|
WASHINGTON D.C. (March 17, 2008) - A shade more than 40 years
ago, the city of San Mateo, Calif., took an unprecedented step : it
"adopted" Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment,
101st Airborne Division.
City officials say it was a courageous decision for the council
to make, given that in March 1968, the war in Vietnam was still
raging and many American citizens held a chilly attitude toward the
country's troops.
According to a San Mateo news release, a simple letter from a
young soldier serving in Vietnam set the wheels in motion.
"On December 18, 1967, while serving in Vietnam, (Army) Sgt. Joe
Artavia, a young man concerned about the lack of mail the members
of his troop were receiving, wrote to his sister, Linda Patterson,
requesting that she work toward getting a city to adopt his unit,"
city officials said in the release.
Today his request would be easy to fulfill, as more than 350
groups are dedicated to supporting the nation's troops -- including
America Supporting Americans, which Patterson founded.
America Supporting Americans is a supporter of America Supports
You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies
with servicemembers and their families serving at home and
abroad.
Forty years ago, however, the soldier's request took some doing
to fulfill. On March 4, 1968, Patterson succeeded in getting the
San Mateo City Council, led by Mayor Jack Murray, to unanimously
agree to adopt her brother's unit. Upon learning the good news,
Artavia wrote to his sister to tell her the morale of his fellow
soldiers was "raised as high as the clouds."
Unfortunately, he wouldn't see the swell of support from back
home. Artavia was killed in action on March 24, 1968.
When the war ended and Alpha Company came home in January 1972,
it was to an unprecedented reception, according to the news
release. San Mateo hosted a welcome home parade and three-day
celebration for its adopted sons.
The city has remained close with the unit through the years,
offering support during Operation Desert Storm and again during
recent deployments.
Recently, the council received a special package from its
adopted soldiers.
"We are very touched to have received Alpha and Bravo Company
flags that were flown in Iraq during their present deployment ...
and a wonderful letter from (Lt. Col. Pete Wilhelm, commander of
1st Battalion, 237th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team),"
said Norma Gomez, San Mateo city clerk, in correspondence to
Patterson.
The council plans to read the letter and acknowledge the gifts
as part of its recognition of its 40 years of troop support during
tonight's council meeting. The council also will hold a reception
tomorrow morning at the city's main library.
Patterson and her husband, Steve, a member of the originally
adopted Alpha Company, will be on hand for the festivities.
In a way, Patterson also will be celebrating her own support of
the troops over the past 40 years. The success that began with her
original request to the San Mateo City Council inspired her to
found America Supporting Americans, a nonprofit organization
linking military units with adoptive communities across the
country.
Information on the celebration can be found on the America
Supporting Americans Web site.
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals,
groups and organizations that are helping support the troops,
visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America
Supports You directly connects military members to the support of
the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their
quest to find meaningful ways to support the military
community.
|
