VVA Chapter 925 Honoring Our Heroes: A Tribute to US Veterans

On October 8, 2023, the repatriated remains of Air Force Capt. Freddy Hall were returned to the United States via commercial flight that landed at GSP at 1:30 PM.  Capt. Hall was killed on April 12, 1968 in Vietnam when the jet he was flying in as navigator was lost in a thunder storm while returning from a combat mission. The crash site was discovered in a combat-controlled area that at the time was inaccessible.  Capt. Hall was declared Missing in Action until Feb 9, 1978, when he was declared killed in action.  In March 2012, remains were found in the area of Freddy’s crash and were identified in March of this year as being those of Freddie. Below are the pictures of various veteran’s groups that came out and welcome him home. For additional information of this event see South Carolina State Council President Sam Brick message outlining the history and the South Carolina Chapters who participated in this event. Captain Freddy Hall can now rest in peace, he is home! A special thanks go out to the SC VVA Chapter 523, 828 and 1049 who helped make this event a success.

When we, Vietnam Vets learned just a few weeks ago that Freddie was being repatriated here in South Carolina at the SGP airport for transportation to his hometown in Waynesville, NC, we decided to welcome him home, something that none of us who served in Vietnam ever got. We told our brother veterans from more recent conflicts of the arrival as well as other veteran Service organizations. Our brother and sister vets joined us at the airport yesterday to honor Freddy and his widow. We had over 150 folks many carrying flags lining the roadway out of the airport runway system. About half of those present were motorcycle combat veterans from Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and, of course South Carolina. We wanted to escort the widow and the hearse out of South Carolina and provide the honors we never received. We contacted the airport police and advised what we wanted to do. The police worked with the cyclists to plan the trip. It was great to see them respect each other and work so well with each other.  

The airport police and fire service were awesome. They brought in state police and local sheriff’s deputies to help out. Those officers were the most respectful gentlemen you could ever imagine. They addressed the group of cyclists and arranged for the escort. They also arranged for honors by area fire departments as we traversed local communities. The fire folks stood at attention on the side of the road, many with lights and sirens blazing as the group passed by. One fire department had its large fire engine out with high ladder extended and a huge American flag hanging from it. They and your local state police and sheriffs honored not just Capt. Hall and his widow but all us Vietnam Veterans who were escorting the Halls out of South Carolina. They gave us priority when they could. When we entered the busy I 85, we moved to the left lane and local trucks protected us by allowing us to follow in a cavalcade. They backed off in respect. Traffic soon realized what was ongoing with our over 25 vehicles flags flying from many and gave us the way. The police actually encouraged this with its escort. As we travelled on an undivided highway, many vehicles going the opposite direction pulled over in respect and honor for our fallen.  

The law enforcement personnel for your Greenville area, the state police who were in charge, the sheriff deputies, and the Airport first responders and police worked with the over 50 motorcyclists and the vehicles involved by honoring Freddie and all us Vietnam Veterans. They made us feel welcomed home. 

So thank you Greenville for having such a great law enforcement group who do more than just uphold criminal laws and ordinances. And thanks to the Upstate community who welcomed us home.