big deal, I just did what I was asked to do!”
On this day I want him and all veterans to know that they are all heroes, that I still appreciate their tireless sacrifices and that those who did not return are remembered.

Lyrics for Taps?

During the Civil War, one of the easiest ways for a soldier to remember and recognize the many bugle calls heard both in battle and throughout the duty day was through words or ditties that were set to the notes of the calls for this exact purpose. Following this common practice, soon after Taps was first sounded in July 1862 unofficial lyrics were put with the music, below are some of the more popular verses:

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Fades the light; And afar
Goeth day, And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well; Day has gone,
Night is on.

Thanks and praise, For our days,'
Neath the sun, Neath the stars,
Neath the sky,
As we go, This we know,
God is nigh.

Tradition credits Union Army General Daniel Butterfield, Congressional Medal Of Honor recipient (above) with being the composer of Taps. Some say he penned lyrics as:
“Dan, Dan, Dan, Butterfield, Butterfield.”

Bob Hope - Patriot and 'Veteran'

The man with the ski nose and quick wit demonstrates his love for his country and those who fight to keep her free by doing what he knows best, making people laugh. He is there on the open-air stage, the deck a ship, or floor of a hospital , leaning on his signature golf club, dressed in a strange mixture of field uniform and shtick. He delivers old one-liners and pokes fun at the brass. He lightens the hearts and the load of the thousands who have gathered to hear him, respected and loved by all regardless of service branch, rank, race, creed, color or generation. For a moment his audience is transported out of harm’s way. For a moment they feel peace and joy. For a moment know they are loved.

Leslie Townes (Bob) Hope was born in England 29 May 1903. His family moved to Cleveland, Ohio when he was five years old. He began to entertain professionally in his late teens and early twenties, enjoying a long and revered career on the stage as well as radio, the large screen and television. He performed and made appearances well past his 90th year. He died 27 July 2003. Honored and decorated for his many talents and contributions, he is best remembered by most Americans, especially U.S. Veterans as being a patriot contributing to the strength of our forces in his own unparalleled style.

Hope performed his first United Service Organizations (USO) show on May 6, 1941, at March Field, California. He continued to travel and entertain troops for the rest of World War II and later during the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the 1990–1991 Persian Gulf War. When overseas he almost always performed in Army fatigues as a show of support for his audience. Hope's USO career lasted half a century, during which he headlined approximately sixty tours. For his service to his country through the USO, Hope was awarded the prestigious Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1968.

A 1997 act of Congress signed by President Clinton named Hope an "Honorary Veteran". He remarked, "I've been given many awards in my lifetime — but to be numbered among the men and women I admire most — is the greatest honor I have ever received.” In his biography, Bob Hope: The Road Well-Traveled (1999), Lawrence J. Quirk writes about the sacrifices Hope made to entertain U.S. servicemen, those whom he called "my boys".

To date, Bob Hope remains the only individual ever to be named “Honorary Veteran” by an Act of the United States Congress.

Thanks for the Memories…

U.S. Flag - It's a Matter of Respect

One need only travel as far as the next home game to see that so many of our fellow citizens, for what ever reasons, do not follow proper Flag Etiquette. But look closely, it is not just the younger folks who appear oblivious; disrespect, ignorance and inattentiveness are not a matter of age.

Those of us who do try to render proper respect need to remember the necessity of being examples for our fellow citizens to follow. We need to render proper and timely salutes, standing tall and proud. We should all take advantage of the ‘teaching opportunities’ which present themselves constantly. We need to encourage the young veterans to prepare to shoulder the load, the standards, so proudly carried forward by those soldiers of past decades. And finally, we need to acquaint others with at least the following concepts:

To salute the flag, all persons come to attention. Those in uniform give the appropriate formal salute as specified by the uniform service. Citizens not in uniform salute by placing their right hands over their hearts. Men with a head cover, a hat or cap, remove it with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute.

In a parade the flag should be in front of the marchers. At the moment the flag passes, all persons should show respect by standing at attention, facing the flag with their right hand over their hearts. Persons in uniform should face the flag and render their formal salute. During a parade it is appropriate to salute only the first United States Flag; subsequent U.S. Flags may be saluted at your discretion. When other types of flags are included in a color guard, the United States Flag should be centered in front of the others or carried to their right. It is never appropriate to dip the American flag. Dipping the flag is a sign of disrespect.

During the playing of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their hats with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.

The flag is a symbol that represents all of America. It is not a political symbol. It is a symbol that each American should respect, for it represents the honor, courage and sacrifice of those who struggled to deliver freedom, justice and opportunity to all Americans

The flag signifies a people dedicated to liberty, justice and freedom for all. It is our companion around the world. The flag summons confidence on sight and will long be an ensign everywhere for all who love freedom and honor.

