Nov. 09, 2012 – One fall night in 1967, near Bong Son in the Republic of Vietnam, Richard S. Dixon – a 20 year old machine gunner and demolition expert – was traveling with 10 members of his squad in a two vehicle convoy when it was ambushed by at least two dozen Viet Cong soldiers. Machine gun fire killed the squad’s commanding officer. Although grievously wounded, Dixon continued to fire his pistol at virtually pointblank range, defending himself and his fellow soldiers.

Dixon survived that night, ultimately receiving a Purple Heart for his injuries. He is one of 11 Utah veterans honored this year at the University of Utah Veterans Day Commemoration. The university’s events this year were scheduled a few days before the official observance of the Veterans Day holiday on Sunday, Nov. 11, because the campus is closed.

Earlier in the morning before the main commemoration, a panel discussion was held on the Korean War. Panelist LT. Col Dick Raybould (Retired US Army) took the audience on a full tour of the Korean War, recounting his experiences while deployed, and LT. Col. Chris Gedney (Retired USAF) spoke about serving on the “front lines” of Korea, decades after the cease-fire.

The University has also announced the winner of the 2nd annual Student Veteran of the Year award. At that ceremony, Ph.D. candidate Brent Taylor received a cash stipend and a medallion honoring his military service in Iraq and subsequent community service and academic achievement.

To round out the events, on Saturday Nov. 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the Jon M. Huntsman Center, the Utah National Guard 23rd Army Band and Combined Granite School District High School Choir will perform an array of patriotic songs. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information about the evening concert, call 801-432-4407.

For a complete list of honorees and events, visit: www.veteransday.utah.edu

ABOUT THE VETERANS DAY HONOREES

The 11 Veterans Day honorees are selected each year by a committee from nominations submitted by friends and family. Six of this year’s honorees served in World War II, one served in both WWII and Korea, one in Korea, three in Vietnam, and one in Iraqi Freedom.

The following 11 veterans were honored:

JAMES HOYT ANDREWS
Marine Corps, Korea

At 17, James Andrews volunteered to join the Marine Corps. In less than one year, he found himself with one other Marine fighting a battle at the top of a hill in Korea. After his comrade in arms left to attend to wounded soldiers from his squad, Andrews ran toward an active bunker. A gre­nade thrown from the bunker blew Andrews into the air and destroyed his rifle. He climbed on top of the bunker, reached over the front and threw a gre­nade into it. He then descended the hill to find his squad mostly dead or wounded. Andrews then located two machine gunners and took them with him back toward the top of the hill. As they entered a trench, the two machine gunners were shot in the head. Andrews, armed with only his pistol, located the enemy sniper responsible and shot him. Another platoon arrived, and Andrews rallied this platoon to follow him up the hill and finally secured it. Six months before his three year enlistment was up, Andrews was offered a commission that he declined. He separated from the Marine Corps as a Staff Sergeant with a Silver Star and two Purple Hearts.

GILCHRIST “GIL” BOOTH
Army, World War II

Gil Booth entered the military in 1943. Booth was assigned as a replacement loader/cannoner and gunner in the 743rd Tank Battalion. The unit was in the infamous hedgerows of Normandy when Booth joined them, but they fought on to Holland and Belgium and then to Aachen, Germany. One night, Booth’s unit pulled into a little town, flanked on one side by a brick wall, and on the other side by a pine tree. On a coin flip, Booth’s unit took the side of the town with the brick wall. While it was quiet, all of the crew members, that were able, went inside a building to stretch out. They left two men to guard their unit’s tank – one to sleep, one to guard. Booth took the first guard shift and afterward went to sleep. When he woke up, he saw that the tank was on fire. He ran over and rescued his fellow soldier. For his actions, Booth was awarded the Silver Star.

RICHARD LEE BURNS
Air Force, World War II and Korea

After high school, Richard Burns enrolled in Valley Forge Military Academy, where he completed two years of college. He was waiting for entry into the Flying Cadet program when he received his orders to report. Burns completed advanced training and was sent to fighter school. He says he would have gone to bomber school had he been bigger. He and his unit were shipped-out to India. When they finally arrived at their destination, they found out that the ship, with the aircraft on it, had been sunk. Burns and his men took over some other aircraft from a mercenary group called the Flying Tigers and flew as escort cover for the C-46 cargo airplanes, ferrying supplies to the Chinese Army over “the hump,” the eastern-most flank of the Himalayas. Burns also flew dive-bombing and strafing missions in support of the infantry. He flew 152 combat missions during this time. After WWII, Burns was assigned to Japan as part of the American Occupational Force, where he was assigned to the Air Rescue Squadron flying from Japan to rescue downed Korean War pilots, some behind enemy lines. He flew SB-17, C-47 and SA-16 aircraft as part of this assignment and completed 34 missions.

