Darlington Community Veterans Highlights: The 1960s Part 1

Veterans Day was on November 11, 2020, and we are honored to recognize the veterans in our Darlington family. Throughout the month of November, we’re highlighting our veterans in several blogs and on social media. We hope you follow along all month and help us honor all of our veterans.

Today’s blog features experiences from alumni who graduated in the 1960s: Part 1.

Lang Cheves (’60) served in the United States Army.

Ed Rudert (‘60) served in the U.S. Army as 1st Lieutenant from 1966-1968. He has three alumnae daughters, Angela (‘85), Karen (‘88) and Katy (‘88). He shared that his years with the Army “were good years, but I was fortunate enough not to get sent to Vietnam.”

Morton Archibald Jr. (’61) served in the Army Corps of Engineers from 1966-1994 and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He shared the following about his service in the military below:

Why were we in Vietnam? Did we do any good? I got the answers to both of these questions on March 3, 1968.

I remember TếT 1968 very well. It was the battle we won, but it was the battle where we lost the war. It’s when the American media snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by putting the images of dying soldiers on the screens of our prime-time TV shows and turning the tide of the American public against us.

I was with my former ROTC instructor delivering three tons of food, clothing and toys to the tiny hamlet of Ho Nai in the village of Bien Hoa. Auburn University students, faculty and alumni had collected the items when this sergeant-first-class had written the Auburn Plainsman to ask if anyone “could spare a few things for needy children.” He had no idea what he would do with this vast quantity when he heard the shipment was enroute. Tết 1968 gave him the answer.

The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) sent a regiment through Ho Nai Hamlet to win friends and influence people. They picked the wrong hamlet. Ho Nai was composed of 90 percent refugees from North Viêt Nam. These refugees risked their lives—many lost the gamble—as they made their way through Laos into the relative safety of South Viêt Nam. They chose to burn their own homes during the battle as they fled to the jungles to escape the invading NVA. Two women stayed behind until they personally killed four NVA soldiers to avenge the death of one of their husbands killed on the escape south.

We were stopped at a tiny, four-room house all but destroyed by the battle. Only one of the four rooms had a roof, and it was peppered with two-inch diameter holes from the American gunship helicopters firing at the invading NVA. Two of the rooms had less than half the walls still standing. Eighteen men, women and children lived in what was left of these four rooms. One man was employed, and two more worked any part-time jobs they could find to support the widow and all the children. Their spirits were amazing!

My instructor apologized to the mayor of the hamlet for all the damage done by the American troops during the battle.

“No!” exclaimed the excited mayor. “We’d rather have a piece of a home to call our own than to have a whole house we must share with the Communists!” The rest of the adults nodded “Yes” vigorously and added their own comments. It was at that moment that I understood why we were in Viêt Nam. These people would rather destroy their livelihood than give any aid to the Communists they had fought to escape.

Al Arrington (’61) served as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps from 1968-1971. Al shared about his time of service, “Once a Marine, always a Marine. I still keep in touch with my Platoon Sergeant from Officer Candidate School and several fellow Marines from 50 years ago. If POTUS recalled us to active duty, we would all go in a heartbeat.” Al was a Combat Engineer Officer in Vietnam, building roads, bridges, buildings and airfields, stationed in Dong Ha. Dong Ha was the northernmost city in South Vietnam. Just above Dong Ha was the “Demilitarized Zone” (DMZ) and above that was North Vietnam. Now, Dong Ha is in the middle of the North-South axis of the united country of Vietnam. The demilitarized zone was established as a dividing line between North and South Vietnam from July 1954 to 1976 as a result of the First Indochina War. During the Vietnam War, it became important as the battleground demarcation separating North from South Vietnamese territories. 

Bob Bethel (’61) served as Commander in the Medical Corps of the United States Navy from July 1977 - June 1980. He was based at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Charleston, S.C. Bob shared, “I enjoyed my service in the Navy and found it a valuable experience for later life.” 

Jack B. Bivins (’61) served in the Artillery-Air Defense Missiles branch of the United States Army. He was a 1st Lieutenant and served from February 1967 - July 1969.

Guy Hunter (’61) served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy from 1965-1968. When asked to share a thought or memory about his time of service he said, “Iceland is not as cold as you may think.”

Dan Hanks (’61) served as a Major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1973-1975. He was a doctor at Fort Benning and also served in ROTC while at Davidson. Dan shared, "It isn't all that interesting. I never got shot at or was never in harm's way, but I am proud to have served my country."

John Kirkland (’62) served as a Major in the United States Air Force as a Flight Surgeon and Research Medical Officer at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. His primary station was the Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory. He was on active duty 1974-1976 and a reserve officer for six additional years. John shared, “The opportunity to fly with, train with and care for the pilots and test pilots was one of the greatest experiences and honors of my life.” John and his wife, Mary, are the parents of three Darlington graduates, Mary Kelly (’89), John (’93) and Jamie (’96). John has several other family members that graduated from or are currently at Darlington, including a brother, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Gordon Lee Hight II (‘62 LD ’17) served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Reserve from August 1986 - May 1971. He shared about his time of service, “It’s time well spent. I commend military service to young people. Take your turn and you will grow.” Gordon Lee’s family legacy runs deep at Darlington and includes his children children, Alberta (’93) and Gordon (’94), as well as numerous family members spanning multiple generations. Over the years, he has given his time to Darlington, including serving on the Board of Trustees. 

John William McCamy Sr (’63) served as a Sergeant in the United States Air Force from 1967-1971. His squadron was responsible for maintaining the fleet of huge B-52 bombers that are still in use today. They called the bombers Big Baby. John’s daughter, Kathryn (’87), and granddaughter, Lucy (’18), both graduated from Darlington.

Warren Robinson (’63) served with the 1st Infantry Division from February 1969 - February 1970 at the rank of Sergeant (E5) and was awarded two Bronze Star Medals. He is the author of a book about his experience entitled, "No One Has Greater Love Than This... Why We Remember." Warren shared about his book and service, “I believe it is a responsibility we share to educate our young people about the War, what the American soldier experienced there, and how we were treated when we returned. It is also a story of how love for our comrades was greater than the fear, hate or evil we faced.” Warren’s daughter, Cristie (Robinson) Dasher (’96), is a Darlington alum.

If you are a veteran and haven’t had the opportunity to share your story and pictures with us, please email alumni@darlingtonschool.org.