COUNTY LIFE
Army service as a ‘tunnel rat’ still haunts Vietnam veteran
Richard Blair, served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War working as a “tunnel rat.”
By BARBARA GREEN
The life expectancy of a “tunnel rat” in Vietnam was three seconds. With such a statistic it is amazing Richard Blair survived 18 months scurrying through enemy tunnels, but today at the age of 75 he struggles with memories and health issues from his service.
The Vietnam War was the longest in U.S. history lasting almost 20 years from 1955-1975, however, the War in Afghanistan that began in 2001 may surpass it as it enters its 17th year. More than 58,000 American servicemen died, more than 150,000 were wounded and there are 10,000 missing.
Blair has the distinction of being the first Montague County serviceman from Vietnam to safely return home as recorded in the Montague County History Book. His transition back to normal life did not go smoothly before being gathered back home by his parents who helped him settle back in.
Nocona boy
Richard Blair was adopted at the age of five from Houston by Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Blair, who lived at Belcherville and later moved to Nocona. He attended school at Ringgold for seven years before transferring to Nocona where he graduated in 1963.
Less than a year later in 1964 he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Blair didn’t let his parents know until he was already at basic training in Fort Polk, LA. After eight weeks he went to Hawaii for advanced infantry training, where he was attached to the 25th Infantry, Company B.
It was while at Fort Polk the Army took notice of his small stature and began to train and use him to demonstrate how a smaller man could take down a larger man. Blair proudly shows photos of himself demonstrating how to battle a larger enemy, and adds he didn’t mind because he had been small all his life and now it was helpful.
When asked about the draft and how he felt about the war, Blair says he was “okay” with going into the service, and running off to Canada was never an option.
“I didn’t know anyone even did that until I came back home. I wasn’t a draft dodger or anything. I followed orders and came out 18 months later as an E4,” he said.
Some 5,000 infantrymen left Hawaii on two ships heading toward Vietnam, escorted by submarines on all sides. Blair recalls they arrived at Saigon and went on a “deuce and a half” personnel carrier mounted with a 60-caliber machine gun.
“Before we really even got started they were shooting at us. All we had was our duffle bags, we had not been issued weapons yet. We hit the floorboards and hoped everyone was alright. That was my first day,” laughed Blair.
Read the full feature on this local Vietnam War veteran in your weekend News.
Bowie will begin dressing up downtown during the annual Hanging of the Greens starting at 10 a.m. on Nov. 16.
On Saturday morning volunteers will gather to hang lighted garland and wreaths on the nearly 100 lamp posts throughout downtown Bowie. These sparkling decorations will light up the area for the Fantasy of Lights Christmas Festival the weekend of Dec. 7, as well as throughout the holiday season.
Any citizen, family, student, civic group or club is invited to take part. Those with questions may call the BCDB office at 872-6246. Volunteers will meet at city hall across from the BCDB office at Pecan and Mason to receive their supplies. Please bring along a step ladder.
It’s going to be a “Candy Cane Christmas” in Bowie this year during the Fantasy of Lights Christmas Festival on Dec. 7.
Event host, the Bowie Community Development Board is planning a full weekend of activities to help launch the holiday season in Bowie.
The lighted parade is one of the weekend’s highlights and those wishing to enter should remember the deadline is Nov. 16.
Dec. 6
Festival weekend begins with Sip & Stroll With Me from 5-8 p.m. on Dec. 6.
Throughout downtown participating merchants invite strollers to enjoy wine or other drinks, and other holiday munchies as they shop stores and meet retailers. There will be live music, a holiday photo booth, carriage rides and of course lots of shopping.
Wristbands may be purchased at any of the participating merchants for $15. Strollers will receive a wine glass with their wristband, but they also are welcome to use a previous glass. Proceeds go toward downtown beautification projects.
Dec. 7
Saturday offers a full array of family-fun activities to enjoy from pancakes to floats.
The City of Bowie Fire Department welcomes families to enjoy free Pancakes with Santa from 7 to 10 a.m. at the fire hall, 203 Walnut. Toy drive donations will be accepted and there will be photos with the Big Guy.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
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Montague County celebrated its veterans Monday during a program at the courthouse annex in Montague.
The young men of the Trail Life Troop 1309 of Bowie posted the colors offering the American and Texas flags, followed by the American Heritage Girls Troop 1031 also from Bowie who gave the pledge of allegiance. Thad Murphy gave a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.
Jerry “Doc” Cody, Forestburg, was the guest speaker sharing a bit of his experience as a U.S. Army veteran. Cody is an active volunteer with the county veteran services office, which hosted Monday’s program.
After being drafted, he was inducted into the Army on June 13, 1967. After completing basic combat training, Cody went to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio where he trained as a combat medic.
After a 12-day leave he was sent to Vietnam where he served in the Central Highlands assigned to the 2/17th field artillery.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
Top photo – speaker Jerry Cody.
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