Knights of Columbus host “Welcome Home” celebration for Vietnam era veterans
On March 1, St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in Burkburnett hosted a "Welcome Home" celebration for Vietnam era veterans. (NTC/Bertha Salazar)
BURKBURNETT — To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and to observe National Vietnam War Veterans Day, the Fourth Degree Bishop Gorman Assembly 1108 hosted a “Welcome Home” program to honor Vietnam veterans at St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in Burkburnett on March 1.
“It was nice to have it. I appreciated it. It wasn’t necessary, but it is nice any time the military is honored. The Knights did it right. It was respectful,” said Ernie Puttoff, who retired as a Lt. Colonel after 29 years in the army.
Marilyn, his wife of 57 years, said the ceremony was commendable because Vietnam veterans were not treated with appreciation and respect when they returned from the war.
“It’s hard to explain unless you lived during the 1960s,” she said.
Puttoff was recognized during the ceremony for being awarded the Purple Heart, the highest award a U.S. military member can receive, during the Vietnam War. In Vietnam, he and two other members of his team were artillery support and called “forward observers” for an infantry unit.
Marilyn said she and Ernie met each other in high school before he served in Vietnam; they were both Catholic and have attended Christ the King Parish in Iowa Park since 1984.
Marilyn, a graduate of a Catholic college and a former Catholic school teacher, said while Ernie was overseas, she would pray a novena with a parish group to Our Lady of Perpetual Help for people serving in Vietnam every Thursday.
God and country
“Holy Mother Church has strong support for her sons and daughters who serve in the armed forces, both current military and veterans,” Father Joseph Moreno, pastor of St. Jude Thaddeus Parish, said. “The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, ‘Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm (2265). Those who are sworn to serve their country in the armed forces are servants of the security and freedom of nations. If they carry out their duty honorably, they truly contribute to the common good of the nation and the maintenance of peace (2310).’”
Knights of Columbus members in attendance came from the following councils: 1473, 10998, and 16522 from Our Lady Queen of Peace, Sacred Heart, and Our Lady of Guadalupe Parishes in Wichita Falls; 18612 at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls; 7371 from St. Jude Thaddeus Parish, Christ the King Parish, and St. Paul Parish in Electra; and 7435 from Holy Family Parish in Vernon.
The goal of the Fourth Degree Assemblies within their parent organization, the Knights of Columbus, is to foster and enhance the principle of patriotism.
Welcome home
The Texas Veterans Hall of Fame organization conducts the “Welcome Home” program that Assembly 1108 hosted. The program honors veterans past and present with a focus on Vietnam veterans this year.
“Vietnam veterans were never properly welcomed home,” said Diana Mason, who travels around Texas to present “Welcome Home” programs for veterans.
“I think it’s something that’s needed. I’m thankful for the support of the DOD [Department of Defense] and the Daughters of the American Revolution, especially the Benjamin Lyon Chapter in Denton, of which I’m a member,” she said.
A former chemistry professor, honoring Texas veterans has become part of Mason’s mission during retirement.
The program that Mason presents, mostly at Veterans of Foreign Wars lodges, American Legions, retirement homes, and Knights of Columbus assemblies, is very structured. It began with an explanation of how to respond to the many toasts during the ceremony. All the songs for the different branches of the American military were played while the branch’s corresponding flag was displayed. After that, the Fourth Degree Color Guard presented the American and Texas flags while everyone recited both the American and Texas pledges and sang the National Anthem and Texas state song, “Texas, Our Texas.”
A member of the color guard, Dave Mouncy dressed the Missing Man Table — also known as the Fallen Comrade table — while the symbolism of each item was explained. The ceremony and memorial are in honor of the fallen, missing, or imprisoned military service members. Its purpose originated during the time of the Vietnam War, and the table serves as a focal point for remembrance of the US Vietnam War POW/MIAs.
Mason also presented three presidential proclamations about the United States Vietnam War Commemoration signed by President Obama, President Trump, and President Biden to Fr. Moreno.
Mason and her appointed assistants presented all veterans with Challenge Coins and presented all Vietnam veterans with 50-year commemorative lapel pins from the Department of Defense. Veterans of the Vietnam War era are those who served at least one day between Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, whether they were deployed to Vietnam or served in the U.S.
Faith and service
Family members and friends took photos of all the veterans in attendance as well as the group of Vietnam War era veterans.
Jim Phillips, a member of St. Jude Thaddeus for many years, served four years in the Navy before serving in the Air Force for 16 years. He served in Vietnam from 1969-1970 as a part of the Air Force’s elite corps of rapid deployment civil engineers also known as RED HORSE, which stands for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers. Phillips said he helped build the base they were stationed at during the Vietnam War.
When Phillips returned from Vietnam, he came back to Sheppard Air Force Base to teach plumbing and utilities.
“I thank the Lord for every blessing I've ever had because there's no way I could have accomplished what I have in my life without such blessing. I've had some very interesting, very successful jobs in the military, and it's only by the grace of God,” Phillips said.
Deacon Manny Vasquez, who was a Corporal (E-5) in the Marines for five years — many years before he was ordained to the permanent diaconate in 2020 and later assigned to Sacred Heart in Wichita Falls — said the Catholic faith can be helpful while serving in the military.
He explained, “Military life can be incredibly stressful and demanding, and it can also isolate you at times. Our Catholic faith provides a source of spiritual support, allowing us to find peace and strength in prayer, the sacraments, and our relationship with God. All of this helps us understand that God is always with us! Semper Fi! [Always faithful!]”