We have an exciting event planned, complete with activities, tours, entertainment and presenters for the
39th 2024 reunion.
For our complete listing of events, please click the button below.
(Updated schedule as of 8/1/24)
REUNION PRESENTORS:
AUTHOR – KEITH WALTON
We are excited to have Keith Walton, presenter and author of The Last Full Measure: From America’s Heartland to the Battle fields of Vietnam – Remembering the Fallen from One Nebraska Town. His book tells the stories of nine servicemen from Norfolk who died in the Vietnam War. You will not want to miss Keith’s presentation!
VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICAN AGENT ORANGE – SANDRA WILSON, LTC
Sandra Wilson, LTC (retired) from the Army Nurse Corps and served in Vietnam from June 1968 through June 1969. She holds government appointments with the Michigan Agent Orange Commission and Michigan Veterans Trust Fund, and also serves as Chair of the Vietnam Veterans of American Agent Orange (toxic exposure committee). Sandra will be presenting about military toxic exposure, what has been achieved and what veterans need to do to help achieve their goals. Benefit officers will be available to assist in filing claims for VV services.
LANCASTER COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE BENEFITS – Mark Lakamp
Mark Lakamp has served as the Director of Lancaster County Veterans Services and County Veterans Service Officer since August 2022. He is an accredited Veterans Service Officer through the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans. He also serves as the Junior Vice Chair of the Nebraska Veterans Council. Mark served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy from 1992 to 2022. During this time he served on a variety of cruisers, destroyers, and frigates as well as various staffs afloat and ashore. He had the honor of commanding USS McCLUSKY (FFG 41), Naval Station Everett, and the University of Nebraska Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps. His education includes a Bachelors degree in political science from the University of Illinois and a Masters degree in Strategic Planning from the Naval Post Graduate School. He and his wife Faith have four children and reside near Denton Nebraska.
EVACUATION OF AFGHANISTAN – Lt. Colonel Joey Brewer
Join us for a compelling keynote lecture by Lt Colonel Joey Brewer, author of “Kabul Airlift: The Chaotic End to America’s Longest War.” In this engaging session, Lt Colonel Brewer will provide a detailed overview of the Afghanistan withdrawal, sharing firsthand accounts and insights from his extensive research and interviews with those directly involved. He will explore the operational challenges, key events, and heroic efforts that defined the Kabul Airlift, while reflecting on the lessons from the Afghanistan withdrawal. He will spend time highlighting similarities and differences from Saigon and Kabul and offer a profound and respectful tribute to the bravery and dedication of military personnel, making it a must-attend event for Vietnam War veterans and anyone interested in military history and strategy.
DOG HANDLERS ”FIRST RESPONDERS FOUNDATION – JAVELAN Service Dogs”
The JAVELAN program provides funding for service dogs for military veterans and retired first responders in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. This program enriches the lives of retired first responders and veterans, by enabling independence and giving life-changing support. The program was established to ensure that our heroes in need benefit from this opportunity regardless of their ability to pay. JAVELAN was founded in 2017, as an independent non-profit organization to support the placement and training of service dogs for military veterans and continues that mission today as a program of the First Responders Foundation. For more information: www.firstrespondersfoundation.org
Major General DAVID PETERSEN – Guest Speaker
Petersen was initially drafted into the U.S. Army in 1972 and served three years on active duty before joining the Nebraska Army National Guard. For the next three decades, he would serve in various leadership positions within the Nebraska Army National Guard before he arrived at Fort Riley.
OMAHA NATIONAL CEMETERY – Patrick Norris
Patrick E. Norris Jr. was formally a Police Officer with the Council Bluffs Iowa Police Department for 21 years, retired as a Sergeant. Patrick then came to the National Cemetery Administration with the Omaha National Cemetery as a Cemetery Administrative Specialist in October of 2021. In February of 2023 Patrick was promoted to the position of Administrative Officer for both the Omaha National Cemetery and the Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Patrick is married to Rebecca who also is a VA employee and works with VHA as a position manager for the pacific district. Patrick is a father of three boys and one girl. One of his sons currently serves an equipment operator for the Omaha National Cemetery. Patrick’s goal is to honor Veterans like his father who served during the Vietnam War in the U.S. Army and his grandfather who served in World War II in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific theatre.
The Green Beret Affair: Vietnam’s Unsung Story of Justice and Deception – John Barry
In the late 1960s, the Vietnam War was in full swing. But amidst the well-documented battles and political plays, “Those Gallant Men: On Trial in Vietnam” delves deep into the case’s intricacies. Captain John Barry was one of the members of the esteemed Green Berets who were accused of a grave crime: the murder of a double agent in Cambodia. Known as the Green Beret Affair, it serves as a stark reminder of the multi-faceted nature of war. It’s not just about the battles fought on the frontlines but also the battles for justice, truth, and honor behind the scenes. Captain Barry’s relentless pursuit of justice during the Vietnam War unveils a story that deserves its place in the annals of history.
AGING PARTNERS – Jean Holt (Friday)
Jean Holt has been with Aging Partners since 1991. She spent the first 30 years of her career serving as a Care Manager, meeting with older Lancaster County residents in their homes to conduct comprehensive assessments and establish long term care plans for thousands of people. Her work included care coordination with the Veterans Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, lawyers, insurance agents, home care providers, physicians and all other entities that serve older adults and their families.