RICHARD S. DIXON
Army, Vietnam

On the night of October 9, 1967, near Bong Son in the Republic of Vietnam, Richard S. Dixon – a 20-year-old machine gunner and demolition expert – was traveling with 10 members of his squad in a two-vehicle convoy when it was ambushed by at least two dozen Viet Cong soldiers. A rocket-propelled gre­nade round struck the truck in which Dixon was riding with seven of his buddies. Another round ignited the truck’s gas tank, and machine gun fire killed their commanding officer. Dixon’s legs and feet were riddled with shrapnel. When he jumped out of the burning truck, he was immediately shot in the forearm by a machine gunner. Although he had a compound fracture, Dixon returned fire with his sidearm until the pistol jammed. He retrieved another pistol from the body of his commanding officer and shot at close range until an enemy grenade exploded three feet in front of him. The grenade blast shredded his liver, stomach and intestines. Although grievously wounded, Dixon continued to fire his pistol at virtually pointblank range. The VC force suddenly disengaged when parachute flares, fired from a nearby Repub­lic of Korea howitzer battery, lit up the area. Dixon’s unit received 100% casualties. Over the next seven months Dixon underwent many surgeries. While he was in the hospital at Qui Nhon Bay, Gen William Westmoreland – Commander of all troops in Vietnam – personally presented Dixon with a Purple Heart.

GORDON EWELL
National Guard, Iraqi Freedom

“Gordy” Ewell joined the National Guard after he graduated from Emory County High School in 1985. He began his military career as a radio telegraph operator, but soon decided to change course and become a Combat Engineer and demolition special­ist. During his year in Iraq, Ewell went on 59 combat missions. He led dozens of night missions looking for disguised IED’s, driving five miles per hour down some of the most danger­ous roadways in the country. His convoy usually contained only four or five vehicles “lit up like a Christmas tree” to shed light on potential hazards. Ewell noted that it was not un­usual for his team to find 15 to18 bombs every night, and to engage with the enemy 4 or 5 times. While deployed, Ewell started writing the Army’s first route clearance handbook. Ewell’s vehicle was hit by IEDs six times over the course of his deployment, including one that blew out his impacted wisdom teeth. After this explosion, Ewell was scheduled to leave to begin training another team, so he packed his mouth with gauze and caught a helicopter, only seeking medical and dental attention when he arrived at his destination. Ewell received the Bronze Star for his work as part of the first Mobile Observation Team, for writing the handbook, and for continuing to perform his route clearance duties while engaged with the enemy.

KIMEL “KIM” FISHER
Army, Vietnam

Kim Fisher entered the U.S. Army just prior to his 22nd birthday, after completing an LDS mission to Germany in 1968. He served for two years on active duty. After basic training and infantry training, Fish­er was sent to the Non-commissioned Officer (NCO) Academy and graduated with the rank of Staff Sergeant, well in advance of his peers. In Sept. 1969, Fisher was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division (“Tropic Lightning”) in the Republic of Viet­nam. He was assigned as a platoon sergeant with C Company/4th Battalion/23rd Infantry Regiment, a position usually taken by a Non-Commissioned Officer with much more time in the Army (Fisher was only about a year in). Due to the vagaries of service, he was frequently without an officer and performed the duties of both platoon leader and platoon sergeant. During his tour, Fisher was awarded the Silver Star twice for actions in contact with the enemy. In one particular incident, he performed first aid on one of his soldiers while pinned down under heavy automatic weapons fire from the enemy. He was able to drag the wounded soldier to a covered position when a mortar round landed at his feet. Luckily, it was a dud. Fisher says all he ever wanted to do was help his fellow soldiers survive and get back home. After returning home, he graduated from the University of Utah and had a successful career as a dentist.

EDWIN B. HERRNECKAR
Army, Vietnam

Ed HerrNeckar entered the U.S. Army in 1958 and served the first eight years as an enlisted man. After an initial stateside assignment with the Air Defense Artillery, he served in the Republic of Panama. He was then assigned to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he took a colonel’s advice and applied for Officers Candidate School. Commis­sioned in the Signal Corps, HerrNeckar was subse­quently sent to the Republic of Vietnam and served with the 221st Signal Company and the 69th Signal Battalion. HerrNeckar was caught up in the Tet Offensive of 1968, where he helped a reaction force clear an Air Force compound that had been overrun by enemy attackers. He went down an alley under fire and dragged out a stalled jeep by crawling on his back under the vehicle. This opened the way for U.S. forces to advance and recover the compound. For this, HerrNeckar was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism in ground combat. Upon returning from Vietnam, HerrNeckar went to flight school and was trained on the AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter. He went back to Vietnam in 1970 as a pilot with D Troop/1st Squadron/1st Cavalry Regiment of the American Division, where he flew missions in sup­port of various operations and units. While support­ing the 5th Special Force Group he put his Cobra between enemy fire and a Special Forces team that was being extracted. He received and returned fire and remained at a hover while the A-Team was safely extracted. Two UH-1 helicopters were shot down in this operation and two of the eight crewmembers were killed in action. HerrNeckar served 20 years in the Army and served two tours in the Republic of Vietnam. He retired as a major in 1978.

