Sweetwater Tx.

Sharing the Sweet Life

“Each man’s life touches so many other lives …”

Clarence the Angel to George Bailey

“It’s A Wonderful Life” (1946)

It was 1967-68 when Sweetwater touched the lives of several young men, never realizing the impact of its actions.

The men were from across the nation, but were half a world away in a very inhospitable place called Vietnam.

They were the officers and men of the 199th Reconnaissance Airplane Company – the “Swamp Foxes” in their familiar military parlance – which formed at Fort Hood, Texas. Although the war was a widely unpopular one and its veterans were not always appreciated upon their return to the United States, there were those communities – like Sweetwater – which recognized the sacrifices and hardships of those serving their country while trying to preserve democracy for another country.

So it was in 1967-68 that Sweetwater adopted the 199th RAC. No one from the Swamp Foxes really knows who took the lead from Sweetwater – it wasn’t important – but the Chamber of Commerce at least played a supporting role*. Care packages of brochures, newspapers, possibly personal affects – reminders from home for a G.I. living each moment as it may be his last – were sent to Southeast Asia in the Vietnam Delta at Vinh Long. Cookies, they say, were included at Christmastime and were a favorite. And every package with a stateside postmark, especially those from the 79556 zip code, were eagerly anticipated.

Jerry Faust was a U.S. Army Lt. Colonel with the Swamp Foxes. He’s now the mayor of St. Anthony, Minn., a northeast suburb of Minneapolis. Joe Johnson was a Staff Sergeant with the 199th RAC. He’s now retired and living in Augusta, Ga., home of the Masters Golf Tournament.

Jerry and Joe greatly appreciated the gifts from “home.” And for much of the past four decades, they promised themselves they would find an opportunity to thank their adopted hometown of Sweetwater.

For Jerry, that opportunity came in mid-December. Not knowing where to start or who to contact, he started with an e-mail to the Chamber. He wrote of the care packages he received from Sweetwater, and how they “made an impression on me throughout my life.” It was just this past September that Fredericksburg hosted a Swamp Fox reunion, and Jerry reports that “everyone remembered your generosity of 37 years ago.”

“I want to thank you and your community for your generosity,” wrote Jerry, who is also a member of the St. Anthony Chamber of Commerce, “and no good deed goes unrewarded. Your efforts inspired me to get my Chamber of Commerce to do the same for our soldiers in Iraq. ” St. Anthony adopted an aviation unit in Iraq, and collected more than $3,200 for telephone calling cards and Army Air Force Exchange gift cards which were sent to the Middle East for the holidays. Accompanying the modern-day care package to the troops was a letter relating the story of Sweetwater’s role with the 199th RAC.

“I hope this makes your day as much as you made my day some 37 years ago,” Jerry wrote to Sweetwater. “My compatriots and I have never forgotten Sweetwater, Texas!”

Likewise for Joe, his opportunity to thank Sweetwater came Jan. 6 when he walked in the front door of the Chamber offices. He told me he had promised himself that if he was ever in the Sweetwater area, he would stop and thank someone for the kindness Sweetwater extended the 199th RAC. Although in his mind he thought Sweetwater was further southwest than it is, Joe was on his way to Lubbock when I-20 took him right to Sweetwater. Joe’s brother, who lives in Colorado City, was in a Lubbock hospital recovering from a recent heart attack and subsequent heart valve problem.

So for those who were among those who adopted the 199th Reconnaissance Airplane Company in 1967-68, there are at least two very grateful veterans who want to tell you a heartfelt and great big “Thank you!”

Lynn Adams is the Executive Vice President for the Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce and Director of the Convention & Visitors Bureau. He can be contacted at lynn@sweetwatertexas.org.

* I believe this was arranged through Larry Joyce (199^th, deceased) of Sweetwater, Larry Panzer and Richard Gesen (JayCees).- editor