Vietnam Veteran, HM3 Larry “Docrep” Repanshek, USN, was wounded on 31 December 1968, near Quang Nam, Vietnam. He was on a routine sweep patrol when he stepped on a Vietcong small box mine, causing compound fractures and lacerations to his body. Requiring extensive medical treatment, he was initially medically evacuated to NAS Dan Nang. After several surgeries and 23 days of travel time, Larry would arrive to Saint Albans Naval Hospital in Long Island NY. His welcome home, to the United States, was almost nonexistence. There was no greeting or cheers for him as he made it back to the United States. Larry had heard of some the wounded were greeted at the airport terminals with irate civilians that did not approve of the War in Vietnam. Some homecomings were met with angry people spitting and yelling at the wounded. Although, Larry did not experience these angry people, he knew numerous wounded warriors around him that did.
Fast forward to 2004, near Taji, Iraq. My team of Kiowa Warrior Helicopters, were supporting troops in contact from enemy insurgents when my engine failed and my helo crashed landed in a swamp. Suffering life-threatening injuries, my Copilot and I were medically evacuated out of Iraq to Landstuhl, Germany within hours. After multiple surgeries, we were both very lucky to be alive. Since there was a slight chance of becoming paralyzed or not making it through the surgeries, the DOD sent for our next of kin to be by our side in Landstuhl. Two weeks later, we were bound for the United States. The C-141 landed at Andrews AFB, MD with a plane full of injured combat veterans. Crowds of supporters cheered and greeted us saying, “welcome home heroes”. As the litters were taken off the plane and loaded on to a bus, I looked up at some of the supporters. Most of the supporters were an older generation of people from organizations like the USO, American Legion, and Order of the Purple Heart. A welcome greeting that I will never forget.
USMC CPL Isaiah Schaffer served three tours in Iraq. On his second and third tours, he was wounded in action and evacuated out of theatre. He received multiple surgeries and medical care within days of his wounds. When Isaiah was medically separated from the Marine Corps, he felt that he never received a true ‘welcome home”. Something that he shared with me the first time we met. I felt that something like a “welcome home” ceremony or parade would give him closure and help him through some of his PTSD struggles. As I was reading a brochure from the American Legion (A.L.), I came across a program called “Hometown to Heroes” or H2H. The program, sponsored by the American Legion, would give me a resource to help combat veterans with some closure from the war. The A.L. Post 55 in Fredericksburg would enable Isaiah’s welcome home dream come true. The A.L 12th District Commander, along with the VWWP, would plan the“H2H”event in Fredericksburg. The event took place on March 12, 2010 and in attendance was Isaiah’s family, friends, Congressman Whitman and the A.L Virginia Department Commander. Numerous local veteran support organizations, along with the VWWP Executive Director helped Isaiah Schaffer celebrate his “Welcome Home”.
“Welcome Home” has a different meaning for wounded combat vets from every war. From the current era of combat wounded, we thank all of the veterans, from previous wars, that paved the way for our new generation of wounded warrior programs. The H2H event and the welcome I experienced at Andrews AFB is tribute for all of the previous era war veterans that ensured that we would never fail to honor our current era of wounded warriors. Please give thanks to all of the Vietnam combat veterans in your local neighborhoods that made the “welcome home” a pleasurable experience for the current era of combat wounded.
Currently, Larry “Docrep” Repanshek is a board member of the Greater Fredericksburg Region for the Families of the Wounded Fund (FOTW) and serves as the Co-Chair of the VWWP Region 1 Advisory Board.