Email   Print   Share By Daniel Cernero, Sentinel Staff

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III Corps units and Vietnam veterans perform a Pass In Review for III Corps Commanding General Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr. and Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur L. Coleman Jr., III Corps and Fort Hood command sergeant major, May 24, on Sadowski Field. Daniel Cernero, Sentinel Staff

III Corps Commanding General Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr. greets Vietnam veterans following the Pass in Review May 24 on Sadowski Field. Daniel Cernero, Sentinel Staff

Vietnam veteran Joel Montgomery and retired Maj. Gen. Ben Harrison pose together at the commander’s social at Club Hood May 23. Both men served in the same unit in the 101st Airborne Corps in Vietnam and hadn’t seen each other since the war. Christie Vanover, Chief, Command Information

In the midst of time-honored military traditions and ceremonies, gratitude and a long-awaited, homecoming welcome, Vietnam veteran Joel Montgomery found closure at Fort Hood.

Walking in a formation of more than 200 of his fellow Vietnam veterans and more than 2,000 active-duty troops, Montgomery participated in the Pass in Review to close out Phantom Warrior Week, Fort Hood’s celebration of service and esprit de corps.

“This put an exclamation point on the week,” Montgomery said about the Pass in Review.

Typically reserved for changes of command and general-officer level retirement ceremonies, the Pass in Review was the culmination of the week’s welcome home for Vietnam veterans, sporting competitions and military ceremonies. Before the veterans, historic military vehicles and Fort Hood troops filed past in formation, III Corps and Fort Hood Commanding General Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr. reflected on the week and thanked the veterans.

“It’s been a great week here at the Great Place,” Campbell said. “Vietnam veterans, you honor us with your presence today and this week.”

When the Vietnam veterans filed toward the III Corps and Fort Hood Command Team, Campbell and Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur L. Coleman Jr. left the dais and saluted the veterans from the field.

The general’s commitment to taking time to host Phantom Warrior Week and the reception from the Soldiers, Families and community touched Montgomery.

“When a three-star general looks you in the eye, shakes your hand and says ‘thanks,’ it means a lot,” the Vietnam veteran said. “Seeing the Soldiers serving now ... this country’s in good shape.”

The week was a healing one for Montgomery. Until recently, the former door gunner avoided anything that reminded him of Vietnam.

“Isolation helped for me,” he said of dealing with Vietnam. “It was a closed chapter in my life that I wanted to forget.”

Slowly, he has come around. Phantom Warrior Week and his experiences at Fort Hood helped.

“Counseling helps, but something like this ... ,” Montgomery said. “It’s a great thing.”

He said he now will start looking for other Vietnam veterans.

“I never thought, not in a million years, that I would do that,” Montgomery said.

His journey toward closure began Monday with the post’s Welcome Home ceremony for Vietnam veterans. Montgomery’s friend and fellow Vietnam veteran Carl Bludau “dragged” him here for the ceremony. When he got off the bus at the field, Montgomery took a seat next to an older gentleman and the two started talking.

Both men served in the 101st Airborne Corps, in the same unit, at the same time and place in Vietnam.

Montgomery was seated next to his former battalion commander, now-retired Maj. Gen. Ben Harrison.

“The last time I saw him was on a mission. A firebase was being overrun and I was on his flight,” Montgomery said of Harrison. “He was the best pilot in the U.S. Army that I ever flew with and I flew with a bunch of them.”

Since reuniting on Monday, the former battalion commander and his Soldier have talked several times. Montgomery is thrilled about the connection.

“We hadn’t talked in 41 years,” he said. “I’ve talked to him five times this week.”

Being around guys who understood what they went through, and what he continues to go through, was powerful for Montgomery.

“It’s healing,” he said.

Vietnam veteran Clarence Davis, who came to Fort Hood from Houston for Phantom Warrior Week, agreed that the activities were healing. Davis, who served with the 1st Cavalry Division in the Ia Drang Valley during an incident later immortalized in the book and film, “We were Soldiers...,” said it was wonderful to see fellow veterans and to be welcomed home.

“It felt wonderful to hear someone say, ‘welcome home,’” he said.

Montgomery said he was leaving Fort Hood with the feeling he had come full-circle after more than 40 years.

“We can leave here and go on with our lives,” he said.