The Lexington Veterans Association brings veterans and community members together in fellowship
to be informed and inspired at our monthly speaker series.
to be informed and inspired at our monthly speaker series.
Serving Those Who Served
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OUR FIRST WWII PACIFIC RE-ENACTMENT COMING UP ON JULY 13-14! Help us honor the veterans of the Pacific Theater in World War II who fought 80 years ago by joining us for this re-enactment and encampment weekend! 
https://www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/wwii-pacific-re-enactment-saipan-campaign/Join us on Saturday, July 13th and Sunday, July 14th for our first-ever World War II in the Pacific Re-Enactment Weekend. This event honors our veterans who valiantly fought in the island campaigns and Naval wars throughout the Pacific Theater 80 years ago. This weekend will focus on the Saipan Campaign that took place in June and July of 1944.
Gates open at 9:00am and close at 5:00pm each day. Allied and Axis camps will be open all day and some of the AHM aircraft of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps will be on outdoor display as well. Make sure to catch the Battle of Saipan re-enactment at 1:00pm each day including re-enactors representing American armed services as well as the Imperial Japanese. Weather permitting, some of our WWII aircraft like the FM-2 Wildcat and OY-1 (L-5) Sentinel will also be taking part. Other activities on the grounds are planned throughout the day, so check the schedule at the event link for details. The event ticket includes admission to the event as well as the American Heritage Museum and the annex buildings not open during general admission days, including the Historic Aviation Hangar and Classic Automobile Barn. Admission for the Saturday and Sunday events are as follows: $30 Adults | $25 Seniors/Veterans | $20 Children 3 to 16 years old Members, WWII/Korean War Veterans and Children Under 3 are Free – No ticket required. Admission discounts can not be used for special event weekends. American Heritage Museum members are admitted for free to this event as well as all events through September! If you're not a member yet, you should join today and take advantage of this incredible benefit that will literally pay for itself after just two events! Click here to become a member! |
Join us on June 10, 2024
Vietnam 1967: Operation Medina
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The Heroic Marines of Charlie Company
Presented by Jim Ramsey, former Navy Lt and Seabee Co Cdr in Vietnam
Live at Cary Library and via Zoom webinar, free and open to the public.
Coffee and conversation at 12:45, program begins at 1:15 p.m.
If you are watching via Zoom, use this Zoom Link.
Jim Ramsey
On October 11, 1967 Charlie Company, First Battalion, First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division landed on a low hill-top clearing in the dense Hai Lang National Forest south of Quang Tri, South Vietnam. Charlie Company was the point company for Operation Medina, a search-and-destroy mission against a North Vietnamese Army staging area that supported two NVA Regiments. At 4 P.M. on October 12 Charlie Company was ambushed and surrounded by 3-4 NVA companies. Jim Ramsey will relate the story of the ensuing battle, drawing on the book Lions of Medina: The True Story of the Marines of Charlie 1/1 in Vietnam, 11-12 October, 1967 by Doyle Glass.
Doyle Glass will be with us via Zoom on June 10 to talk about his experiences writing the book and to answer questions. The book is available f rom Amazon at the following link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=lions+of+medina+by+doyle+glass&crid=1XGG97QJ7LA8K&sprefix=lions+of+medin,aps,105&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_14
Signed bookplates will be available at the meeting.
In the fall of 1967 North Vietnamese Army troops were pouring into South Vietnam from Laos via the Ho Chi Minh Trail and establishing base areas to support operations against the South. U.S. Marines, who were being severely tested by the NVA throughout northern South Vietnam, launched multi-battalion Operation Medina to root out enemy forces in NVA Base Area 101.
Charlie Company saw the bulk of the action. During the night of October 12-13 the superior enemy force, which had nearly encircled the Marine position, launched wave after wave of attacks. Many Marines were certain that this was their last night on earth. The NVA came very close to overwhelming Charlie Company that night - but 1st Lt. Jack Ruffer decided to take matters into his own hands and lead a counter-attack that changed everything. Emboldened, the Marines heroically fought back and prevailed against a superior force. Corporal William T. Perkins, Jr. would be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.
Jim Ramsey earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from Cornell University. He completed the Naval ROTC Program at Cornell and served in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps for 5 years. A Harvard MBA, Jim worked in management consulting and held marketing and business development positions with several companies. A member of the Board of Directors of the Lexington Veterans Association, Jim is a volunteer with the Veterans’ Library at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, bringing books and companionship to Veteran residents.
Doyle Glass will be with us via Zoom on June 10 to talk about his experiences writing the book and to answer questions. The book is available f rom Amazon at the following link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=lions+of+medina+by+doyle+glass&crid=1XGG97QJ7LA8K&sprefix=lions+of+medin,aps,105&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_14
Signed bookplates will be available at the meeting.
In the fall of 1967 North Vietnamese Army troops were pouring into South Vietnam from Laos via the Ho Chi Minh Trail and establishing base areas to support operations against the South. U.S. Marines, who were being severely tested by the NVA throughout northern South Vietnam, launched multi-battalion Operation Medina to root out enemy forces in NVA Base Area 101.
Charlie Company saw the bulk of the action. During the night of October 12-13 the superior enemy force, which had nearly encircled the Marine position, launched wave after wave of attacks. Many Marines were certain that this was their last night on earth. The NVA came very close to overwhelming Charlie Company that night - but 1st Lt. Jack Ruffer decided to take matters into his own hands and lead a counter-attack that changed everything. Emboldened, the Marines heroically fought back and prevailed against a superior force. Corporal William T. Perkins, Jr. would be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.
Jim Ramsey earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from Cornell University. He completed the Naval ROTC Program at Cornell and served in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps for 5 years. A Harvard MBA, Jim worked in management consulting and held marketing and business development positions with several companies. A member of the Board of Directors of the Lexington Veterans Association, Jim is a volunteer with the Veterans’ Library at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, bringing books and companionship to Veteran residents.
Bulletin BoardCheck out veteran-related programs and events of interest around Lexington. Check in with timely veteran-related news articles.
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Speaker Series You’ll find our monthly presentations educational and inspiring. Listen to top-notch speakers on military-related subjects.
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Community ServiceWe are an active partner with other community organizations to honor and recognize veterans and to promote community support of the military.
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Veterans ResourcesNeed help with veterans benefits? Contact our Veterans Services Director to learn more.
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Veterans DayA Veterans Breakfast and a traditional Veterans Day ceremony marked the 2022 Veterans Day observance.
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LVA SurveyTell us about your military or non-military related service. Let us know how we’re doing, suggest future programs, and explore volunteering.
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We Are Grateful
To the following organizations and companies who have been invaluable supporters.
Please click on the logo to go to their homepage.
Please click on the logo to go to their homepage.
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Thanks to Dinesh Patel, MD, Sue Stering, and volunteers from the Lexington Town Celebrations Committee
for the beautiful photographs included on our website.
for the beautiful photographs included on our website.