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VETERAN HONORS
by Ann Marie Kennon
PEOPLE
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Honors for the “Indestructible Texan”
On October 10th, Rep. John R. Carter (TX-31) hosted the 6th Annual Congressional Veterans Commendation ceremony, where he formally honored distinguished veterans of District 31 for their wartime sacrifices and peacetime community involvement. The CVC program is nomination-based; designed to recognize veterans within the 31st District of Texas and preserve their stories for future generations of America.
“The CVC program is a great way to honor the brave men and women across our community for their faithful service to protect our great Nation and their continued service to their community,” said Rep. Carter.
Among the awardees was Liberty Hill’s own Gilbert Vickers, a proud Navy Corpsman and Vietnam Veteran.
The Congressman said, “This is one of the great things I get to do. To honor these fantastic veterans for all they’ve done for our country is a duty I take great pleasure in. They have done great things, as well as all the little things that matter in life, without asking for recognition for it.”
MEET GILBERT VICKERS
Corpsman Gilbert Vickers, 77, has lived in Liberty Hill all his life. He was one of six children, and the only one of his brothers to serve in the military. Prior to his service, he played football for Liberty Hill High School and married his high school sweetheart, Cleo. They’ve been happily wed for 58 years, and all five of their children attended Liberty Hill High School as well.
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Above: Gilbert holds the 1967 Tennessee newspaper article. • Left: Dan Garza, Brigadier General Ronald R. Ragin, Corpsman Gilbert Vickers, Congressman John Carter, Jeanne Cox
THE RIGHT STUFF
When his draft card came up, a football injury kept Gilbert from his first choice, the Marine Corps, so he joined the U.S. Navy. “The Navy furnishes all the medical personnel to the Marines, so I was at least able to deploy with them to Vietnam, and I later went through a few Corps schools.” He laughs and adds, “Of course it was really all because I got filthy rich. When I first joined up I was making 17¢ an hour.”
His favorite story about his service? “I will tell any story someone wants to hear, but my favorite is the one where I was able to come back home to my son and wife after Vietnam.”
War correspondent Dan Tate called Gilbert “indestructible” after a series of events, Gilbert says, taught him to not volunteer.
When he was 25, he volunteered to drop into an active firefight in response to a desperate call for help for wounded Marines on the ground. His pilot put him in the wrong place and, nearly immediately, he was blown down a hill by a ‘friendly’ rocket.
With no helmet and ragged clothing; wounds in both legs, a hip, and on his head, he dragged himself into a ditch to evade 50 enemy soldiers coming toward him, and waited. “I did some hellacious praying in that ditch.”
When he looked up, there were three enemy combatants standing over him, jabbing guns into his neck and taunting him. Before they could take turns trying to kill him, he heard another rocket swish, which killed all three soldiers, blew his pants off, and sent him further down the hill. A third rocket sent him tumbling down again, until he found himself crawling toward a muddy, leech-filled river—with body parts intact beneath damaged body armor.
He pulled himself, branch by branch, through the water until the battle sounds subsided and he felt it was safe to emerge. Then he passed out.
When he awoke, five Vietnamese boys were carrying him, and laid him on a railroad track to dry. He gathered his strength, made his way to a highway and flagged down a bus. Bloody, and wearing not much more than muddy boots, he found his way back to safety, and realized he wanted nothing more than to see his wife and son again.
Not surprisingly, he also earned a recommendation for the Silver Star for his actions that day.
Photos courtesy of Gilbert Vickers
Gilbert’s fashioned his Purple Heart into a belt buckle. He has never worn it, but is very proud to have his grandkids take it to school.
LIFE IN LIBERTY HILL
After his service, he taught first aid for the Red Cross and local fire department, and began studying for a sports medicine certificate. “The medical community had just started their ‘more than a nurse, but less than a doctor’ programs, which we now know as Physician Assistant positions.” More schooling would be required, but with four kids in college, he taught himself how to operate heavy equipment and had a long and successful career in construction.
In between, he coached football, baseball, basketball, and made good use of his sports medicine certification as a volunteer athletic trainer at Liberty Hill High School from 1972-1993.
About his award, Gilbert says, “It felt great to speak with the Congressman. I was proud and honored to be recognized but, at the same time, quite humble.”
Humble is the correct word. He protested when I suggested we call this a story about a local hero. “I don’t feel like a hero. We just did the job and what we knew to be right.”
Sounds about right to me. Thank you, Gilbert, for your service. U.S. Navy Corpsman GILBERT VICKERS, after defending our nation, continues to dutifully serve his beloved community of Williamson County. As an exemplary corpsman and outstanding citizen, it is my honor to award him with the Congressional Veteran Commendation.
Throughout his years of military service, Corpsman Vickers played a vital role in numerous assignments, including beginning as a Corpsman in the Navy, then as operating room technician, then a field medical corpsman for the Marine Corps. In September 1967, he was deployed to Vietnam with the First Marine Air Wing, and treated numerous combat injuries. This fearless support of our country’s interests abroad, served as a clear testament of his dedication to our great nation, and to his commitment to serving others, regardless of their nationality or origins. Corpsman Vickers accumulated many different honors along the way, including the Purple Heart, Vietnam Service Medal, Bronze Star, Vietnam Campaign Medal, ten Air Medals, and National Defense Medal.
His service did not end with his military career as it came to a close. As chaplain of VFW post 10427, and member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Texas Capital Chapter 1919, Corpsman Vickers remains a valued part of the Central Texas military family. Over the years he has coached nearly every sport there is, and remains committed to ensuring young people mature into leaders of tomorrow. Committed citizens like him make the region a great place to live, work, and raise a family. I commend Corpsman Vickers’ selfless service to his community and his nation. His patriotism, citizenship, and commitment to excellence reflect the very best of Central Texas. I join his friends and family in celebrating his outstanding achievements and thank him for his service.
