My name is Karen Wright, and I am a USAF Veteran, serving from 1979 to 1986 with Rapid Deployment Force (RDF), Mobile Combat Communications (MCC) and Telecommunications Systems Control Specialist (TSCD) (30770).

My grandfather was 1stt US Cavalry and my father was a paratrooper. Grandfather never spoke of his wartime experiences. But I recall him being very proud of the fact that he could still get into his uniform at age 70 which fit him like a glove. My father saw a man ahead of him, jump out of a plane and get chewed up by the propeller. He swore right then and there that if he made it down alive, he would become a minister, which he did years later. I went behind the iron curtain in Czechoslovakia (now known as Czech Republic) between high school and college. All I saw was propaganda, poverty and bayonets on the sidewalks. When I returned, I was so grateful to be an American that I wanted to give something back to my country so I joined up.

Being part of the Rapid Deployment Force with “wheels up”, and ‘First in, Last out’ operational status, it meant I was part of a multinational Force having interaction with Korea, Libya, Lebanon, Egypt, Grenada, Honduras, Chad, Italy, El Salvador, Iran, Sinai, Persian Gulf, Italy, Bolivia, & Sidra, as well as long haul circuits & communications with places all over the US. I was in Operation Urgent Fury in ’83 for the US-led invasion of Grenada. Because my unit was always Rapid Deployment Force, it meant we received priority in equipment & training. We were always “first in, last out”, capable of being anywhere in the world outside our borders within 18 hours. That meant my unit had the mission of having combat troops ‘wheels up’ (en-route by aircraft) within an executive notification. We had the capability of “Forced Entry” into a territory to seize and secure key terrain, e.g. Drop Zone (DZ), airfield or airport, to accommodate follow on forces. My units were one of the most active and diverse organizations in the world, who managed the MILSTAR satellite constellation, operated the Joint Space Operations Center, provided near real-time intelligence to combatant commands and war fighters in the field, and continuously updated the USGS geospatial database for the western United States. The Group established one of the first Network Warfare organizations and operated Eagle Vision III, one of the most advanced satellite imaging systems used to support homeland security.

The worst part of service was losing friends, getting to know someone and working alongside of them and then having them gone the next day, which really got to me. One night, a couple of guys would go out on a mission, and the next day they would be gone. You never saw them again. Over and over again, they would never come back. You just never knew whose number was up next and it could have even been your own. That wore on me emotionally after a few years. It’s why I got out. I began to think I was tempting fate with my own odds and it was just a matter of time before I found myself dead, slung over some tire on a mobile unit.

The military allowed me to see people as nothing more than a mirror of myself. In some ways it made me cold and indifferent but it also has given me a wonderful feeling and sense of belonging to a group and band of brothers and sisters that no one else can. Unless you have sworn an oath to give up your life in defense of our country, stood in long chow lines, been behind enemy lines, or held the hand of a dying comrade, it is difficult for another to relate.

There was no reception when I returned home. In fact, my family had moved while I was away and I had to find their new house, after I went to the old one and found out they were no longer living there. I recall my brother thinking that I was horrible for training with a gun.

Today I am the NY state Director for Honor and Remember working with grieving families who have lost family service members. I present flags to them and educate the public on what the flag is all about. I create awareness. In our over 200 year history there has never been an official national symbol that specifically recognizes in gratitude and respect the ultimate sacrifice made by members of the United States military in service to our nation. The Honor and Remember Flag was created for that purpose.

We hope to raise money for Vietnam flags to be presented to Vietnam Gold Star families at the end of the Run on June 14, 2015 in Albany at the Vietnam memorial. The last mile of the run is dedicated to all Vietnam Veterans. Jenny La Sala will be presenting a copy of her book, Vietnam And Beyond, Veteran Reflections to the Gold Star families.

All donations are welcomed at www.honorandremember.org/run-for-the-fallen/
~Karen Wright, USAF Veteran
NYchapter@honorandremember.org
NYrunforthefallen.org

We are grateful for Karen’s service and for her sharing her story with Comes A Soldier’s Whisper, where we are all connected. We are also deeply honored and have accepted Karen’s invitation to participate in the award ceremonies on June 15, 2015 and will also be presenting copies of the book www.VietnamAndBeyond.com

God Bless all who serve and keep us safe.

My Passion Is Sharing Veteran Stories: jennylasala.com/