WEST PLAINS, MISSOURI: On Saturday, November 2, 2024, in the spirit of giving Thanks, the Ozark Spring Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) was pleased to present Mr. Douglas Pence with an officially registered Quilt of Valor (QOV) and Thank him for his sacrifice and service for our nation and local community. This presentation was an additional recognition after he was chosen as one of the Missouri State Society Daughters of the American Revolution (MSSDAR) “Patriot of the Month” in June, 2023.
At the age of 17, Mr. Pence enlisted in the Army in 1969 during the Vietnam War. After basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, he was sent to Fort Lee, Virginia to complete training as a Combat Armorer. Upon completion of that training, Mr. Pence was moved to Fort Benning, Georgia to complete Parachute Training School. At his first duty station, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Brigade in the 325thInfantry Bravo Company at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he was in charge of the Army Room. While in North Carolina, his company went TDY to West Point, New York where he was used to teach classes on pistol, M16 and hand-to-hand combat to cadets enrolled at the prestigious military school. Unfortunately, on his twelfth parachute jump, a parachute accident occurred, and he fell 160 feet to the ground.
At the age of 18, Mr. Pence was sent to Vietnam where he was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade 2/503 Alpha Company. The 173rdCompany is an elite Special Forces team that during World War II was comprised of 10th Special Forces group of Green Berets, and the Army Rangers. Its primary mission was to strategically deploy, conduct forcible entry parachute assaults, and secure key directives for follow-on military objectives. The 173rd was involved in some of the most brutal fighting during the Vietnam War.
Mr. Pence was assigned to Camp Radcliffe in An Khe and Bien Hoa, then later to Camp English in Phu Bi. He worked in a seven to twelve man team that conducted ambushes, prisoner snatch and grab, raids and escape operations. These troops would also assist other teams or units if extra personnel were needed. His unit conducted long range reconnaissance patrols (LRRP’s) and fought against the 95th division of the Peoples Army of the Republic of Vietnam and Viet Cong (PARV/VC).
Part of Mr. Pence’s training included attending the 173rd School of Jungle Training for three weeks. He learned to recognize signs for booby traps, how to walk point and slack, and basically stay alive. Missions were designed to be three days on and three days back at camp, but invariably lasted longer than expected. Due to the opposition to the Vietnam War back in the United States and the Nixon pull back, the men didn’t always get the supplies they needed when on reconnaissance. When the brigade returned to the United States during the pull-back, his group returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he was reassigned to the 101st Airborne Division.
Mr. Pence was wounded in battle and still carries shrapnel in his lung. He also contracted tall three kinds of malaria found in Vietnam, which worsened on his return home, and was sent to Fort Ord, California for treatment. He was medically discharged in 1971 due to his injuries and diseases from Fort Ord with the rank of E-5. His medals and honors include: National Defense, Good Conduct, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, Parachute Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Gallantry Cross, Civil Action Honor Medal 1/C and 2/C. Army Presidential Unit Citation, Army Meritorious Citation, RVN Presidential Citation, Expert Marksman with auto rifle and pistol, and Sharpshoot Badge with rifle. It’s just been within the past few weeks that Mr. Pence finally received the Purple Heart he was due for his service some 50 years ago.
Mr. Pence has been married to his wife Donna for over 50 years, and they have three sons. In civilian life, he served in facilities management for three hospitals, Carthage College, and the First Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The mission of the Quilts of Valor (QOV) Foundation is to cover Service Members and Veterans who have been touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. The QOV Foundation started in 2003 from a literal dream of Catherine Roberts for her son Nat who was deployed to Iraq. According to the QOV website, the following statement from Catherine: “The dream was as vivid as real life. 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.”
The focus of the QOV Foundation is on those most in need of comfort and healing; those who need to know their sacrifice is acknowledged, those who need the affirmation of a hug, and those who never heard the words “Welcome Home.”
Individuals who are eligible for a QOV include:
Once nominations have been submitted and quilts have been completed, presentation events are scheduled and the official gifting of a QOV is made. The quilt itself will have a patch on the back with a designated QOV number, the name of the awardee, the name of the nominator(s), and usually date of presentation. The quilt is also, then, registered with the QOV Foundation.
Several members and friends of the Ozark Spring Chapter worked together to piece, sew, set batting, quilt, and attached binding to the quilt presented to Mr. Pence. They were honored to share their time and talents to hopefully bring comfort and healing to this well-deserving veteran. In addition to the QOV, Mr. Pence was also presented with a DAR Veteran of the Vietnam War pin as another “Thank You for your service.”
