March, 2012 - The American Legion Department of North Dakota

North Dakota Legion News March 2012 Page 9
Last Vietnam Vet Retires From Navy Reserve
Your NEC Report
THE LAST SALUTE. Being Piped Ashore for Senior Chief Quarter Master David Rice.
(Photo by MM2 Philip Kander)
By: Wendy Reuer,
Reporter, Fargo Forum
When Senior Chief Quarter Master
David Rice reached the top of his pay grade
as a member of the U.S. Navy Reserves, he
could’ve retired at any time.
But even after about 30 years, Rice
wasn’t ready to retire. He stayed on and
continued regular drills and practices with
fellow shipmates for another 13 years –
without pay.
“I didn’t really care because I just enjoyed
doing it,” Rice said. “When the Navy quit
paying me, they could afford to pay two
younger men or women. So I said, ‘Yeah, they
deserve a shot just like I did.’ ”
As he approached age 60 in 2011, he
was forced to retire at the Navy’s mandatory
retirement age.
After 42 years of serving his country, Rice
quietly and honorably retired in December. He
is the last Vietnam combat veteran to serve in
the North Dakota Navy Reserves, and possibly
the last Navy reservist retiree in the nation that
served in Vietnam, according to fellow Navy
reservist Jerry Rostad.
On April 19, 1972, Rice was on a Navy
ship, fire raining down on all sides – from
Vietnamese air fighters, approaching gun
boats and offshore.
“One of the ships took a direct hit,” Rice
said. “Thank God nobody was killed.”
It was one of the defining moments in
Rice’s life. It was also an ironic moment.
In June 1969, the 17-year-old’s mother
signed a waiver allowing him to join the
Navy. Rice wanted to join the military, but
his two older brothers, who were already
involved with the Vietnam War as Army
soldiers, did not want their little brother to
see combat.
“They didn’t want me in Vietnam,” Rice
said. “She signed the waiver hoping to keep
me out of Vietnam. Six months later, guess
where I was: Vietnam.”
More than 40 years later, Rice describes
that harrowing instance of combat in his home
near Harwood with remarkable clarity and
calm – likely how the veteran reacted then.
While in the Navy, Rice said he loved
the service, the traveling and his shipmates.
He worked as a navigational specialist and
was usually stationed on the bridge, which
gave him a worldview from the ship.
“I always knew where we were and
where we were going,” Rice said.
After serving four years, Rice was
discharged and returned home to North
Dakota to attend North Dakota State
University. He later worked for the NDSU
Extension Service until retiring in 2008.
While attending NDSU, Rice learned
of the Navy Reserve office in Fargo and
eventually signed on, serving 38 years.
SEE VIETNAM
Cont. on Page 12, Col. 1
Thursday, June 21, 2012
1:00p Golf Tournament
6:00p Foundation Meeting
Friday, June 22, 2012
10:00a Department Executive Committee Meeting
10:00a-6:00p Registration – Civic Center
1:00p Resolutions Committee Meeting
1:30p Organization/Membership & Post Activities Meeting
2:30p Credentials Convention Committee Meeting
2:30p Finance/Budget & Audit Convention Committee Meeting
3:30p Constitution/By Laws & Rules Convention Committee Meeting
3:30p VA&R Committee Meeting
3:30p Dist Cmdrs & Pres Rehearsal
4:30p Past Department Commanders Social/Dinner
4:30p 40 et 8 Buffet & Grand Cheminot
7:30p Joint Opening Session
6:30p Parade
9:00p Foundation Raffle Appreciation Reception
Saturday, June 23, 2012
7:30a 40 et 8 Breakfast and Grand Promenade
National Commander Wong, true to his
word, paid a visit to our Winter Conference
in Bismarck in early February. The
Commander’s message held the audience’s
attention during the opening session and
again as our key note speaker for the
banquet. Now that the President’s budget
is out, I’m sure, again true to his word, you
can count on he and his staff to lobby hard
for the DOD and VA budgets.
The end of February thirteen Legion
and Auxiliary folks from North Dakota will
be in Washington, DC to assist Commander
Wong with our legislative priorities. They,
along with folks from the other Departments,
will call on their congressional delegations
to make the case for a strong national defense
and veterans care. Following Senator
Hoeven’s remarks at the Winter Conference
in Bismarck, he personally assured me he
would be a sponsor on Senate Resolution 19
(SR 19), the Flag Amendment Resolution,
so when in DC I intend to follow up on
that commitment. I plan to thank him for
signing on as a sponsor.
The end of March an endorsing
convention will be held in Bismarck and
remember vets we have some unfinished
business to take care of there! I’m counting
on you to be there in force, thanks in
94th American Legion Convention
Gladstone Inn and Civic Center, Jamestown, ND
Agenda
8:00a-Noon Registration
DRAFT
Hosted by
POST AND UNIT #14 - Jamestown, nd
Curtis Twete
National Executive Committeeman
advance. It is our duty to be involved and
not take anything for granted when the
stakes are so high.
To each of you working membership, a
big thank you goes out to you. I truly believe
Commander Krause and Membership
Chairman Eugene Kachena, with your hard
work and help, will make the goal for North
Dakota for the first time in years. It’s been
awhile since we had a 100% Commander,
but this one is in reach if each of us will
go the extra mile in membership. A real
honor for our Department and appropriate
when we hope to put one of our own up for
National Vice Commander.
With Spring District meetings just
around the corner, talk them up at your
Post Meetings and gather several car loads
to attend in your District. The information
shared during these meetings keeps us
abreast of the most current issues requiring
our efforts. Thank you for what you do to
keep your Post relevant. Remember it’s not
the price you paid to belong, but rather, the
price you paid to be eligible.
8:30a Boys State Meeting
9:00a Sons of the American Legion Meeting
9:00a Membership Issues/Training
9:30a District Commanders/Finish Consolidated Post Reports
11:30a Go-Getter Picnic
12:30p Meet/Greet Incoming District Commanders and Presidents
1:00p-600p Registration
1:30p Legion General Session
3:00p Legion Riders Meeting
3:00p National Convention Meeting
3:30p Regional Caucuses
5:30p Distinguished Guest Reception
6:00/ 7:00p Social Hour/Banquet
9:00p Dance
Sunday, June 24, 2012
7:00a Press Association Breakfast
8:00a-11:00a Registration
8:00a Joint Memorial Service
9:00a-10:30a Joint Session
11:00a General Session