Duty, Honor, Sacrifice. That is a slogan often heard about the U.S. military.
Today is Veterans Day – a day to honor those who exemplify duty, honor, and sacrifice.
During a ceremony this month in Jefferson City, Governor-elect Mike Kehoe thanked Missouri’s nearly 400,000 U.S. military veterans for taking an oath to serve and protect their country.
“Inspired by the camaraderie and bond that only the misery of terror and combat can create, ordinary men doing extraordinary things,” said Kehoe. “That’s what our veterans do – never seeking recognition.”
Governor-elect Mike Kehoe
State Veterans Commission Executive Director Paul Kirchoff served in the U.S. Army for 33 years, including combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He explained what it means to be in the military.
“It means hours and hours of boredom, with intervening minutes of terror,” said Kirchoff. “It means not really wanting to leave your home and family but doing that just because you have a sense of honor and duty.”
Kirchoff explained why young people should consider going into the military.
“Well, it’s not for everybody. I’ll admit that, but it’s a great place to find who you are. I was kind of struggling after high school. College wasn’t necessarily the best start for me. But it gave me a sense of purpose. It gave me a sense of direction,” he told Missourinet.
According to Kirchoff, the comradery found in the military cannot be duplicated anywhere else.
Rep. Dave Griffith
“I lived, literally lived with people, 24/7, for a year at a time. You get to know them so well,” he said. “I don’t know how else to put it, other than it’s a love of your fellow soldier. I love them. They love me, and we do anything for.”
State Rep. Dave Griffith, R-Jefferson City, is a U.S. Army veteran who served as a Green Beret. Since many Vietnam veterans were disrespected when they returned, he encouraged people to say, “Welcome Home” to them.
“Always remember – freedom is not free. Some gave all and all gave some,” said Griffith.
State Department of Revenue Director Wayne Wallingford was a U.S. Air Force pilot for 25 years. He said serving in the military was one of the wisest decisions he’s made.
“I was in the four-year Air Force ROTC program, and they start dangling those wings in front of you and say, ‘Hey, how would you like to fly?’ And you’re kind of a naive frat guy. ‘Oh yeah, that sounds like fun. Let’s jump off a building or something.’ And so, I went in, but you had to stay in for six years. But at the end of six years, I was having too much fun,” he said.
Missouri Department of Revenue Director Wayne Wallingford
Wallingford said he’s traveled the world and was given responsibilities that are attractive to private businesses.
He recalled serving in the Vietnam War in a mission that ended the conflict. The operation, known as Linebacker Two, also led to the release of America’s 591 prisoners of war.
Wallingford told Missourinet about a close call he had with a missile that came straight at his B-52.
“But for some reason, actually, it was a miracle of God, because it went off way early. Because it was so far away, it threw all these tiny pieces of shrapnel into the plane, didn’t hit the engines, didn’t hit the fuel tanks. So, the plane got a Purple Heart,” he said.
A ground crew later counting how many holes were in Wallingford’s plane stopped counting after 680.
He flew more than 300 combat operations in Vietnam from about 1970 to 1973.
Copyright © 2024 Missourinet