Garner Veteran Carey Carpenter - U.S. Navy
“We had enough firepower to destroy half of the world and if we launched it meant that Russia had destroyed the other half. But if we launched, the world as we knew it would be gone. What would we go back to?
As a special part of Garner hosting The Wall That Heals, Tim Stevens has reached out to Vietnam Veterans in Garner to listen, to hear, and tell their stories.
Have you ever thought about the end of the world? Carey Carpenter did while aboard a U.S. nuclear submarine during the Vietnam War.
“I was on-board the Nathanael Greene, a Fleet Ballistic Missile Nuclear submarine, during the Vietnam War. The sub carried 16 nuclear missiles and the crew often talked about what we would do if we launched.
“We had enough firepower to destroy half of the world and if we launched it meant that Russia had destroyed the other half. But if we launched, the world as we knew it would be gone. What would we go back to?
“We tried to figure out the best place to go considering the winds and the likely attack. We decided the best spot would be as close to Antarctica as we could get.”
You can read the Vietnam stories of more than 50 community men at garnerwall.com.
You can support Vietnam veterans by visiting The Wall That Heals at Garner's Lake Benson Park on April 16 through 19, by viewing The Wall's escort into Garner on April 14 or by attending one of our special events.
Check out garnerwall.com for more details, more stories and more information.
Garner Veteran Spence Cardwell - U.S. Army
"I have no explanation for what happened to me in Vietnam, except for divine intervention.”
As a special part of Garner hosting The Wall That Heals, Tim Stevens has reached out to Vietnam Veterans in Garner to listen, to hear, and tell their stories.
Spence Cardwell cannot explain what happened to him in the midst of an ambush while he was in Vietnam except to say that God moved in a mighty way.
"I have no explanation for what happened to me in Vietnam, except for divine intervention.
“I was working with indigenous people, none of whom could speak English. … We were ambushed. I was on a sand bar and I hugged the ground…
“Then, quite clearly, I heard, ‘Roll over.’ I was the only one within miles who could speak English, but I heard it again, ‘Roll over.’
“It seemed to be a stupid thing to do and I never would have done it if I had not been told to, but when I rolled over, I fell into a little depression. I was safe.
“It was only after we got out of that jam that I realized nobody was there who could have told me to roll over.
“To me, it was divine intervention. I have believed that from that day.”
You can read the Vietnam stories of more than 50 community men at garnerwall.com.
You can support Vietnam veterans by visiting The Wall That Heals at Garner's Lake Benson Park on April 16 through 19, by viewing The Wall's escort into Garner on April 14 or by attending one of our special events.
Check out garnerwall.com for more details, more stories and more information.
Garner Veteran Glenn Johnson - U.S. Marine Corps
“I came close to being killed beau coup many times. There were so many times that it was only a matter of a few feet or a few inches. Once I was climbing out of my foxhole when my buddy pulled himself out by pushing my shoulder down. He got it and I didn’t have a scratch.
As a special part of Garner hosting The Wall That Heals, Tim Stevens has reached out to Vietnam Veterans in Garner to listen, to hear, and tell their stories.
Glenn Johnson, Wiley Mingia, Chuck Haislip, Jimmy Brown and Harold Till went to the Marine recruiting station in Raleigh soon after graduating from Garner High School.
The recruiter initially didn't say a word, just shoved enlistment papers toward the young men. Then he said they came to the recruiting station to do something. It was time to do it. The recruiter promised a demanding experience at Parris Island boot camp and a trip to Vietnam within six months. All five signed up.
Till was killed in Vietnam, saving his platoon from annihilation on a jungle mountain. He was awarded a Silver Star for his heroic actions.
But all five answered their country's call.
The Wall That Heals will be at Garner's Lake Benson Park on April 16 through 19. It honors all Vietnam veterans. Go to garnerwall.com to read about other heroes and search youtube for Garner and Duty to learn more about Johnson and Till.
This is part of Johnson's story:
“I know that I have been very fortunate. I do not have the mental and emotional problems that some of our men have to this day. Physically, I am as healthy as a 70-year-old man can be.
“I came close to being killed beau coup many times. There were so many times that it was only a matter of a few feet or a few inches. Once I was climbing out of my foxhole when my buddy pulled himself out by pushing my shoulder down. He got it and I didn’t have a scratch.
