Forgotten no more: Marine spurs effort to fix Vietnam War memorial

For decades, a simple stone monument has stood in Anderson’s Equinox Park to honor the county’s veterans of the Vietnam War.

County officials aren’t sure how old it is, but a spot for the monument was included when plans for the park off Standridge Road were drawn up in the 1980s.

But in the last few years, the monument seemed to have gone nearly unnoticed, just a few hundred yards from towering oaks with overgrown branches.

That is changing now because of a plea from a serviceman.

Josh Smith, a Marine Corps veteran, was riding his motorcycle recently when he decided to take a road he’d never taken on his way home. He saw the monument for the first time.

It is inscribed: “Dedicated to the memory and honor of all Anderson County Vietnam veterans. They will always be remembered for their sacrifices and their love for freedom.”

Smith looked around and shook his head.

The monument was dirty.

Nearby, a flagpole stood — cracked, bent and empty.

Limbs that had fallen from the oaks were scattered on the ground.

“The veterans this memorial was erected for deserve better than that,” Smith said. “Some of our veterans have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, and they end up with their names on a wall — and even that wasn’t cared for.”

Smith, who will turn 33 next week, was in the Marines for seven years. He served in Iraq, and he was in the 2-mile funeral procession when one of his comrades was laid to rest in Texas. The Pendleton High School graduate works for a construction company now, but his time in service is never far from his mind.

It’s why he joined Teufelshunde Motorcycle Club, an Anderson-based group of riders who are all Marines. The club’s name is the German phrase for “devil dogs,” and the riders use it because of the legend that Germans gave U.S. Marines that nickname in World War I.

“When I got off my bike and saw what kind of shape the memorial was in, I couldn’t help but wonder: ‘What if my name was on that wall?” Smith said. “I served my country. How am I going to be treated when I am gone?”

Smith wrote a letter a few days ago to Anderson County Council member Gracie Floyd, asking for her help to get the monument and the flagpole fixed. He sent a copy to the Anderson County parks and recreation department. The two-person department oversees the upkeep of 37 parks.

Matt Schell, the department manager, said Thursday that the county is working on improvements around the park. The bent flagpole and the concrete base beneath it were recently removed. The trees have been trimmed, and the monument was pressure-washed this week. He hopes to have an American flag flying near the monument by Memorial Day. He expects that all the work around the monument will cost about $5,000.

“This was not on a list for us to work on,” Schell said. “I think that people kind of forgot the monument was there. It fell unseen for a little while, unfortunately. But we are going to do the best we can to make it right.”

Floyd said Thursday that she was grateful Smith brought the monument’s condition to the attention of county officials.

“I think the Vietnam War is an era of time that we don’t give enough attention to,” she said. “I am appreciative of this gentleman’s efforts. We need more people in Anderson County who are willing to step up and say what they believe and try to get things done.”

Smith visited the memorial again Thursday, this time with fellow Marine Pit Jones.

“I’m proud of him for saying something,” Jones said.

Smith looked around at the work that had been done. He said he doesn’t want any credit for it.

“Being in the Marines is being part of a brotherhood and being part of a family,” Smith said. “And you look out for your family — even if they are gone from this world.”

This story was originally published April 9, 2015 at 8:46 PM with the headline "Forgotten no more: Marine spurs effort to fix Vietnam War memorial."