It’s never too late to welcome a vet

When Ralph “Red” Kretser first enlisted in the U.S. Army, he was a self-described “free-as-a-bird” 19-year-old who joined the military because jobs were scarce. What he found was an honorable career that spanned 20 years and two wars.

We recount Kretser’s story on today’s front page in recognition of Veterans Day, which is Monday. It was a military career that began in 1950, ended in 1970 and saw the New York state native serve in both the Korean and Vietnam wars.

While much has been done to recognize and honor World War II servicemen and servicewomen, veterans like Kretser have been more anonymous. The Korean War has been called the “forgotten war,” while those who served in Vietnam were often reviled for their service at the time.

As Kretser recalled how he took a bullet to the leg while on anti-tank and mine patrol in Korea and worked with an engineering group in Vietnam, he became the most emotional when asked about the reception he received following his service in each war.

Simply put, there was no welcome home moment for he or many of his comrades in arms. While he didn’t say it outright, we could tell that even 43 years after his retirement from military service, that simple acknowledgment would have meant a lot to Kretser.

That sparked our memory of a 2009 Valley Veterans Day ceremony at the Veterans Wall of Honor. Dave Glenn, owner of Grasshopper Aviation and a Vietnam veteran, recalled how he was finally welcomed home.

“There I am, very proud of my friends and my service,” he said. “Then I got home to find people were calling me a baby killer.”

Glenn tearfully told how that more than 40 years later, a young man came up to him at a local store, saw his 101st Airborne hat and thanked him for his service.

“I said, ‘You know, son, I’ve been waiting 46 years to hear that — 46 years,’” Glenn said.

His message was that while all the Veterans Day speeches, parades and potlucks are appreciated, a simple thank you is often be the most satisfying tribute a veteran can receive.

Although it comes 43 years late for Kretser, we share this message with he and all those who have served and sacrificed for our freedoms: welcome home.