Platoon finally gets a hero’s welcome

Joe Jaszewski / The Idaho Statesman

Members of Platoon 3056, the first Idaho-only platoon, stand during the presentation of a color guard at a ceremony honoring them Monday on the Statehouse steps. The celebration marked the 35th anniversary of the group´s enlistment in the U.S. Marines.

Wayne Hoffman
The Idaho Statesman

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne on Monday honored 80 Idahoans who more than three decades ago enlisted in the Marines and headed off to war in Vietnam.

The governor welcomed them home officially at a Statehouse ceremony marking the 35th anniversary of their enlistment and the formation of the first Idaho-only platoon.

The Marines “did not return to the hero´s welcome that they deserve,” Kempthorne told the veterans gathered in front of him. “Your service in Southeast Asia will not fade. I´m proud to officially welcome you home. It´s 35 years overdue (but) it is as important today as it was 35 years ago.”

Two dozen of the original 80 members of Platoon 3056 attended the Statehouse ceremony, along with dozens more veterans and other onlookers.

Platoon member Jim Mahon said the decision to fight in Vietnam was “a difficult choice and not the popular choice of many of our peers.”

“But we did it anyway,” said Pat McCormack, another platoon member.

“Thank you for your service to your country,” McCormack said. “Semper Fi, Marines, and welcome home.”

Kempthorne bent his own rule Monday, ordering that the POW/MIA flag fly over the state Capitol on Monday even though the flag, according to his own executive order, is supposed to fly only on select holidays.

Kempthorne spokesman Mark Snider said the executive order, signed in May, merely spells out the days the flag must fly over the state Capitol, but doesn´t bar the governor from flying the flag on additional days as well.

The flag is to fly over the Statehouse six times a year, including Memorial Day and Independence Day.