“Rarely do I think of my time in Vietnam. I had married between boot camp and my specialty training. By the time, my tour was over, I had a son that I had never seen. I was coming home to a new world of having a family and having new responsibilities. But they were responsibilities that I was glad to accept.”
You can read the Vietnam stories of more than 50 community men at garnerwall.com.
You can support Vietnam veterans by visiting The Wall That Heals at Garner's Lake Benson Park on April 16 through 19, by viewing The Wall's escort into Garner on April 14 or by attending one of our special events.
Check out garnerwall.com for more details, more stories and more information.
Garner Veteran Richard Ripley - U.S. Army
“On 19 August 1969, I was flying in my helicopter on a command and control mission over a rifle company that was engaged under heavy fire I in the dense jungle in Lon-kohn Province. My helicopter included a pilot, co-pilot, door gunner, artillery observer and myself.
As a special part of Garner hosting The Wall That Heals, Tim Stevens has reached out to Vietnam Veterans in Garner to listen, to hear, and tell their stories.
U.S. Army Col. Richard Ripleyof Garner fought in World War II, the Korean War and in Vietnam.
“On 19 August 1969, I was flying in my helicopter on a command and control mission over a rifle company that was engaged under heavy fire in the dense jungle in Lon-kohn Province. My helicopter included a pilot, co-pilot, door gunner, artillery observer and myself.
“While the artillery observer was conducting a fire support mission, the helicopter was struck by enemy fire. The main engine was hit and stopped. The helicopter crashed into the jungle. Initially, we landed on the left skid, which caused the helicopter to bounce up in the air and land upside down. It was fortunate because it froze the main engine in place, preventing it from tearing loose, slamming forward into the helicopter.
“As we were going down, we must’ve screamed at least 1,000 times ‘Mayday’ over the radio. Finally, I heard the calming voice of the brigade S-3 saying, ‘Yes, we know you’re down now. We need to find out where you are and send help.’ Once we evacuated the bird, we quickly organized a perimeter around the helicopter to secure ourselves.
“Help finally arrived. The helicopter was able to drop a cable to our position and evacuate us individually. The pilot had a broken leg and the copilot and the rest of us were shook up and scratched, but in the main, we were able to report back for duty. The end of another day in Vietnam.”
You can read the Vietnam stories of more than 50 community men at garnerwall.com.
You can support Vietnam veterans by visiting The Wall That Heals at Garner's Lake Benson Park on April 16 through 19, by viewing The Wall's escort into Garner on April 14 or by attending one of our special events.
Check out garnerwall.com for more details, more stories and more information.
Garner Veteran Chris Bradford - U.S. Marine Corps
Garner resident and Vietnam Veteran, Chris Bradford. His story, told as as part of Garner’s recognition of its Vietnam Veterans as The Wall That Heals visits Garner April 16th to 19th. “
“It is very important to me that the soldiers that we are deploying now get the help that they need when they come back.”
As a special part of Garner hosting The Wall That Heals, Tim Stevens has reached out to Vietnam Veterans in Garner to listen, to hear, and tell their stories.
“Roger, my dog, saved a lot of lives in Vietnam. There are a lot of Marines alive today because of Roger.
We always walked 50 feet in front of the patrol. Whenever Roger alerted, he would start dancing. He’d start shaking his rear end and I knew we were about to have trouble. "We were always out front. To this day, I don't want to be in the front. I'm the guy that is going to be just a little late. I'm not going to be in front again. "
“I loved that dog. We slept together in the same hole and we were a team. It broke my heart when I learned that all of the dogs we used in Vietnam were put to sleep. They said the dogs had picked up a parasite.”
“I am 100 percent disabled with PTSD and sinus problems. I work with other veterans and have helped about 500 vets file for the disability benefits that they are entitled to receive.”
“It is very important to me that the soldiers that we are deploying now get the help that they need when they come back. I had a very difficult time when I returned from Vietnam.”
“I remember I was applying for a job that I was qualified for and it was great interview. But when they learned I had been in Vietnam, there were no more questions or discussions. My interview was over. That's why it is so important to look after the guys who are coming back from combat. “
“They need someone to talk to; veteran to veteran. That is the key, I think, to full recovery."
You can read the Vietnam stories of more than 50 community men at garnerwall.com.
You can support Vietnam veterans by visiting The Wall That Heals at Garner's Lake Benson Park on April 16 through 19, by viewing The Wall's escort into Garner on April 14 or by attending one of our special events.
Check out garnerwall.com for more details, more stories and more information.