Returning veterans honored by Veteran Warrior Society
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PABLO – “The veterans from Vietnam never got nothing when they returned from war,” Tribal Veterans representative Lloyd Jackson said. “We’re trying to make it better than it was back then, and to give them something they can be proud of.”
Ten veterans from various branches of the United States military were honored on Friday, Sept. 2, at the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Complex by the Tribal Warriors Sociery. The warrior society presented each individual with a Warrior Medal of Valor for their service in the military.
The ten veterans came from Washington, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana to the Plains Fair to be honored. They were then invited by the Warriors Society to come to Pablo to visit Tribal Council and the People’s Center. Later that day, the ten individuals ventured on a boat tour of Flathead Lake, provided by the KwaTaqNuk Resort in Polson.
Those honored on Friday were Chad Brooks, James Dunn, Micheal Carroll, Christopher Mastel, Jared Kenally, Eeric Gottfried, Bradley Schwertz, Mike King, Michael Lafouest and Samuel Pappas.
“We’re glad to see you here,” Council member Charlie Morigeau said, welcoming the veterans. “We’re all proud of you and it’s good to have you home.”
“This is a great honor,” tribal member Laurence Kenmille added. “You all have put in a lot of your time and sacrifice for your country. It makes me feel really good inside.”
Mike Carroll was one of the injured veterans honored. Carroll was badly injured during his term in Iraq after being cooked internally on a hot, 132 degree day spent next to engines that run nonstop.
“After a long period of time in the heat, I was slow cooking like a turkey,” Carroll said. “I died for three minutes after my bodily functions shut down completely.”
During this time Carroll says his intestines’ wall was completely stripped, causing numerous problems with internal bleeding. Carroll deals with bad knees and an injured back. He has also suffered from post traumatic stress syndrome since his return to the states in 2005. Carroll says being honored by the Veteran Warriors was tough to swallow, becoming more emotional than he expected.
“I’m just speechless,” Carroll said. “I’m honored and humbled. It’s just amazing the feeling I have right now.”
He couldn’t think of a better crew of veterans to join him in the receiving of the medal.
“These guys are great, we’re all family,” he said. “I’m glad all these guys were able to receive it.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs Network Director Glen Grippen was also in attendance, as he is currently visiting from his home office in Glendale, Colo. Grippen is in the middle of a trip to Montana that included visiting eight veteran clinics, two of which are on reservations. He traveled to the Kalispell Veterans Affairs Clinic and the Cut Bank VA on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. According to Grippen, he is promoting the new GI Bill, which goes into effect on Oct. 1.
The bill stems from the original GI Bill that was introduced during World War II, which then provided college or vocational education for returning veterans. The new bill is an expansion of the old bill, where veterans can use their POST-9/11 GI Bill for on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and non-college degree programs.
“With the economy being so tough right now, this is a good way to get your college degree,” Grippen said. “It’s important we honor them with services that meet their needs.”
“It’s important they know about the bill because it’s a huge benefit for them to utilize,” he added. “It’s tough to get a job these days. They can now go to college paid for by the government.”
