Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial

[Coyote]

Groundbreaking ceremony takes place for Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial



A groundbreaking ceremony for the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial took place in Papillion Tuesday.

[Coyote]

Groundbreaking on Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Nebraska



Groundbreaking on Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Nebraska

[Coyote]

Papillion Unscripted - NVVM Huey Guys, Ron Elwell and Dylan Driscoll

This week's Papillion UnScripted is with two men who have been instrumental in rehabbing the UH-1 Huey that will be the centerpiece of the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Ron Elwell is a former helicopter Crew Chief in the Army and Dylan Driscoll runs the aviation maintenance department at Iowa Western.

[Coyote]

Iowa Western Students restore helicopter used in the Vietnam War

'I figured it was destroyed': Iowa Western Students restore helicopter used in the Vietnam War

[Coyote]

Veteran reunited with helicopter he worked on in Vietnam

Veteran reunited with helicopter he worked on in Vietnam

[Coyote]

Veteran reunited with helicopter he worked on in Vietnam after Iowa Western students help restore it

It was a day five decades in the making. A veteran was reunited with the helicopter he worked on in Vietnam. Members of the community, veterans, and college students packed one of the hangers at the Council Bluffs Municipal Airport Monday afternoon. It was there where one of the original Huey helicopters used in the Vietnam war was unveiled. "Something happened to where we thought we were going to die in a hooch and then blew the hooch down on top of it," said Craig Fouts. Fouts is one of the original Army Huey helicopter crew chiefs. He flew inside this actual aircraft.

“ It was a 10.5 hour day of flying and we took fire several times and I returned fire several times as we were dropping off troops, and there was a lot of the enemy below," said Fouts. He has plenty of stories from his time in Vietnam back in the late 1960s. "On May 7th, my helicopter was destroyed along with Alejandro's and three others, and our hooch was blown on top of us. So we had to have a helicopter that would replace that. And that's five, three, two, which we picked up in Phu Loi," said Fouts. Fouts says the helicopter had only six hours on it when he got it all those years ago.

“I would never have dreamed at that time that this exact helicopter would become the centerpiece of a wonderful memorial in Papillion, Nebraska, to honor all veterans who served during the Vietnam war, and especially for those who gave their ultimate sacrifice," Fouts said. Bryan Stuckenschmidt is an aviation maintenance science freshman at Iowa Western Community College. He is one of several students who helped restore this aircraft to some of its former glory. "We painted it two weeks ago and it turned out amazing," Stuckenschmidt said. A task that has a deep meaning for this college freshman.

"I live in Millard, and to be so close to something that you worked on and be so proud of it is humbling," Stuckenschmidt said. Fouts says he traveled from California to be in the region for the unveiling and is overwhelmed with the work that went into everything."It's unbelievable. So, I appreciate everything it's being done. And they're just as excited about it as I am," Fouts said.

[Coyote]

Papillion Now - Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Restored Huey Helicopter Unveiling

Roughly 53 years after UH-1 532 went into action in Vietnam it was unveiled to the crew that originally operated the aircraft. It was an emotional few days for two pilots, two crew chiefs and one door gunner out at IWCC aviation hanger. Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial

[Coyote]

Movie screening benefits Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial

[Coyote]

‘The Greatest Beer Run Ever' screening benefits local Vietnam Veterans Memorial


The screening benefits the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial that is expected to be complete in June of 2023.

PAPILLION, Neb. (KMTV) — On Wednesday afternoon, the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation, NVVM, hosted a private screening of the new movie “The Greatest Beer Run Ever.” It's a true story of Chickie Donohue, a young veteran who snuck into Vietnam at the height of the war to deliver beer to his friends. "My goal telling this story was that every Vietnam vet that walked out of the theater would say that's accurate," said Peter Farrelly, director of "The Greatest Beer Run Ever." Farrelly is an academy award winning producer famous for movies like "Dumb and Dumber" and hopes people who were against the war also find this movie accurate. "We want to honor, those who served in Vietnam they were denied a thank you for your service treatment, that later veterans thankfully did receive," said producer Andrew Muscato. The screening benefits the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial that is expected to be complete in June of 2023, a symbol of appreciation and remembrance.

[Coyote]

Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Statues

The centerpiece of the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a restored UH-1 Helicopter. Both inside and outside of the copter will be statues reenacting a rescue of an injured solider during combat. Three current servicemen were the models for the statues.

[Coyote]

The Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation needs more money to finish project
A permanent tribute to Nebraskans who paid the ultimate sacrifice may be in jeopardy. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is set to be built in Papillion but work has yet to start.

PAPILLION, Neb. - A permanent tribute to Nebraskans who paid the ultimate sacrifice may be in jeopardy. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is set to be built in Papillion but work has yet to start. KETV was there in March of 2022 as state leaders broke ground on the memorial south of the SumTur Amphitheater. "It's important not only to the Vietnam veterans, but all the gold star families and to the other citizens of the state of Nebraska," said Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation President, Tom Brown.

But flash forward a year, and construction hasn't started yet.

[Coyote]

Group says senator's bill would provide remaining funds needed for Vietnam memorial




PAPILLION, Neb.—It’s a war that around 60,000 American troops paid the ultimate sacrifice. Four-hundred of them were Nebraskans. "We had a situation in a foreign country that the United States deemed that we should be there to help them," Vietnam veteran Thomas Brown said. "So the service people answered that call." Brown said he served in the war from 1966-1968. He’s now president of the Nebraska Vietnam Memorial Foundation, which has been working to build a memorial dedicated solely to Nebraskans who died in the war. He said the state doesn’t have one yet, and they want to change that.

