Two local Vietnam veterans, Gregory Lee from Peru and Harry Treadway of Ticonderoga, recently shared their stories of service and sacrifice during the Vietnam War. Both men, hailing from families with a tradition of military service, felt a strong desire to fight for their country.Gregory Lee, a Vietnam veteran from Peru, served in the Marines, joining the military at the age of 16 against regulations. Medically retired at 19, Lee expressed his deep sense of duty, stating, “I felt like I wanted to be there to serve my country.”Harry Treadway, a Vietnam veteran from Ticonderoga, served in the Army, influenced by a family history of military service. Treadway mentioned, “It was an obligation that I felt that I needed to do,” due to the tough experiences of his uncle in Korea and his father in World War II.While serving in Vietnam in the spring of 1969, Gregory Lee and fellow soldiers found themselves pinned down during a multi-battalion operation involving airstrikes. Lee recounted the harrowing experience, revealing that he lost his arm during the attack, ultimately ending his active service.”We were pinned down. I was wounded twice. I was wounded in the back of the neck two months prior to being wounded the second time, which got me my ticket home. The day I lost the arm,” shared Lee.Despite not being originally from Northern New York, both Lee and Treadway found a sense of belonging in the area. Lee worked as a civilian at the Plattsburgh Airforce Base, and after its closure, the North Country became his “home base.” Treadway, on the other hand, moved to the area when he got married and has remained ever since.Both veterans expressed their gratitude for the community’s support and the North Country’s genuine appreciation for its veterans.”I soon found out that this was a military area; there was a real appreciation for the military in this area. I mean, right away, I just knew it,” said Lee.Treadway added, “The North Country is a great place to be a veteran because there’s quite a few of them in the North Country, and you’re appreciated.”The veterans commended the North Country for its ongoing efforts to celebrate their service, citing regular Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies, as well as Honor Flight sendoffs.A flag ceremony is scheduled for 11:00 a.M. on Saturday morning on the Oval. The ceremony is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend.
Two local Vietnam veterans, Gregory Lee from Peru and Harry Treadway of Ticonderoga, recently shared their stories of service and sacrifice during the Vietnam War. Both men, hailing from families with a tradition of military service, felt a strong desire to fight for their country.
Gregory Lee, a Vietnam veteran from Peru, served in the Marines, joining the military at the age of 16 against regulations.
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Medically retired at 19, Lee expressed his deep sense of duty, stating, “I felt like I wanted to be there to serve my country.”
Harry Treadway, a Vietnam veteran from Ticonderoga, served in the Army, influenced by a family history of military service.
Treadway mentioned, “It was an obligation that I felt that I needed to do,” due to the tough experiences of his uncle in Korea and his father in World War II.
While serving in Vietnam in the spring of 1969, Gregory Lee and fellow soldiers found themselves pinned down during a multi-battalion operation involving airstrikes. Lee recounted the harrowing experience, revealing that he lost his arm during the attack, ultimately ending his active service.
“We were pinned down. I was wounded twice. I was wounded in the back of the neck two months prior to being wounded the second time, which got me my ticket home. The day I lost the arm,” shared Lee.
Despite not being originally from Northern New York, both Lee and Treadway found a sense of belonging in the area. Lee worked as a civilian at the Plattsburgh Airforce Base, and after its closure, the North Country became his “home base.” Treadway, on the other hand, moved to the area when he got married and has remained ever since.
Both veterans expressed their gratitude for the community’s support and the North Country’s genuine appreciation for its veterans.
“I soon found out that this was a military area; there was a real appreciation for the military in this area. I mean, right away, I just knew it,” said Lee.
Treadway added, “The North Country is a great place to be a veteran because there’s quite a few of them in the North Country, and you’re appreciated.”
The veterans commended the North Country for its ongoing efforts to celebrate their service, citing regular Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies, as well as Honor Flight sendoffs.
A flag ceremony is scheduled for 11:00 a.M. on Saturday morning on the Oval. The ceremony is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend.
