Veterans relive their war days, SAMC listens to the tale

Staff Sgt. Michael Constantine, a member of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club’s Fort Bliss chapter and infantry squad leader from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, leans in to listen to a retired Army veteran during a ceremony Sept. 14 at Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home in El Paso. The ceremony honored prisoners of war and those missing in action. Photo by Sgt. Edward A. Garibay, 16th MPAD.

Sgt. Edward A. Garibay,
16th MPAD:

Twenty-four years, nine months and 17 days.

That is the length of time retired Sgt. 1st Class Marvin E. Switzer, a combat veteran with three tours to Vietnam, served in the United States Army, and all of those years came back to his forethoughts with the arrival of a group of young noncommissioned officers Sept. 14.

It was a day that bridged a gap of 60 years.

Old generations of servicemembers met with new when the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club’s Fort Bliss chapter joined World War II and Vietnam War veterans for a ceremony in honor of former prisoners of war and those still missing in action. It was at Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home that servicemembers of past and present gathered in respect of a cause that bound them together – service to their nation.

Sgt. 1st Class Charity Franco, the president of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club’s Fort Bliss chapter, speaks with the mother of a combat veteran Sept. 14. Photo by Sgt. Edward A. Garibay, 16th MPAD.

“In the end, some people get old, and they look back on their life and they ask what have they done with it,” said SAMC member Staff Sgt. Michael Constantine. “Myself and these gentlemen will never have to ask that. There’s no greater honor than serving your country.”

The ceremony involved a color guard and an empty table signifying all those who gave their life in battle. It was a short tribute that reminded all those in attendance of the sacrifices made for freedom. It was that empty table set for one with a burning candle that set the stage for the stories, which were shared immediately following the ceremony.

“[The experience] brought back a lot of memories,” said Switzer.

Smiles from elderly veterans and their families greeted the group of young NCOs as they discussed the way things were and how they have changed.

“I thought to myself, ‘I will never be as great as them,’” said Constantine, a 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, infantry squad leader. “I see myself in them, but most importantly, I think they see themselves in me. And then they have a bittersweet moment where they would never want to revisit the horrors of what they’ve seen, but they’d do anything to go back to those days.”

Retired Sgt. 1st Class Marvin E. Switzer, a combat veteran with three tours to Vietnam, reminisces over some photos of his former Soldiers Sept. 14 at Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home in El Paso. He said of all his war stories, the ones worth telling are the ones that involve his troops. Photo by Sgt. Edward A. Garibay, 16th MPAD.

There was a definite bond between the two groups, but it existed long before any of the SAMC members stepped foot into the veterans home, said Constantine. The brother and sisterhood of the armed forces defy age.

“It’s a matter of respect really,” said Constantine. “No one gets left behind. I only hope one day someone wants to hear my stories.”

For the time being, the stories of the veterans at Ambrosio Guillen will continue to be heard. As the SAMC members made their goodbyes for the evening, they left with a solemn promise: “We will return.”

For more information about SAMC or to recommend a volunteer event visit www.facebook.com/blissSAMC.