Honor Flight Southern Nevada veterans visit Vietnam Memorial Wall
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - A trip back in time was not an easy one for many Nevada veterans who visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in a recent honor flight to our nation’s capital.
“I can’t look for names,” said Henderson Vietnam veteran Gregg Schiffbauer.
Schiffbauer was a MACV-SOG member while serving on the U.S.S. Enterprise. The highly classified group helped rescue prisoners of war in Vietnam, as well as downed pilots.
Honor Flight Southern Nevada trip
Honor Flight Southern Nevada trip
Honor Flight Southern Nevada trip
Honor Flight Southern Nevada trip
“And yes, were able to rescue a lot of prisoners and pilots that were downed. But the cost of that was great too. Those men that didn’t make it back that were on my crews, most of them had families,” said Schiffbauer.
Summerlin Vietnam veteran Don Watson found a friend’s name and received an etching of the name on a piece of paper to keep. His friend’s name is Gregg C. Hinderks. FOX5, also on the trip, talked to Watson as he stood by the location of his buddy’s name.
“It’s so emotional because it brings back all the memories. The last time you said goodbye; the last time you saw the person. I sent him off. I saw him get on the helicopter when he took off. And then the next day to find out that he was just gone. I had to pack up his belongings and send them home to his parents,” said Watson.
Watson says his friend was around 18 years old.
“I knew his girlfriend’s name and I had her picture. I knew what he had planned to do with his life. And then, here he is on the wall. Life cut so short, too soon.” said Watson.
“I led men into battle and many times, not only did we lose them, but we couldn’t bring them home. So, it’s like they’re lost forever. But the memorial in itself brings them back,” said Schiffbauer.
Many across the nation keep the memory of those who served and lost their lives in the Vietnam War in their thoughts and prayers.
The U.S. Department of Defense says the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the most visited memorial on the National Mall in Washington, with five million people visiting every year.
Honor Flight Southern Nevada is a nonprofit that works off donations to send veterans on the trip, at no cost to them.