Holt is now the Director of Personal and Family Services at Aging Partners. She supervises Care Managers in the eight-county service area, in addition to Benefits Counseling, First Service, ADRC and a Legal Service Contract. Hold holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work and is a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner.
AGING PARTNERS – Randall Jones (Saturday)
Randall Jones is a Lincoln native. He received his BA from Nebraska Wesleyan University in Sociology/Anthropology. He is retired from the American Red Cross where he started his career at USMC Camp LeJeune, NC in Service to Armed Forces. .He later managed Red Cross Chapters in three Midwest communities and finished his career with the American National Red Cross where he helped lead a reorganization of their Health & Safety programming across the country. Randy is currently the Director of the Dept of Aging for the City of Lincoln, also known as Aging Partners. Aging Partners provides support services such as Home and Community Based Services, Medicaid Waiver and Nutrition programming to help support older people live independently in the manner they choose. His latest project was completion of the renovation of the old Veterans Administration Hospital Clinic, where Aging Partners is currently located. He is now leading the Age-Friendly Lincoln initiative under Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird.
Nebraska State Penitentiary Veterans Club – Jaime Obrecht/Roy Schoen
The Nebraska State Pen Veterans Club is a long standing “self-improvement” club for incarcerated veterans. It has been involved in numerous activities since its inception. An early activity was researching the history of veterans buried on Grasshopper Hill and obtaining VA markers for those they were able to identify. Other activities include an annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day symposium. They make poppies for the American Legion Auxiliary and have crocheted items for the Nebraska Veterans Homes residents.
See Jaime’s and Roy’s biographies below.
Major General Craig W. Strong – The Adjutant General, Nebraska National Guard; Director, Nebraska Military Department; Director, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency
JAMES FOSTER – State Service Office Manager, Nebraska Department of Veteran Affairs
Started with NDVA August of 2020, Transitioned from State Service Officer to State Service Office Manager in July of 2022. Prior to moving to NDVA worked for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services for 29 Years in a variety of position, last position was Investigation Coordinator supervising both Criminal Investigators and Administrative Investigators.
Lifelong resident of Lincoln, with wife and two adult children. Enjoy traveling and eating pizza across the country. Military Experience – Aircraft Mechanic in the Air Force 1986 to 1989, working on C-5’s at Travis AFB. He has served 12 years in Army National Guard as an Aircraft Mechanic on helicopters with the 24th Medical Company Air Ambulance, spending the majority of 1999 with them in Bosnia as a crew chief.
L.S. (ROY) SCHOEN — Roy was raised on a farm outside Valparaiso, Nebraska. After graduation, Roy attended the University of Nebraska and enrolled in the Army ROTC program. Upon graduation and commissioning in 1968 as a Second Lieutenant he attended Armor Officer Basic at Fort Knox, KY. He was then assigned to the Basic Training Center at Fort Benning, GA as a rifle range instructor. He was in Vietnam July 1969 to July 1970 with the 101st Airborne. Initially a platoon leader with D Company 2nd Battalion 502nd Infantry he was promoted to First Lieutenant and was later to work in the Brigade operations office. Then he was assigned as Liaison Officer between the 101st and the MACV advisory teams in Vinh Loc and later in Phu Vang district. He was discharged upon completion of his tour in Vietnam. After Vietnam he worked for the Lincoln Action Program, Lincoln Lancaster Drug Projects, and then spent 28 years as counselor with the Lincoln Vet Center Outreach Office, the last six years as Team Leader. He was a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Mental Health Counselor, and Social Worker. He has been on the Board of Directors of the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Reunion for about 35 years. Since retiring he has continued to volunteer with the State Pen Veterans Club.
JAIME OBRECHT — Jaime enlisted in the Marie Corps at the age of 17 following graduation from Lincoln Northeast in 1967. Boot camp at MCRD San Diego was followed by Forward Artillery Observer training. He was assigned to Foxtrot Battery, 2/13 Artillery in February 1968. Within two weeks the entire 27th Marine Regiment was deployed to Vietnam in response to the Tet Offensive. He spent six months as an F.O. with 3/27, three months assigned to the 7th Engineers and finished his tour with HQ Battery, 4/11 on Hill 55. Jaime taught for the Lincoln Public Schools for 37 years, primarily as a Kindergarten and English language Teacher and continues to substitute for them. He has worked with the Veteran’s Group at the Nebraska State Penitentiary since 1984. Please let him know if you would ever like to be a guest at one of their meetings. He is an original Board Member of the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Reunion. Currently he runs a martial arts school teaching Aikido (The Way of Harmony and Spirit) in Lincoln. Aikido is known as the “Old Man’s Art”. This is his thirty-seventh year of practice.
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Thursday, August 8
After opening ceremonies will be “Amerikids” Lincoln Christian School youth choir. Followed by LUG Nuts, Ukulele Band.
Opening ceremonies guest speaker will be Major General Strong,
Also presenting will be John Stevens Barry.
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Friday, August 9
Sandhills Global bus trip to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Sign up will be at the registration table. First come, first served until the bus is full. One trip in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Ground Zero (entertainment)
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Saturday, August 10
Taxi Driver (entertainment)