A Lifetime Of Service

A while back… I mentioned that I was going to “adjust” the direction of the Lieutenant’s Lounge. Having returned from our 15 month deployment… I wanted to address different issues… and one of those is to recognize some of the veterans who live and work among us. Cliff Leach… a Vietnam War veteran… is someone I’ve had the priviledge to get to know prior to… during… and since our tour in Iraq.

Back in 1967… Cliff left the Midwest for Navy boot camp in San Diego. After spending a short time serving in Hawaii… he was assigned to the U.S.S. Enterprise. When the ship returned to Hawaii for repairs… following a deadly explosion… Cliff was re-assigned as a forward air controller and sent to Da Nang, Vietnam. Like many of his fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines… he spent 8 months “hoofing it through the bush” in southeast Asia… avoiding capture… and providing vital information for American flight crews.

Also like many of his fellow Vietnam veterans… Cliff spent a period of time adjusting to his return stateside. Chief among his adjustments was getting to know his 1 1/2 year old son… whom Cliff hadn’t seen since his birth. While Cliff moved forward in life… and raised a family… he still felt as though he was missing something. A few years ago… he found a way to serve his fellow countrymen and women again… as a leader of the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR).

The PGR is an organization composed entirely of volunteers that was initially intended to protect families of fallen soldiers from “protestors” at funerals. Over time… their work began to also include escorting military units that are either leaving for or returning from overseas deployments. In fact… the PGR… along with local police departments… provided our unit with an escort from our armory prior to our deployment back in September, 2006.

Recently… Cliff retired as State Captain of the PGR (Nebraska chapter) after serving in the post for nearly 2 years. During his tenure… membership has risen from around 350 to over 1100. When our unit flew into Lincoln at the end of our Iraq deployment… Cliff was there with the rest of the PGR to show their support for the troops and their families… as well as to present a PGR flag that was signed by members of the 755th Chemical Company and the PGR members.