The Vietnam War Memorial to the war’s DeWitt County veterans, opened in 2012 by the DeWitt County Vietnam Veterans of America
“Never Again Will One Generation of Veterans Abandon Another…”
This motto drives the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), a national organization dedicated to the interests of Vietnam veterans and their families. It’s a motto that resonates deeply with Kenneth Buenger and Henry Chinnery. Both men served during the era and recall an American public that grew deeply hostile in the late 1960s to anyone in the military. Both recall being unable to “go through an airport in uniform upon return home from Vietnam without getting spit on or without having something thrown at us or being cussed at.”
Over the years, things have improved markedly for Vietnam veterans, but the memories linger. Those emotional echoes have inspired the pair to help make sure veterans of the era—or any other era—never again feel overlooked. That’s an important part of the VVA’s mission.
In Service, One Generation to Another
Buenger, who served two years in the Army as a combat medic, has been with the DeWitt County Vietnam Veterans of America since its founding in 2009. He currently serves as treasurer. Chinnery’s position as adjutant to the old Yorktown American Legion Post #272 and his membership in #1029 sparked a partnership between the two men in 2019. Although Post #272 had been part of Yorktown for 99 years, participation had dropped drastically. “These were mostly WWII and Korean War veterans,” Chinnery, a 42-year Navy vet, explains. “The membership was aging out; but the remaining members had a vision for what could be achieved if the two organizations shifted focus and resources a bit.”
At the final official meeting of Post #272, those remaining members voted to donate all the chapter’s assets to the Dewitt County Vietnam Veterans of America. VVA was already the most active veterans’ organization in DeWitt County. In 2012, for example, the chapter designed and raised funds for an elaborate Vietnam War Memorial featuring a Huey UH-B helicopter, a plaque with the 569 names of every vet that served from DeWitt County, memorials to the 13 county natives killed and more. The American Legion acquisition, though, reinvigorated Buenger’s passion for serving fellow vets. Chinnery, inspired by the vision for what #1029 could become, ran for Chapter president and won, giving him a firsthand opportunity to help see the vision through.
Powered Up Strong for the DeWitt County Vietnam Veterans of America
Buenger and Chinnery immediately began working with #1029 Property Director Laverne Buesing to develop plans for renovating and upgrading the 3,700 square-foot American Legion building (Buesing himself is a two-year Army vet and GVEC retiree). This is when Buenger discovered and applied for GVEC’s Power Up grant. He and Chinnery were thrilled when #1029 was awarded $15,000. “GVEC’s grant helped us put in a new septic system,” Buenger explains. “We’re working to have a positive impact on the community—not just veterans—and this grant really gave us a big push forward.”
Adds Chinnery, “I was already impressed with GVEC as an electricity provider and AC/heating company. But this grant…to my thinking, it was a whole new level of service-to-community.”
For Veterans, Community
Service-to-community and country are precisely what motivates the DeWitt County Vietnam Veterans of America. The Chapter’s veterans outreach includes regular military funeral honors for vets and a program called Veterans Helping Veterans. “It doesn’t matter when or where you served,” Buenger says of the program. “If you’re a vet or family of one, we’ll come do minor repairs or installations around your home.”
Other #1029 initiatives include “Poppies for Veterans,” a program wherein #1029 distributes poppy flowers to all DeWitt County K-8 schools for students to wear on Veterans Day. #1029 also holds a 13-gun annual Memorial Day gun raffle. There’s a blood drive every 60 days at the #1029 building, too. “When we did that first blood drive earlier this year,” Chinnery says, “it reminded me why I chose to settle here for retirement: People out here in farm country—they always have each other’s backs, and that’s how life is in the military. Whether it’s a broken fence, a cow in the street, an open gate or a blood drive, people take care of people out here.”
Each year in the spring, #1029 also awards a minimum of five scholarships for graduating seniors throughout DeWitt County, and the chapter holds two large ceremonies annually—one at the Yorktown memorial for Memorial Day, and one at the chapter building on Veterans Day. The Veterans Day ceremony starts each year on November 11, at 11 a.m., and is open to the public.
For the DeWitt County Vietnam Veterans of America, a worn-out flag represents an opportunity for community outreach. The group salvages intact stars from retired flags like the one shown here, placing each into a small, resealable baggie alongside a card printed with the inscription below. Since 2009, the group has distributed thousands of these wallet-friendly keepsakes as a way to honor the American flag and those who serve.
“This is a part of the American Flag. It has flown over a home in the U.S.A. It can no longer fly. The sun and the wind have caused it to become tattered and torn. Please carry this to honor our Flag and those who have faithfully served under it.”
Within This Hall, All Are Welcome
“We’ve started renting the hall for community-based post-funeral receptions, reunions, showers, weddings, birthday parties—you name it,” Buenger says. “We’ve had a lot of response, but we’re getting more every day. That’s why we’ve been doing renovations on the kitchen, with more planned, and are adding two new bathrooms.”
“We keep the rental cost low,” Chinnery adds. “We want to be accessible for everyone. Any activity that serves vets and enhances the community—that make it better—we’re interested in being part of or helping with—it’s what we do, and it’s what folks in this community do, too.”
He continues, “We’d like to extend a big ‘thank you’ to the GVEC membership. We’re passing this grant on as well as we can through service-to-community and to other veterans throughout DeWitt County. Grants like this make us [Vietnam veterans] feel remembered and appreciated as a group. So thank you.”
For More Information on the DeWitt County Vietnam Veterans of America
The DeWitt County Veterans Center is located at 901 East Hwy 72, Yorktown, Texas. All veterans are welcome. For information on renting the hall or on any DeWitt County Vietnam Veterans of America community initiative or veteran outreach, call 361.550.1860.
Learn More About the GVEC Power Up Grant
GVEC’s Power Up program has awarded over $3 million in grants to local nonprofits since 2012. The program is funded through members choosing to round up their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar. The amount rounded is donated. The application deadline for the next award cycle is February 15. To learn more or to complete an application, visit our Power Up page or call 800.223.4832. GVEC.