History of the 555th Honors Detachment

In 1987, VA identified the Cleveland area as one of ten areas of the country most
in need of burial space for veterans based on veteran populations. An Environmental
Impact Statement was prepared in 1992 and in Jan 1993 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs formally selected a 274 acre site in Guilford Township 45 miles south of Cleveland in Medina County near the town of Rittman for construction of a National Cemetery. A contract to develop the master plan was awarded to William Behnke Associates, inc., Cleveland, Ohio, in September 1994. This firm completed the construction contract documents in April 1998. An $11.1 million construction contract was awarded to Welty Building Company of Akron, Ohio, in June 1998 and construction was started. 65 acres would be developed in the first phase. This would provide 15,900 full-casket gravesites and 3000 sites for cremated remains.

The new National Cemetery now named the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery (OWRNC) had its first burial in June of 2000. All Veterans who have served honorably
have earned the right to have Military Last Rites. Federal law provides for a two person military detail to fold and present a burial flag to the next of kin along with the playing of taps.
It was the desire of the Director of the National Cemetery to provide more than the
minimum. A firing detail made up of local Volunteer Veterans was added. Mr. James Anderson, a WWII vet from Medina County, volunteered to organize teams from Northern Ohio Veteran Organizations to provide all necessary last rites. His approach was to organize by County with each County responsible for services for one week.
Anderson came up with enough volunteers to cover 6 weeks at a time. It was regrettable
that Wayne County did not come up with enough volunteers from Veteran Service Organizations to participate at the National Cemetery.

In April of 2000, three Wayne County brothers, Lloyd, Arden, Elton Boyer were talking
about the lack of participation by Wayne County. One brother, Elton, suggested forming
a new Wayne County Veteran Organization just to provide last rites at the National
Cemetery. As a result of this discussion the 555th Honors Detachment was born.
It is sometimes referred to as "The Triple Nickel". The "5" in the name symbolizes
the five military services. The 3 fives is symbolic of the three brothers that
proposed the concept.

In late summer and early fall of 2000 numbers stated to grow with veterans that
wanted to participate. By October there were 16 names on the roster ready for duty.
At least seven members had served in the 447th Civil Affairs Company an Army Reserve
Unit with headquarters in Wooster, OH during the 50s and 60s. Enlisted members
of the 447th had formed an all Volunteer Drill Team that became involved in local
Military last rites The 447th was deactivated in 1967 and many of these people
had not seen each other for these many years. Several other veterans wanted very
much to become active. This included Navy, Air Force and Marine veterans. This
was the beginning. We had 16 volunteers ready for their first duty.

The 555th first duty week was the first week of October 2000. On Thursday before
our duty week a dinner was held at Hawkins Cafeteria for planning our up coming
duty. Spouses and friends were welcome. This is the organizational pattern that
is maintained today. The 555th now has duty every 7 weeks with an average of 5
funerals per day. The 555th has conducted as many as 36 services in one week.

Membership continues to grow with 84 active members on the roster as of Jan 2007. The 84 membership is made up of personal from the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and WWII Merchant Marines from WWII to the current conflict including both men and women. 10 WWII Veterans, including two women are on the 555th roster. Membership is open to anyone who has served honorably in any branch of the military, including National Guard, Reserve, and WWII Merchant Marines who are willing to take an active part in providing last rites for military burials. Members are expected to wear a uniform of a veterans' service organization or the Military uniform of their branch of Service. All are now wearing their branch of service uniform. We have been told that there is no other organization in the country that the volunteers wear their service uniforms for this duty. No membership dues are currently collected .

Since our beginning in 2000 the Triple Nickel has continued to evolve. We became
an Ohio non-profit corporation in 2002. The 555th has received recognition for service from Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Newman’s Own, and Department of Defense as an Authorized Provider in the Military Funeral Honors Program. Color guards are provided for many local events. Speakers are available to local groups for their program needs related to a variety of Military Honors subjects.

The Triple Nickel has now assumed responsibility for raising Veteran Casket flags at the Wayne County Veteran’s Memorial at the Wooster Cemetery. In the late 1990s the Wayne County Veteran’s Service Office offered to any deceased veteran’s family the opportunity to fly the Veteran’s Casket flag at the Wayne County Veteran’s Memorial. The 555th , with the leadership of Roger Bucher, has conducted this flag raising ceremony sense early in 2002. Each requested Veteran’s flag is flown for at least two weeks. Roger’s team members who have participated in this ceremony include Cy Schrock, Dick Silver, Bill Rastetter, Dave Drumm, Jason Winkleman, Cal Frye, and Joseph De Luca Jr.

Members of the 555th are encourage to try new activities on their own which will support honoring of Patriots. This has resulted in flag raising at High School Athletic events, color guards for a variety of events, honor rifle salutes, installation of flag poles where appropriate, speakers and programs for high school students/civic organizations and support to smaller communities for their Patriotic Days Activities i.e. Memorial Day, 4th of July, Veteran’s Day, local Military Funerals not at the OWRNC, and others. One member, Harold Fulton, has written “REFLECTION ON A VETERAN” which is read at all funerals conducted by the 555th. A copy is presented to the family of the deceased. Other Volunteer Organizations are now asking if they could use “REFLECTION ON A VETERAN” for their services.

