At first glance, they look like quilts.
But the 12 quilts presented to Vietnam era veterans from Manteca on Sunday afternoon are more than just quilts.
They were a gesture of thanks handcrafted in the hopes of providing comfort and warmth to those who wrote a blank check more than 50 years ago to Uncle Sam that could have cost them their lives.
The quilts are one of more than 1,000 made by 25 members of the Amador Valley Quilters whose membership is drawn from the greater Pleasonton-Livermore-Dublin area.
They are part of the national Quilts of Valor effort.
Michelle McCumber, the group leader of the Quilts of Valor, oversaw the presentation before a full house at the Manteca Veterans of Foreign Wars Post on Moffat Boulevard Sunday.
McCumber told the gathering their mission is to honor those veterans and service personnel “touched by war” — with a handmade quilt.
She read a short military bio of each recipient on a one-on-one basis prior to quilts being wrapped around a seated veteran by volunteers Jeana Collinsworth and Jana Corral.
The recipients were:
Halsey ‘Hal’ Corbett, Army, E5, Vietnam 1967 -1969
Corbett is a distinguished Vietnam War veteran who served with the 25th Infantry Division, 9th Battalion. Throughout his service, he demonstrated exceptional bravery and commitment, earning several prestigious awards, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star with V Device, and the Purple Heart. The Silver Star reflects his gallantry in action, while the Bronze Star with V Device honors his heroic actions during combat. The Purple Heart was awarded in recognition of the wounds he sustained while serving. Additionally, Hal was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, recognizing his exemplary service and dedication to duty. His courage and sacrifice serve as a testament to his unwavering commitment during one of the most challenging periods in American history.
George Terry, Army, E5, Vietnam 1967 – 1969
Duty stations: Basic Training at Ft. Bliss, Texas, AIT - at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. Deployment: Vietnam. Duty Station: Ft. Ord, California. In Vietnam he drove 5-ton truck and trailer, at times he would also be on a gun truck giving support to the convoy in case of an ambush.
Robin Taberna, Army, E4, Vietnam 1967 – 1969
Taberna served in the 589th Combat Engineers. His Basic Training was at Fort Lewis Washington. AIT at Fort McArthur in San Pedro and then to Fort Hood, Texas, then to Oakland to be shipped out to Quy Nhon, Vietnam. He was then assigned to Pleiku, Vietnam.
Art Smith, Army, E5, Vietnam 1970 – 1973
His duty stations were Ft Ord, CA, Ft Gordon, GA, Ft Benning, GA, Vietnam, Buon Ma Thuot, Phan Rang and Nha Trang. Last duty station was Ft Polk, La. Smith received training as a K9 handler and his primary duty was to keep the enemy troops from breaching the security perimeter around the bases. Upon his return to the U. S. he was assigned to Ft Polk as a drill sergeant.
Jack White, Army, E3, Vietnam 1968 – 1969
Basic training at Fort Lewis, WA, Artillery training at Fort Sill, OK. White served in Vietnam at Dong Tam, and Ben Tre in the first of the 84th artillery, 9th Infantry. He operated a 155 Howitzer.
Michael Carroll, Marine Corp, Vietnam 1965 – 1968
Carroll’s duty stations were San Diego, Ca.; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Chu Li Vietnam; Da Nang Vietnam and Barstow Ca. Carroll received the following metals: National Defense Service Metal, Vietnam Service Metal with two Stars, Vietnam Campaign Metal with device, Presidential Unit Citation to the Fifth Marine Regiment, First Marine Division for service set forth in the following citation: For extraordinary heroism, inaction, against the North Vietnamese forces during operation Union and Union II in the Que Son Area.
Danny Beever, “Beeve”, Marine Corp, Vietnam 1966 - 1961
Beever’s duty stations were Camp Pendelton, San Diego, CA; Camp Carroll, Vietnam, Qua Viet, Vietnam.
Danny was awarded the National Defense Metal, Republic of Vietnam Service Metal with four Stars, Vietnam Service Metal, Presidential Unit Citation, and the Marine Corp Good Conduct Metal.
Michael Dillman, Army, E4, Vietnam 1968 – 1970
Dillman’s duty stations were Fort Lewis, WA and Vietnam. He served with the 10th Transportation Battalion as a Chaplin's Assistant.
