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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) -- Wednesday marked the 50th day of the extremity of the Vietnam War.
However, portion the warring whitethorn person stopped, galore veterans faced caller battles connected U.S. soil.
The Central Valley Honor Flight took a radical of them to revisit those memories Wednesday.
The Vietnam War Memorial successful Washington, D.C. features 2 walls with a full of 58,000 names.
Visalia Marine Corps Veteran Gilbert Torres was lone looking for one.
“I went to schoolhouse with Bryce Kindrick… He ever hung astir with us. That’s him close here,” Torres said portion holding up a photograph of Kindrick.
Torres and Kindrick grew up unneurotic and went to the aforesaid precocious school.
“He didn’t person a dad, truthful my aunt and my uncle were benignant of similar a parent and begetter to him,” Torres said.
They were truthful close, erstwhile Torres enlisted to combat successful Vietnam, Kindrick followed close behind.
“I told him helium was a knucklehead, but helium didn’t listen. He shows up successful Vietnam, and I’m all, ‘What the hellhole are you doing here?’ He said, “Well, I wanted–I–wanted to beryllium with you guys,” Torres recounted with tears successful his eyes.
Kindrick was yet killed successful enactment astatine conscionable 19 years old.
Now, the lone spot Torres tin sojourn him is astatine the Vietnam War Memorial.
Also scanning the partition for a acquainted sanction was retired Army Sergeant Mike Leyva.
“I was a sergeant, and I mislaid men. You slumber connected the ground, you devour with them, you portion coffee… Sometimes you’re talking to him and wrong astir an hour, he’s gone,” Leyva said.
He says they were each truthful young.
They experienced each the symptom of warfare with nary of the glory.
“When I got backmost from Vietnam, cipher thanked you for anything,” Tony Marino said.
Several veterans recounted arriving location to radical throwing brew cans and different trash astatine them.
However, connected Wednesday, they got a caller reception.
They were invited to enactment successful the Changing of the Wreath ceremonial astatine the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier aboriginal successful the day.
Then, arsenic they near Arlington National Cemetery, students and assemblage members lined the sidewalk, applauding and shaking their hands.
“They loved america for what we’ve done arsenic vets, and I benignant of interruption down for that,” 22-year Air Force Veteran Buster Eppler said.
Then aboriginal successful the evening, hundreds of radical crowded the Fresno Yosemite International Airport with signs and banners to cheer for the veterans arsenic they returned home.
“Look astatine me,” Retired Army Clinical Specialist Jose Gomez said with tears successful his eyes. “It’s awesome and it evidently makes up for what I didn’t acquisition erstwhile I got home.”
The veterans accidental their Honor Flight acquisition was a healing one, unifying soldiers from each background.
“I don’t attraction if you’re a Marine, Army, Air Force – we’re each the same,” Leyva said.
The United States military: a nine truthful diverse, yet truthful exclusive. It encapsulates each of those who served to support the state they love.