Since the inception of the 555th Honors Detachment in 2000 five members have been selected by the Wayne County Joint Veteran’s Counsel as Wayne County Veteran of The Year. These Veterans are Millard DeLauder 2001, Charles Craig 2003, Lloyd Boyer 2004, Joseph De Luca 2005, and Elton Boyer 2006. Two other current 555th members, Francis Wells and Harry Surls had been inducted into the Wayne County Veteran of The Year Fraternity in1995 and 1998 prior to the formation of the Triple Nickel.

A memorial stone was donated to Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery Memorial Pathway by the 555th honoring all local patriots. The inscription on the stone reads, “HERE REST THE SOUL OF OUR NATON”. OWRNC Memorial Pathway has more Memorial Stone donated by Patriotic Organizations than any other National Cemetery in the Veteran Administration System..

The 555th Honors Detachment insignia that was designed and adopted by the
members. The five points symbolizes the five services. The stylized shepherd's
crook is a symbol for ever vigilant. The blue color is for valor. The gold is Honor. This
insignia is on our unit flag. The flag was special made and donated to the 555th
by Tom Hickman, LTC USA (ret.). Col Hickman was appointed as the first Honorary Commander of the 555th Honors Detachment.

The 555th is a totally independent Volunteer Veteran organization with no connection with any Government Military organization!

This document was prepared by:
Elton D. Boyer, Pres. 555th Honors Detachment Inc.
Jan, 2007
Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in

555th ... a Gettysburg Connection

Certainly one of the defining moments in American History is the Civil War and certainly one of the most significant events in that war was the Battle of Gettysburg. It was the farthest North the Confederate Armies ever advanced. During those three July days in 1863 the complexion of the war changed and, never again, was the Confederate Army the potent force it had once been. Over 157,000 Union and confederate troops were engaged, over 79,000 were killed and over 3,555 Union dead remain there in a part of the battlefield set aside for a National Cemetery.

Of local interest, approximately 150 Wayne Countians served there. Most of them (one hundred) were from Wooster, with most serving in the 4th and 107th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiments. Another group (including several who, reportedly, were tired of carrying a musket and walking) served in Cushings 4th U.S. Artillery. They were at the "Angle" located at the very center of the Union line and where Pickets Charge was broken.

As far as is known only one from our area died in the battle, Private John Kratz, an ancestor of Juvenile Court Judge Ray Leisy, was killed on July 1 while defending Cemetery Hill with the 107th. His body was never recovered and he remains, to this day, one of the many “unknowns”. Another Ohioan of note who served there was Private George Nixon whose great grandson Richard, was to become President of the United States. He was mortally wounded on July 2nd, his grave being one of one hundred thirty-one in the Ohio section.

On November 19, 1863, the Gettysburg National Cemetery was dedicated by President Abraham Lincoln. His three-minute “few appropriate remarks” remain one of the most eloquent speeches ever given. It is commemorated and reenacted on each anniversary of that date. It has also been a tradition, on this date, to decorate the graves in each of the state sections with flags. A lesser known tradition is the placement of Lincoln pennies on the marker stones.

The only group of graves not so honored were those of the one hundred thirty-eight US Regulars killed during the battle. In 2005 the 555th purchased flags and, in an ongoing project, adopted them. This is certainly appropriate in view of our mission of honoring those who have served and who have paid the ultimate price.

Hal Fulton
Fasu@aol.com

555th Lays Holiday Wreaths at Wayne Co Memorial

The 3 Funeral Volleys Are NOT a '21 Gun Salute.'

At military funerals, one observes three volleys of shots being fired in honor of the deceased veteran. This is often mistaken by laymen as a 21-gun salute. In the military a "gun" is a large artillery weapon. The three funeral volleys are fired from "rifles," not "guns," therefore, the three volleys do not represent a “gun salute;” they are Funeral Volleys. Anyone entitled to a military funeral (generally anyone who dies on active duty, honorably discharged veterans, and military retirees) is entitled to the firing of three rifle volleys. Subject to availability of honor guard personnel, the firing team must have at least two members; often one sees a team of eight, with a noncommissioned officer in charge of the firing detail. But whether the team consists of three, seven, or ten members, each member fires only three times, three volleys. It is the number of volleys fired not the total number of rounds expended that is counted.
Today, the national salute of 21 guns (Artillery) is fired in honor of a national flag, the sovereign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, and the President, ex-President, and President-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect, on Washington's Birthday, Presidents Day, and the Fourth of July. On Memorial Day, a salute of 21 minute guns is fired at noon while the flag is flown at half mast. Fifty guns are also fired on all military installations equipped to do so at the close of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect.
Gun salutes are also rendered to other military and civilian leaders of this and other nations. The number of guns is based on their protocol rank. These salutes are always in odd numbers. For example, the Vice President of the United States, Secretary Defense, and Secretaries of the Army, Air Force, and Navy, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all rate 19 guns. The highest-ranking generals in the services (Commandants of the Marine Corps, Chief of Naval Operations, and the Army and Air Force Chief of Staffs) all rate 17 guns. Other 4-star generals and admirals rate 17 guns. Three-stars rate 15, two-stars rate 13, and one-stars rate 11.