"This one will be just dedicated to Vietnam veterans and to the Vietnam war." On the flat, grassy area on top of the hill next to the Sumter Amphitheater in Papillion is where they will build the memorial. It will include 11 obelisks—one for each year of the war. It will have an honor wall listing the 400 Nebraska servicemen who died in the war. It will even feature a Huey helicopter that Brown said saw action in the conflict. The foundation said the project is estimated to cost $7.2 million, and that with the amount they’ve raised so far, they need $2.5 million more. State Sen. Mike McDonnell has a proposal in the Nebraska Legislature that would provide them that amount from the state’s general fund.

[Coyote]

Nebraska Vietnam veterans honored at Omaha National Cemetery

On this day five decades ago, it was the beginning of the end of the United State’s military involvement in the Vietnam War. Across the nation, soldiers are being recognized for their service, including here in Nebraska.

“Our fallen heroes are the finest examples of our nation’s treasures, treasures more valuable than our national monuments, our Capitol building and White House, all the acres in the national parks, and all the corn in the heartland,” said Jim Meier, director of Nebraska’s chapter of Honor and Remember, as he began his speech at the Omaha National Cemetery on Wednesday.

[Coyote]

Omaha National Cemetery commemorates 50th anniversary of Vietnam War



Today commemorates 50 years since the Vietnam War, and the Omaha National Cemetery held a ceremony to honor those who fought. The director of ONC, Jason Dolan, said its a time to "reflect and remember." During Wednesday's ceremony, a wreath was laid while the honor guard performed a 21-gun salute. Dolan said it's important to honor our heroes because they made a sacrifice, one that can never be repaid.

[Coyote]

Omaha Vet Center hosts commemoration event to honor local Vietnam War veterans



March 29th marks the anniversary of National Vietnam War Veterans Day; it's a time to recognize and honor the millions of American servicemembers who served during the Vietnam War. To celebrate the occasion, the Omaha Vet Center hosted a commemoration for local veterans who served from Nov. 1st, 1995- May 15th, 1975. For James Nelson, an air force veteran who served ten years in the Vietnam War, events like this mean a lot. “It moves me to a point of near tears,” Nelson said.

[Coyote]

Papillion's Vietnam memorial receives $2.5 million grant to help with project's increased price tag



The Nebraska Vietnam Veteran's Memorial is getting $2.5 million from the state's VA department.

[Coyote]

Grant awarded to help with construction of Vietnam War memorial in Papillion



A federal grant was awarded to help with construction of a Vietnam War memorial in Papillion.

[Coyote]

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial hopes to open by June 2024



Construction is officially underway at the site of the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Papillion. The memorial is just south of SumTur Amphitheater off 108th Street. The expected completion date is June 6, 2024.

[Coyote]

'Let's get to work,': Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial moves forward with $2.5 million grant



PAPILLION, Neb. (KMTV) — About a year and a half ago, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Sumtur Amphitheater for the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial. However — progress stalled because the project was short on funding.

Until now.

Work is officially underway, after a $2.5 million grant was recently awarded from the Nebraska Department of Veteran Affairs. Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation President Tom Brown has had it planned out for quite some time

[Coyote]

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Groundbreaking

[Coyote]

Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Details

[Coyote]

Construction continues on Nebraska's Vietnam War memorial

[Coyote]

Watch as a restored UH-1 Huey arrives at the
Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Papillion

[Coyote]

Restored helicopter from Vietnam War arrives at Nebraska memorial



A restored helicopter from the Vietnam War arrived in Papillion on Wednesday, set to serve as the centerpiece for the new Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

[Coyote]

UH-1 Huey Transported to Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial

[Coyote]

Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Helicopter Placement

[Coyote]

'Forgotten Four' remembered:
New memorial to honor Vietnam War veterans left off national wall



PAPILLION, Neb. — Fifty-five years after they gave their lives while serving their country, the names of four Nebraska sailors are going up on a Vietnam Wall. It’s not the internationally known Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. It’s a wall that is part of a new Vietnam War Memorial that is being unveiled in Papillion, Nebraska. This smaller wall holds the names of all 400-Nebraskans who died during the Vietnam war. Until now, only 396 of the Nebraskans had their names on a Memorial Wall.

Until that happens, they hope Nebraska’s Wall will give them some solace, knowing that those lost are not forgotten. “When you when you forget the boys, when you forget their names, then they're dead. But when they're always remembered and they're remembered with such good everybody is so proud to know 'em,” Linda said.
Click Nebraska Vietnam War Memorial for more information about the memorial located in Papillion, Nebraska.

[Coyote]

Papillion holds Vietnam War Memorial ceremony on 80th anniversary of D-Day



PAPILLION, Neb. — On June 6, we remember D-Day.Eighty years ago, the U.S. military stormed the beaches of Normandy in World War II. We also remember a group of soldiers killed in a collision, off the coast of Vietnam. The Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation created the memorial to honor the 74 lives lost while serving on the USS Frank E. Evans — four were from Nebraska. The collision happened not far from the coast of Vietnam. The U.S. Department of Defense said the collision happened outside the designated combat zone for the Vietnam War. Because of this, the sailors are not eligible to have their names engraved on the wall inside the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.

[Coyote]

Gov. Jim Pillen's opening remarks at the opening ceremony
for the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial

[Coyote]

Widow of man who served on helicopter happy to see it used in
Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial

[Coyote]

Nebraska Vietnam Memorial unveiled in Papillion

[Coyote]

Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial hosts opening day