Scott City honors area Vietnam veterans with ceremony

The Scott City Historical Museum in Scott City hosted a memorial service � with nearly 150 in attendance for the ceremony � on Saturday for local veterans who served during the Vietnam War.

Three killed-in-action Vietnam veterans and Scott City natives were honored � David Lee Blattel, Thomas Jack Pennington and Larry Hunter Marshall � along with the reading of 120 names of military men and women, by family members and veterans.

�As your mayor, we�ve always tried to honor the veterans; we�ve tried to do something for them,� Scott City Mayor Norman Brant said. �We�ve had several events here at the museum. This is just a small way of saying �thank you� to the ones that served our country.�

Susan Perez, chairwoman of the Scott City Historical Commission and Museum, emphasized that Saturday was for all veterans.

�By veterans, I mean all people who put on the uniform for the United States of America,� Perez said. �All people who went to basic, all people who served in any and all capacities for the United States of America. It is for everyone.�

Veteran and 1985 Scott City High School graduate Major Mike Woods said Saturday�s event was �especially appropriate� because of it being the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam TET Offensive, which was a series of coordinated attacks across Vietnam by the North Vietnamese communists in 1968.

�We�re here to celebrate all our veterans� lives and sacrifices and to pay honor to those memories,� he said.

James Arnold, friend of David Blattel and Scott City graduate, said he resembles what Blattel would look like today, if only he were �shorter with a heavier build.�

�He and I had a paper route together and Blattel Street was named after him,� Arnold said.

Arnold read a biography of Blattel, who was killed in action May 5, 1968, while performing the duty of aircraft commander. He was of the Aviation Branch of the reserve component of the United States Army and was �the aircraft commander on a utility and light cargo single rotor helicopter, located in the Quang Tin Province in South Vietnam.�

Howard Perr, who also graduated from Scott City High School, read the biography of his friend, Thomas Pennington, who was killed in action Jan. 27, 1968, �while performing the duty of a valiant marine under hostile action at Mike�s Hill, Route 9 at Cam Lo Rive, South Vietnam, Quang Tri province, Vietnam.�

Pennington was a private first class M CO, 3rd BN 4th Marines in the United States Marine Corps.

Perr read an excerpt from the narrative of �The Battle of Mike�s Hill,� which describes, in detail, the atmosphere surrounding Pennington on the date of this death:

�January 27, 1968, was a day when uncommon valor became common place virtue against overwhelming enemy fire and enemy superiority of the terrain; without any artillery, mortar or air support, this valiant soldier stood his ground.�

James Payne, veteran and graduate of Illmo-Fornfelt, read Larry Marshall�s biography and said they knew each other from being in the same class.

�He was born Nov. 30, 1936, and died Feb. 4, 1971. He was wounded in action on Jan. 23, 1971,� Payne said. �He died in the mountain area of Ta NINH, Vietnam, while trying to keep his unit alive during an onslaught of air and ground resistance.�

Cub Master of Pack 220 Lena Sturm � whose husband is a Marine � was also in attendance Saturday with her pack assisting with the service.

�We�re extremely involved in everything,� she said after the ceremony. �Today, we went out to Lightner Cemetery and had a flag-raising ceremony out there.�

Sturm also heads up a program that ships care packages to military personnel overseas.

�I reach out to Marines, the League and VFW and ask if they have any families that are shipped off right now. And we send out care packages in December,� she said.

Veteran Jim Smith, who lived in Illmo � until it was consolidated � said he enjoys community events like the one held Saturday because you get to see people you haven�t seen in a long time.

�I was in the army back in 1969. I served a year in Vietnam,� he said.

Smith said he�s �seen some action, not all that much, but seen some.�

�One of my dear friends, he got killed. When that date comes around every year,� he said, �I can�t help but think back to what happened that night.�

Organizer of the event Gail Crader said there are more Scott City veterans whose names were not read Saturday because names can only be read if the museum is provided with the addition of that specific veteran�s photo.

�These people here have put in three or four years of hard work to put this all together. The city has stood behind us and we totally appreciate that,� Brant said. �This program was put together almost entirely by one person, Gail Crader. She never wants any attention, but she did a great job.�

Woods said the Scott City History Museum is �very new,� and he decided to be part of Saturday�s event after being contacted by Crader.

�I�ve known her for a very long time. She�s a wonderful person,� he said. �It was a lot more than expected. From what I understand, Gail expected like 40. But what happens is, this is the inaugural, so next year will be even bigger.�

jhartwig@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3632

Pertinent address:

1514 Main St., Scott City, Mo.