Dillman used his traumatic experience in Vietnam to motivate him once he returned home to help veterans, so that no veteran would return home unwelcome to an ungrateful nation. He established the "Not Forgotten" Corporation to help veterans receive the help they need, mentally, physically and spiritually to feel welcomed home. After 50 years he has retired from Pastoral Ministry, however, he continues to help veterans to this day.
Jim Walker, Army, E5, Vietnam 1965 – 1968
Walker was inducted at Fort Lewis, Washington and did his basic training at Fort Ord, Monterey, Ca. Advanced infantry training at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland and Fort Campbell Kentucky, and then Vietnam. Walker served in Vietnam at Pleiku Provence. He was attached to a Cav Unit, with the 4th infantry division. He served in Dak To during the Battle of Tet Defense in November 1967. He served in forward maintenance in evacuation and recovery. He drove an M88, which is larger than a tank.
John Costodio, ‘Johnny’, Army, E5 Stg. Vietnam, 1968 – 1970
Costodio did his basic and infantry training at Fort Ord, Monterey CA. He served in Vietnam in the Pleiku Provence. He was in the 4th infantry division, 1st of the 22nd Company C. He was a forward observer and gave coordinates for fire missions and called in artillery from the gunships. Hi unit was called the "Regulars by God" and the only ones allowed to wear black scarves other than the Green Berets.
Edward Dorsey ‘Ed’, Army, E5 Sgt. Vietnam 1967 – 1969
His basic and advanced infantry training was at Fort Polk, LA.
U.S. Army veteran, Dorsey, served with honor and bravery during the Vietnam War. From 1967 to 1969, he was stationed in Lao Cai (La Kay), serving as an infantryman in the 1st & 16th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, and 60th Infantry Regiment.
Throughout his service, Sergeant Dorsey displayed unwavering courage and dedication to his mission. His heroic actions on the battlefield earned him numerous commendations, including the Bronze Star Medal with V device, two Purple Hearts, the Air Medal, and several other distinguished awards.
Al Clark, Marine Corp, E4 Corporal, Vietnam 1967 – 1969
Clark’s basic training was at San Diego, CA. He served in Quang Tri, and the A Shau Valley, Vietnam, operating a N79 Grenade Launcher and duty as a Radioman.
The 17 fallen in Vietnam
from Manteca remembered
Ron Cruz, who was previously presented with a Quit of Valor, prior to the quilt presentations read the names of the 17 Manteca men who died while serving in Vietnam
The fallen soldiers, sailors, Air Force, and Marines from Manteca were Lance Corporal Brock Elliott, 19, Marine Corps; BM3 Charles M. White, 29, U.S. Navy; Sp4 Frederick G. Lopez, 21, U.S. Army; SO4 William McJimsey, 20, U.S. Army; Pfc. David E. Gore, 19, U.S. Marine Corps; Sgt. Jessee Rodriguez, 20, U.S. Army; Sp4 Carl Borgen, 21, U.S. Army; Pfc. Joseph Tafoa, 20, U.S. Army.
Sgt. Robert M. Davenport, 23, U.S. Army; Sgt. Joseph Lewis, 22, U.S. Army; Sgt. Bruce M. Sours, 21, U.S. Army; Pfc. Larry K. Motley, 20, U.S. Army; Sp4 Jack Landers, 19, U.S. Army; Lance Corporal James E. Lowry, 20, U.S. Marine Corps; Warrant Officer Gale Butcher, Jr., 20, U.S. Army; Airman first class Leslie W. Morgan, 23, U.S. Air Force; and Captain Grant Uhls, 25, U.S. Air Force.
Quilts of Valor
launched in 2003
Quilts of Valor was launched in 2003 by Catherine Roberts, whose son Nat was serving in the Gulf War at the time.
Roberts recalls on the organization’s website a dream she had.
“The dream was as vivid as real life,” Roberts writes. “I saw a young man sitting on the side of his bed in the middle of the night, hunched over.”
“The permeating feeling was one of utter despair. I could see his war demons clustered around, dragging him down into an emotional gutter. Then, as if viewing a movie, I saw him in the next scene wrapped in a quilt.”
“His whole demeanor changed from one of despair to one of hope and well-being. The quilt had made this dramatic change. The message of my dream was: Quilts = Healing.”
Volunteer teams across the country donate their time and materials to make a quilt.
The quilts, according to the group’s website, convey a message: “Thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor in serving our nation.”
To date, more than 760 groups across the nation have sewn and presented Quilts of Valor to more than 400,000 veterans.
The honorees are nominated for consideration.
For more information on Quilts of Valor go to qofv.org
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
