POW/MIA Tribute Honors Absent Warriors

WILDWOOD – Ruby Cramer, American Legion Auxiliary New Jersey Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) state chair, Ted Behr and Margaret Decker were on a mission. On Sept. 21, they stood in front of the Vietnam War Memorial Wall, a replica of the original in Washington, D.C. Both walls have the names of 58,195 Americans killed in the war in Vietnam. Getting the replica of the Wall for Wildwood was the work of Mary Moroney who lovingly calls it “my wall.” Tonight she was on the same mission as her three comrades.
“Don’t forget our POWs and MIAs and especially don’t forget Bowe Bergdahl,” Moroney said. The sentiment was repeated often during the evening’s ceremonies that were sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary and the Cape May County American Legion.
The only POW of the Afghan War, Sgt. Bowe Robert Bergdahl, was born in 1986 in Sun Valley, Idaho. In July 2009 he was a member of the 25th Infantry Division. While on patrol near the Afghan-Pakistan border he was taken prisoner by members of the Taliban. They have made various ransom demands in the four years since his captivity. A personal representative of the Bergdahl family, Christina Baumgardiner addressed the crowd of over 100.
Baumgardiner recounted the latest offer made by the Taliban. That offer was to trade Bergdahl for five generals captured by American forces at the onset of the war. Those generals fought against the Northern Alliance and “did not shed American blood.” There would be no dishonor in such a trade and she urged the people to contact President Obama who has the sole power to make such a deal. “Call the White House (202-456-1414) or e-mail.” She reminded everyone that time was running out for the young sergeant. “Remember, the United States pulls out in 2014.”
In addition to Baumgardiner, the ceremonies featured many speakers who came from all over the country to educate and honor those who have given their all for the country. Tom Enghilterra and his wife Nancy have been involved for 30 years with the National League of POW/MIA Families. This year he said the emphasis was on “bringing Bowe (Bergdahl) home.”
To keep the lost ones in the public’s mind, the National Day of Remembrance for POW/MIA was instituted by an act of Congress in 1998. It is held on the third Friday in September. There are no POW/MIAs from either the first Gulf War or the Iraq War. There are still 1,657 unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. This includes 43 men from New Jersey who are still missing. Bergdahl is the only POW from the Afghanistan War.
Herman Sheibein is the ALP commander from Tuckahoe who served with the Fifth Army in Da Nang (Vietnam) and then was sent to Chicago to handle the 1968 riots. “That was hard to deal with,” he recalled. “It’s important to remember the men who can’t be here.”
His fellow commander from Woodbine Post 298, David Zweigenbaum, echoed his sentiments. Because of America’s recent wars, membership in the Legion has increased. It has given Zweigenbaum a new mission. “The Legion is coming back and we want to reach out to the young vets coming back.” Zweigenbaum said. “If they need help we want to do that.”
Zweigenbaum also said that his post’s members reach out to local school children, especially around Veterans Day. They sponsor both contests and speakers. Zweigenbaum noted that Woodbine had sent “a great many young men off to Vietnam.” Some never returned.
In the crowd, Drew and Amanda Johnson stood with their children — Jacob, 14; Cheyanne, 11, and Calen 7. “I want the children to remember the sacrifice of our servicemen, including my grandfather, Andrew Steins, U.S.M.C. who fought at Iwo Jima,” said Johnson. The young family was on vacation from the tiny Pennsylvania town of Auburn and son Jacob said he hoped on day to join the service. They also expressed the hope that our government “would get Sgt. Bergdahl back.” Jacob knew that because of the people of the American Legion and the Legion Auxiliary, America’s military members would never be left and forgotten.