When Jerry graduated high school in 1964, he told his mother he wanted to join the military. The two drove to Casper, Wyoming to meet with the recruiter, and with her signature, Jerry’s journey with the U.S. Navy began when he was just 17.
Jerry was deployed to Da Nang, Vietnam in 1966, where he served on board the USS Renville, a prisoner of war vessel. In 1969 as his last tour of duty approached, Jerry volunteered to return to Vietnam. This time, he served as part of the Brown Water Navy, patrolling the rivers of Vietnam as a machine gun operator, called a “gunner.”
The trials and bonds of service
The Brown Water Navy’s primary mission was intercepting Communist supplies being smuggled from the north. As Jerry and other sailors navigated narrow waterways surrounded by dense jungle, they knew that gunfire could break out without warning. Intense heat and the constant risk of flooding during monsoon season only added to the dangers they faced. “Every day I wondered if I would get home that night. Either in a body bag or alive,” Jerry remembered.
On the boat, Jerry and the other sailors forged deep friendships and relied on one another, connected by their shared oath to defend, no matter the circumstances. During his six years of active duty, Jerry rose to the rank of Second-Class Petty Officer. His bravery and commitment were recognized with nine medals, including the prestigious Navy Commendation Medal with Valor.
When Jerry returned home from Vietnam in 1970, flashbacks from war haunted him, yet he could appreciate the discipline, accountability, and teamwork that military life had instilled. He landed in Los Angeles in uniform, hopeful about his life’s next chapter. But the reception he received was anything but warm.
Protestors at the airport hurled insults and swore at him, leaving Jerry with a deep sense of shame for being a veteran. “One of them said, ‘You’re not welcome here,’” Jerry remembered.
Years passed; Jerry earned a degree in Administration from the University of Wyoming and started his career at an oil company. He married, raised two children and built decades of memories with his family, while always striving to make a positive impact in the community. He found joy in coaching and refereeing youth sports, volunteering with parks and recreation, and serving on various boards throughout the years.
But alongside countless blessings, memories of the disrespect he faced left a painful scar, causing PTSD and feelings of isolation. “To go from being in combat to being out of the service with no therapy available during that time, you were left to figure it out,” Jerry recalled. “It was hard to understand why people treated us the way they did.”
A long-awaited welcome home
To offer Jerry a chance to find healing after all these years and connect with fellow veterans, Wish of a Lifetime invited him to join our 2025 Voyage of Valor program, designed to honor Wyoming Vietnam-era veterans. A group of 15 took a trip to Washington, D.C. in order to see the many monuments erected to honor those who served.
After the trip to Washington, D.C., Jerry finally received what he had missed. Back home in Wyoming, at a celebration coordinated by Wish of a Lifetime and AARP Wyoming, neighbors, family, and friends in their tight-knit community greeted the veterans with cheers. Jerry heard the words he had longed to hear for decades: Welcome home.
“This trip touched my heart,” said Jerry. “The Voyage of Valor experience was the welcome home I never received 55 years ago and is a memory I will cherish forever.”
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