PRESS
RELEASE
Carroll
County Veterans Memorial Park
The Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park Association will
be presenting a very special service Honoring all Veterans – BUT especially
this year we will WELCOME HOME Veterans of the Vietnam era (So many of these
heroes were not treated well upon their return.)
Date and time – Saturday November 5 at 10:45, when the
Symphony begins playing.
The program will include the usual patriotic items: The
laying of a wreath at the POW/MIA Memorial - The pledge to the Flag – The
National Anthem - Recognizing those Killed In Action during the Vietnam War - The firing of a rifle salute – etc.
The Guest Speaker will be Colonel Dewey Wayne Waddell (Ret)
USAF.
In 1966, after completing F-105 Thunderchief Combat Crew Training,
Maj. Waddell was assigned to the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 355th
Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, In April 1967. Maj
Waddell was forced to eject over North Vietnam and became a Prisoner of War
while flying his 47th combat mission on July 5, 1967. After spending 2,070 days
in captivity at the Hanoi Hilton, he was released during Operation Homecoming
on March 4, 1973. He was welcomed home
by his hometown, City of Bremen and West GA. Then he attended Air War College at Maxwell
AFB, Alabama. Col Waddell then remained
on the faculty of the Air War College until 1975, when he transferred to the
Pentagon and worked on the Department of Defense Joint Service Committee on Air
Munitions standardization from 1975 to 1979. His final assignment was as
director of U.S. Air Force Emergency Plans for the Eastern United States at
Dobbins AFB, Georgia, from 1979 until his retirement from the Air Force on
October 27, 1987. Col Waddell served as President of NAM-POWs Corp, the
Organization of former Vietnam Prisoners of War, from 1981 to 1984.
His 1st (of 2) Silver Star Citation reads:
Major Dewey W. Waddell distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with
military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-105 Pilot over
North Vietnam on 5 July 1967. On that date, Major Waddell was a member of a
flight of F-105s which attacked and destroyed a key hostile railroad yard. The
target was defended by one of the most accurate concentrations of antiaircraft
artillery in North Vietnam. Even though he received several direct hits from
the deadly flak, Major Waddell continued his attack until he delivered his
ordnance. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Major Waddell has reflected
great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
