MANSFIELD, Ohio–“Today we are here to honor our fallen service members and remember theirs sacrifices they have made in honor of duty, honor and country. We are here to honor America’s real heroes and remember their achievement, their courage, their dedication, and say thank you for their sacrifices,” said Anthony “Tony” Delong.
Delong is the executive director of the Richland County Veterans Service Commission and a retired Army sergeant. He was the speaker at Mansfield’s Memorial Day ceremony.
“The service members that we honor today come from all walks of life, but all share several fundamental qualities: They possess courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty, and integrity—all of the qualities that are needed to serve a cause that is greater than oneself,” he said.
Delong remembered one veteran who died in Desert Storm—his friend Staff Sgt. David Douthit, a native of Anchorage, Alaska. Delong was a platoon sergeant and Douthit was a scout. Their motor pools were located side by side.
“David and I spent a lot of time talking and he would tell me stories about Anchorage, Alaska and I would tell him stories about Ohio. David and I were very close and I would tell him dreams about how one day I was going to start a funnel cake company. And David woiuld tell me he was going to go into landscaping.”
They were in Saudia Arabia in 1990 and after they were there a few months, Operation Desert Storm began.
“During the nights of Feb. 23rd and Feb. 24th the U.S. Air Force suppressed a heavy air attack on Highway 8, the road that runs between Basra, Iraq and the gates of Kuwait. This attack destroyed most of the Iraqi vehicles on the highway. On 27 February, the 16th Infantry and 34th Armor Battalion were tasked with the responsibility of removing these vehicles 50 meters off of the road that is now better known as the Highway of Death.
Delong ordered his men to stay on the road and stay out of the sand, which was riddled with unexploded ordnanace.
“Just 1,000 feet down the road, David jumped out the top side of his Humvee and stepped on an unexploded ordnance. David immediately lost all of his right foot and a good part of his right leg. My company medic Staff Sgt. Martinez did everything he could to save David’s life but sadly David died later that evening.
Believe me when I tell you that there’s not a single Memorial Day that goes by that I don’t think about my friend David. I think of his wife Jessica, and I think of his family. You see, they too have paid the ultimate sacrifice that day,” said a tear Delong.
Delong’s story is like many stories that are recalled on Memorial Day. As Capt. Phil Messer Jr. of Mansfield and Capt. Jerad Ames, members of the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing stationed at Toledo flew two F-16s over downtown Mansfield, one quiet veteran’s salute and shout was lost to the roar of the planes and the crowd’s upturned faces.
Army SP4 Bob Van Horn served in Vietnam and explained how, when he lived in Marietta, he helped campaign to have a new road named for a MIA soldier from Marietta. The road is now named Captain D Seeley Mia Drive.
Like Delong, Van Horn does not forget.
Playing Taps
