Proud To Be An American: Veterans’ Stories

The 2009 Veteran’s Day Parade and Celebration is already underway. Folks are getting excited and the kids are eager to gather along Moapa Valley Boulevard in Overton on November 11 to observe the flags, the bands, the floats and share in the pride our Nation shows for its military personnel. This celebration does not happen overnight. There is much planning and organization to be accomplished. The local American Legion Post 75 coordinates these efforts as they have since 1995.

To prepare for this community celebration I hope to share some of the stories of local residents who have served their country honorably in the military. These are stories of a family – the military family.

The current Commander of the American Legion is Larry Goettsche. Larry was 19 years old when he joined the Navy in 1954. He served aboard the “Blue Ghost” (the USS Lexington) for two years in the Far East. He received the China Services Medal.

Larry’s duties were in the aviation field. He became an instructor where he maintained training devices such as the flight simulator and weapons systems trainers. He went to Vietnam on a goodwill ship commissioned 8-15-55; from there he went to San Diego to Fleet Gunnery School where he maintained simulated aerial targets.

Larry was stationed at several Naval Air Stations teaching pilots and crew members normal and emergency procedures using the Flight Simulator.

Following his military retirement he went to work for Hercules Aerospace in Salt Lake City. During that time, he authored several textbooks dealing with “Maintenance of Instruments and Systems.” These books are still in use today.

Another “family” member marching in the parade will be Richard Reinheimer. Richard was one of the “oldest” Army enlistees in May, 1969. He was 24 years old. Rich had been working on his Masters Degree in Community Development when he learned that he was up for the draft. So he decided to enlist instead in order to get the MOS (Military Occupation Status) that he wanted – Artillery.

He took his initial artillery training in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. In 1970 he went to Vietnam as a liaison between the Artillery and Infantry. His duty was to keep track of troop locations in order to avoid “friendly fire” casualties.

Shortly before he came home, he found out that his daughter had been born. He was at China Beach at that time and printed her name in the sand. So if you are ever there, look for the name “ROBYN” in the Sands of China Beach.

Upon his return home he was employed by the University of Missouri as a Cooperative Extension Services Agent. After seven years, he transferred to the University of Georgia in the same occupation. After 20 years, he retired and shortly moved to Moapa Valley. His hobby of genealogy fits neatly into his current role as the historian for the American Legion Post 75.

Bringing up the end of the parade will be Garren Fulmer – Sgt. Major to you. Garren has the honor of carrying the MIA/POW flag. His wife Robin and daughter Riley will be riding with him.

Garren signed up with the Army when he graduated from Chaparral High School in Las Vegas in 1983. He went to Germany where he patrolled the East Germany/Czechoslovakian border as a Reconnaissance Specialist. When he left active duty, he became a Reservist with the National Guard. He started a civilian career as a BLM fireman and then transferred to the Henderson Fire Station.

Garren was activated and deployed to Iraq in 2004 – 2005 and again in 2008 – 2009. His first deployment was as a military policeman. Since the ground war, for all intents and purposes, was finished in 2003, the question at that time was “What do you do with Artillerymen and Ground Troops?” Chemical Corps, Field Artillery, some Engineer units and Infantrymen were trained as military police. In 2004 they were known as “door kickers.” He began to teach Iraqis to be policemen at the Police College in Baghdad.

During his second deployment in 2008, Garren was in the Civil Affairs Unit. He states that this was a “good mission” as he was actively involved in Nation Building. He is proud of the role he took in building the National Fire Academy. His title at that time was “Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team Fire and Rescue Chief Advisor.” He laughingly states that it was the second best job in Iraq at the time . . . and he still doesn’t know what the first one was.

He returned home about a month ago and is retraining at the Henderson Fire Station and is also part of the Valley’s FEMA Team.

The story continues. These men and women have served their country in the military and continue that service with their involvement in the communities in which they live.