Respect and gratitude for Vietnam veterans

This past Sunday, March 29, was National Vietnam War Veterans Day, honoring the 9 million Americans who served during the Vietnam era. It was the war of my generation, friends and classmates drafted, often right out of high school. When they returned from war, their fellow Americans often met Vietnam veterans with vitriol. Not a proud moment in our history, for sure.

Those who gave their last full measure of devotion on the battlefield seldom received a hero’s reception either.

Russell Lee Watson was born Feb. 28, 1942, the oldest son of Harold and Marie Watson of Post Falls. In 1959, at age 17, his father signed the papers so Russell could enlist in the Army. It didn’t take long for him to decide to make the Army his career. He served honorably in Korea and the Berlin Airlift before beginning his tour in Vietnam on Oct. 13, 1966.

By this time, Russell was married and the father of an infant son, his wife, Linda, pregnant with their second child. With the draft in effect, many of those serving in combat in Vietnam were still in their teens. At 24, Russell was the “old man” of his unit. He was of slight build and a natural to become one of the Army’s tunnel rats.

In February 1967, a car belonging to the Department of the Army came down the drive of the Watsons' rural home in Post Falls, officers bearing a telegram with the news no family wants to hear. Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Watson was killed in action in Vietnam on Feb. 6, 1967, three weeks shy of his 25th birthday and on the date of his son, Lee’s, very first birthday. His widow was six months pregnant with their daughter, Jean.

There was no flag line, no caravan stretching for miles, as a native son was laid to rest in the family plot at Pleasant View Cemetery, overlooking the Spokane River. No bugler playing taps, rifle salute or folded flag presented to his widow on behalf of a grateful nation. Just a hometown boy with the unwanted distinction of being the first casualty of Vietnam from Kootenai County. Today, Staff Sgt. Russell Watson would be 84 years old, taking pride in his son and daughter and enjoying grandchildren.

Our respect and gratitude for those who served in Vietnam should not be limited to a single day. If you know a Vietnam veteran, give them a hug or a handshake and thank them for serving.

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Save the date! The Coeur d’Alene High School All-Class 50+ Reunion is Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. More info to come, visit the CHS ALL CLASS REUNION 2026 page on Facebook.

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Do you love being visited by hummingbirds? Now’s the time to fill those feeders so the first arrivals can fuel up. Mix one part sugar with four parts water. Boil until the sugar dissolves. No red dye!

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Happy April Fools' Day birthdays to Ed Frazey, Keri Schwenke, Kim Haddock, Candi Applegate, Chris Thompson and Payton Peugh. Tomorrow, Jonathan Owens, Judi Jackson, Dallon Pope, Taylor Huber, Kathy Willy, Beth Barclay, Lee Periman and Neil Gordon mark another year. On Friday, Liz Montgomery, Doreen Porter, Cameron Dominquez and Cindy Jordan blow out their candles. Saturday, Chrissy Wortman, Laura Keck, Marshall Meeks, Nancy Gurno, Duffy Taylor, Ann Fox, Nicholas Kane, Pappy Butler and Toni Hackwith will celebrate. Sharon Stevenson, Terri McTavish, Dan Powers, Sharon Wagner, Kelli Hawkins, John Negaard, Jamie Dallas and Gail Osterson will take another trip around the sun on Easter Sunday. Bruce Hough, Caitlin Hodl and Tyler Bush ring in another year on Monday. April 7 birthdays for Carrie Gridley Shenfield, Katie Keane, Mary Epstein, Melanie Spalding and Eli Gonzales.

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and a former publisher/editor with the Hagadone Newspaper division. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press. Kerri can be reached on Facebook or via email at [email protected].