When soldiers came home from Vietnam, few were welcomed with parades, celebrations or even a thank you.

But on Sunday afternoon, members of Lititz Springs VFW Post 1463 helped to honor more than 30 Vietnam veterans who turned out for the national Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

The veterans traded hugs, handshakes and the recollection of their service that for some happened more than 40 years ago.

Lewie Geibe of Lititz said he felt fortunate to make it home after serving in Vietnam, but he said there was always something missing in his service for his country.

"People used to say, 'Why did you fight — what did you fight for?'" Geibe said. "I took pride in the United States, and I'm thankful I'm an American and I'm very thankful I'm free."

Geibe, who served from 1965 to 1966 as part of the Army's 1st Air Cavalry Division, said he wasn't the happiest person when he was drafted as a 20-year-old, but felt he had to serve.

He rappelled out of helicopters as a radioman, spending most of his time in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam near the town of An Khe. Geibe said he took part in more than 100 air assaults out of helicopters, receiving an Air Medal for the amount of hours he spent in flight in a combat zone.

Geibe said most Vietnam veterans he meets talk about where they were and when they served. He said he doesn't like to talk about the war and rather tries to remember the good moments, not the fear.

"I was just hoping I could get through it," Geibe said. "You didn't think much — you just did what you had to do."

Terry Burkhart of Akron served from March 1968 to May 1969 as part of the Army's 108th Artillery Group at Camp J.J. Carroll in Vietnam. He said he can remember running to the bunkers at the same time every day when incoming rockets from the Viet Cong would hit the base.

Burkhart said one of the most memorable moments was when he returned home and smelled the manure of Lancaster County. He said he felt like one of the lucky ones who got back unharmed, but he was hurt by people's lack of understanding the veterans.

"Nobody seemed to bother," Burkhart said. "We had no red carpet out for us. Nobody thanked you for a job well done. You felt like your service was of no use and no good to the country."

Andy Padilione of East Petersburg and Bruce Wiker of Lititz shared a special moment while sharing a beer at the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The two had never met before Sunday, but through a conversation they found out they were both on the USS Bon Homme Richard, an aircraft carrier that dates to World War II, during its decommission run back to the United States in 1970.

Padilione worked on the flight deck while Wiker was a Marine working in the brig.

Both vets shared common stories for more than an hour, recalling long forgotten memories.

Padilione said he was reminded of a rocket attack by the Viet Cong when the Bon Homme Richard came into the harbor at Da Nang for an awards ceremony. He said he went running below deck when the rockets sailed overhead.

"Think about it — 38 years ago (Wiker) and I were young kids in 'Nam," Padilione said. "Here we are at a get-together so many years later that we finally get to meet each other. Unbelievable."

Dick Getz, Lititz VFW post commander, said he was pleased to be able to help honor Vietnam vets that never received a proper welcome home.

Getz spent four months off the coast of Vietnam from September to December in 1963 as part of the 3rd Division 12th Marines.

The commander said Vietnam veterans got a "raw deal" when they came home by not receiving their proper recognition, and now many of them are dying.

Getz pointed to Lititz VFW member Richard Rhodes, a Marine veteran who served three tours in Vietnam, receiving the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with a Combat V for his service.

"When (Vietnam veterans) came home, they never got welcomed, they never had parades, they never had anything," Getz said. "They deserve this, even if it is 40 years late."

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