A TRIBUTE TO VETERANS — Louis Headman of Follansbee, a Vietnam War veteran, stands by the Army uniform he donated to the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Museum and Education Center following a dinner held for local veterans of the war by the museum and Wellsburg Elks Lodge 1553. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — About 50 local Vietnam War veterans and their spouses accepted an invitation from Wellsburg Elks Lodge 1553 and the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Museum and Education Center to attend a dinner in their honor.

On Wednesday, veterans gathered for the meal in the River Room of the Brooke County Public Library, where the museum is located, and took time to view various items there related to the war.

The museum is believed to house the largest collection of items related to Allied Forces that defended the Philippine Islands during World War II, but it’s also expanded to reflect the many other military conflicts in which local residents have served.

Jim Brockman, its executive director, noted that with the help of local photography studio Action Images, he has been able to display framed photos and information about 20 local veterans who died while serving in the war.

On display were an assortment of items related to the war, including a 2 and a half foot long model of the USS Enterprise produced by Eric Freeland of Windsor Heights.

The first nuclear-powered vessel to be engaged in combat, the ship was deployed to Vietnam in 1965 and assisted with the evacuation of Saigon in 1975.

Among many items donated by the late Robert Doyle, a professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville who served as a reconnaissance pilot in Vietnam, were a night stick carried by a military police officer, canteen, North Vietnamese flag and photo of a Navy SEAL team.

Brockman noted the specially trained units were developed for Vietnam to combat guerilla warfare.

A Navy veteran himself, Brockman served aboard the USS Tanner, a survey ship deployed to the South China Sea off the coast of South Vietnam, and the USS Conserver, a rescue and salvage ship.

He said while members of other military branches were under constant threat of attack, it wasn’t unusual for enemy troops to fire upon the naval vessels, especially at night.

Among attendees of the dinner who visited the museum was Louis Headman, who had donated the shirt and hat of the Army uniform he wore while serving in the 1st Infantry in Vietnam.

It’s displayed with other uniforms that have been donated to the museum through the years.

“I had this in the closet all these years. I said, what am I going to do with this?”

Headman said he was part of a convoy of trucks and aircraft that transported weapons, food and other supplies to troops in combat zones.

He noted he and others were told that if a truck ahead of them should be fired upon, to proceed around it.

Headman also recalled being given a large M60 machine gun for protection and being accompanied by two other soldiers with additional ammunition.

“I said to the sergeant, ‘I’m the smallest guy in the unit’, and he said, ‘But you can run the fastest.”

Army veteran John Radvansky of Wellsburg, noted he was just 19 when he was deployed to Vietnam and when he returned to the U.S., was unable to buy a beer because he was not of legal age.

Radvansky said he was happy to see the many fellow veterans who turned out for the dinner.

He was joined by Bruce Hornick of Weirton, a fellow member of Vietnam Veterans Support Group Chapter 1.

Of the event, Hornick said, “I was very pleased with it.”

Hornick said he believes Vietnam veterans often are forgotten and he appreciated the acknowledgement.

Members of the Elks lodge presented a plaque to the museum expressing their appreciation to all who served in Vietnam.

Jeff Cionni, a leader of the Wellsburg Elks and past president of the West Virginia Elks, said the event was supported by the lodge and the West Virginia Elks Association’s Adopt a Veteran Committee.

Martin Kimball, a Wheeling Elk who chairs the committee, said each lodge has found different ways to recognize local veterans.

Cionni said Brockman also has agreed to establish near his office at the museum a veteran resource center, where veterans will find information about benefits, support groups and other services available to them.