CHARLES R. HUGHES
Army, World War II

When WWII broke out, Charles Hughes was enrolled in West Chester State Teachers College. In 1942, he enlisted in the Army to take advantage of a rigorous engineering program that allowed recruits to stay in college as long as they kept up their grades. Things were getting tough for the allies in North Africa, however, and soon Hughes was on a freight train to basic training in Georgia. His test scores were so high upon graduation that Hughes was allowed to choose to attend engineering school in Washington, PA, but after 6 months, the school was closed. Hughes was eventually assigned to E Company, 379th Infantry Regiment of the 95th Infantry Division heading overseas to France and entered combat in October, 1944. On the front line, a less-than-supportive sergeant made Hughes the unit’s First Scout and gave him extra tracer rounds with which to draw fire from a position about 100 yards ahead of the rest of the unit. One morning, Hughes and his squad were assigned to clear the last in a group of houses they had to pass. The unit had not gone far when machine gun fire erupted. A tank destroyer pinned down the machine gunners and allowed his men to move single-file along the narrow street. Hughes was hit and his left leg was shattered. He dropped into a small ditch behind a hedge. Having lost his rifle, Hughes pulled the pin on a grenade and threw it through the window of the house, killing the men inside. The trooper who had shot him was outside the house, however, so Hughes threw his second grenade, bouncing it off the wall of the building across the road so it would land right in front of the German soldier. A medic was eventually able to dress Hughes’ wounds and carry him back to a jeep, where he saw the only surviving German soldier lying on a stretcher. Hughes learned that he himself had killed nearly the entire enemy squad.

PAUL SMITH
Navy, Marine Corps, World War II

Paul Smith joined the Navy hospital corps in Nov. 1942, becoming what was colloqui­ally known as a “corpsman.” Once he was sent overseas, he was assigned as a replacement to the 22nd Marine Regiment, a part of the First Provisional Marine Brigade. After several close calls during a rough experience on Guam, Smith’s unit went to Okinawa, Japan where he alternated between the forward aid station and the battalion aid station. On May 29, at the forward aid station, he found a badly injured patient who needed transport back to battalion aid. Smith put the patient in the top stretcher slot in the ambulance, and was holding up a bag of plasma when a machine gun sounded. Smith dropped to the ground, and the plasma splattered everywhere. Smith saw smoke from his pants, and he realized that a bullet had gone through his leg, just miss­ing his femur. When they assessed the wounded, Smith found that his injury was the least severe, so the ambulance was filled with other wounded men and Smith had to hold on to the back of the ambulance to make it back to the battalion aid station. He was later evacuated to a medical ship and then to Guam for treatment. That was Smith’s last day in combat.

JOSEPH STOBBE
Army, World War II

Joseph Stobbe volunteered for the military draft and entered the Army on Sept. 25, 1943. In the spring of 1944, he sailed on a troop ship from New York City and arrived at Normandy’s Utah Beach on June 16 (D+10). He was assigned to Company G, 358th Regiment, 90th Infantry Division and became a sniper. Stobbe received two purple hearts for injuries to his hand and neck in separate incidents. In Nov. 1944, while Stobbe moved with his unit through the northern approach to the town of Metzervisse, a German threw a grenade at him. One of Stobbe’s soldiers shot at the German but the soldier’s bullet ricocheted off a building’s wall and went through the back of Stobbe’s left elbow. Making his way to an aid station a few miles away, he was treated for his wound and sent to a hospital in Luxembourg. From Luxembourg, Stobbe went to Reims, then on to a hospital in Paris just before Christmas. Finally, he ended up in a hospital in England. He received a third Purple Heart for this wound and learned he would not go back into combat.

CLYDE E. WEEKS, JR.
Marine Corps, World War II

17-year-old Clyde E. Weeks, Jr., a student at the University of Utah, enlisted in the US Marine Corps on Feb. 15, 1943. Weeks developed a specialty as a telephone lineman, charged with es­tablishing and maintaining copper wire telephone connections between battle stations. Weeks pro­vided communications for his unit as they fought toward Agana, the embattled capital city of Guam. As they moved forward, they encountered a con­crete bunker from which Japanese soldiers fiercely returned fire. A grenade exploded at Weeks’ feet, blowing him to the ground and badly injuring his legs. He lost consciousness and two corpsmen car­ried him through heavy fire to safety on the beach. On a hospital ship, surgeons removed 22 grenade fragments from Weeks’ body and put him in a cast from shoulder to toes that he wore for months. He was treated at the Pearl Harbor Naval Hospital and at six different hospitals in the U.S. throughout the next year. He was released from the V.A. hospital in Salt Lake City a week after the war ended in Aug., 1945. Wearing his Purple Heart, Weeks finally returned home to Orem, where he served as Postmaster for 40 years.