Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica visits Kyle

KYLE — Dozens of war veterans walked in silence through the flag-lined sidewalk as they hugged each other and spoke of the 20 years that forever changed them. The city of Kyle hosted an opening ceremony for The Wall That Heals, a Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica and mobile education center, on the morning of May 4.

The ceremony opened with a prayer led by Rev. Kenneth Bell, who is also a member of the Central Texas AMVETS Post 115, asking that The Wall heals the community as the title suggests, followed by  remarks by veteran Stuart Hoyt.

The key speaker was Lt. Gen. Kenneth Eickmann, who expressed what life as a soldier was like during the Vietnam War. Times were difficult for active-duty members at the time due to controversy surrounding military involvement in Southeast Asia.

“During that conflict and mission, political conflict was sadly misdirected towards those that served our nation. When the brave warriors came home, many of whom are here with us today, they received neither a hero’s welcome nor the appreciation for their service that they deserved,” said Eickmann.

He continued with a heartfelt story of his fallen comrade who was missing in action (MIA) in an effort to remind those to not forget the individuals who were MIA or prisoners of war (POW) in the conflict. MIA and POW bracelets were handed out in the late ‘60s to friends and family with the names of soldiers who fell under this classification. Eickmann wore his for 23 years until his comrade was returned home; he broke the bracelet in half when he was buried as a symbol of the tragedy that kept him from his family.

There were 18 Hays County veterans who did not return home from the Vietnam War. Their names are as follows:

• Henry Edward Barber Jr., Marine Corps

• Juan Esquivel Cortez, Army

• Michael Rodney Dorman, Army

• Edward Joseph Edmund, Marine Corps

• Edward Ray Gaytan, Marine Corps

• Manuel Gonzales, Marine Corps

• Vicente Ramirez Gonzales, Army

• Alfredo Lopez Jr., Army

• Richard Lopez, Marine Corps

• Kenneth H. Mclendon, Marine Corps

• Baynes Ballew Mcswain Jr., Army

• Bobby Lee Roberts, Marine Corps

• Gerald Ray Roberts, U.S. Navy

• Felix Rodriguez, Marine Corps

• Homer Doyle Spring, Marine Corps

• Thomas Nelson Stiles, Marine Corps

• Allen W. Thomas, Army

• Conrad Jack Wheeler, Army

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the 21-gun salute and the sounding of taps.