Chaplain's Corner

By: Chaplain Bill Karabinos
2nd Issue, 2025

“Veterans don’t ask much for their service, but we hope to be remembered.”

Earlier this year, I received an uplifting letter from a fellow Blackhorse Trooper. In that letter from Roger Boyce, it outlined some of the volunteer service he performs to honor his brother warriors of the 11th Cavalry.

The quote above was part of the address Roger, a Vietnam veteran of the 2nd Squadron presented to the student body at the high school in in Park Rapids, Minnesota on Veterans Day, 2024.

Roger Boyce (HOW 2, 71/72) recalls his final days in Vietnam and 53 years later, writes this note to his chaplain. “You last prayed over me 53 years ago at Fiddlers Green [Firebase]. You asked God to watch over our lives as we leave Vietnam and return to the families and the life we left behind. Chaplain, you should know that for me at least and, like the Legend of Fiddler’s Green where the Fiddler never stops playing, God never stopped filling my life with blessings of all kinds. Like the hymn, Count Your Blessings, I can name them all, one by one”.

Not only did he give this high school assembly an inspiring address, Roger participates in numerous other veteran programs in the Minnesota area: USO tributes and sponsored events, VFW military salutes and honor guards, civic action and social events parades honoring our troops – an especially at recognition ceremonies that honor those who left their blood behind on foreign lands.

In his speech to the students of Sebeka High School, which group he addresses as “The future of America,” he continues: “We are here today to recognize Veterans Day, a day set aside to thank and remember all men and women that put on their uniforms, set aside their lives to protect our freedom, our flag, and the Torch of Liberty.”

Continuing he related the story of Calvin Leon Graham who enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 12. A lad who served our nation in World War II and participated in the battles of Santa Cruz, Guadalcanal and then into the Korean War, before the Department of Defense learned that he had forged his mother’s name and signed up. In that 10-year period, he had been awarded a Bronze Star with “V”, a Purple Heart and World War II and Korean War campaign medals. Roger then reminded the students that like Calvin and the young shepherd boy (David) who became a king, each of you have a great power to do great things.

When Roger asked for a show of hands as to his question: “How many of you young people have ever been lost?” He wasn’t surprised that so many hands were raised. So, he followed with this story:

“Well, I got lost once. Not at the county fair, no…lost in the jungles of Vietnam. Even in the day time, the jungle can be so thick that it can be very dark.

We were out patrolling as we often did and I’m not exactly sure how it happened, but suddenly I found myself alone. Not lost at the mall or county fair, but halfway around the world lost … and alone. Now I knew how to read a compass, but which way did my patrol go? I walked for some time but soon got tired and sat down on a log. I thought maybe a little talk with God might be in order. In that troubled prayer, I asked Him to show me the way back to my base camp. I remember the promise that if I make it back to my patrol that for the rest of my days, I would try my very best to always do the right thing, even when no one was watching.

With that short prayer I got off the log and walked just over the next ridge and I saw our flag. It was flying in the wind on top of a radio antenna of one of our tanks. I felt the way you might have felt when you saw your parents after you were lost. That flag was like seeing the familiar face of your parents and the answer to a short prayer. You remember that feeling.

Roger, continuing his smooth and heartfelt presentation he said: “The point I am trying to make today, is that to a veteran this flag means a great deal. We trained under the flag, we fought under the flag, and we will be buried under this flag.

There are those today that will dishonor this grand old flag and disrespect the veterans that served to protect it. As I said you students here are Americas future, and I think that you will find the courage to do the right things even when no one is watching.

This is the part where most speakers might say thank you and may God bless America. Well, that’s true enough, but I say God has blessed America. May he continue to bless America.

You see, Veterans don’t ask much for their service, but we do hope to be remembered.”
I served with Roger in Vietnam in late 1971 and early 1972, and especially recall our last several days at Firebase Fiddler’s Green, Roger reminded me of that at our last reunion, 53 years later and he carries on representing all of us through his voluntary service, so often still wearing his dress uniform that proudly displays that red, white and black insignia of the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment.

Thank you, Roger, you are still doing the right thing – right!

OKLAHOMA KIA's - GRAVES LOCATION

Part of Operation Embrace is, and has been, an opportunity to locate the grave sites of our KIA’s; of those men who died in Vietnam and their remains. Some are buried in national cemeteries, others in memorial gardens or private cemeteries all across the USA. Once located we honor their memory, often with a visit…and stand over their grave marker to offer a solemn and, I’d like to think, a prayerful salute. Allen Hathaway and Pete Walter, over the years as coordinators of Operation Embrace and the Funeral Honor Guard and have compiled a list of where our fallen comrades are buried, and each year as we travel to our reunions, in various places in the contiguous states, we make an effort to go to those sites and offer our respects. Last year at Omaha, a goodly number of our attendees accompanied President Frank Church, Operation Embrace Chairman Allen Hathaway and the Chaplain to the grave site of Specialist Lane Carlston Johnson to honor his sacrifice.

During that visitation and on other visitations in previous years, an effort had to be made to clean or repair; yes, even locate the actual grave. Those trips, though tedious and often in a hot southern sun, were extremely rewarding to the Blackhorse veterans who accompanied the party.

This coming September in Tulsa, four graves have been located within a short drive of our reunion hotel, at least one of which we will make an effort to visit - and if need requires, clean or repair the headstone.

We expect to make that trip on Friday afternoon, September 5. Once at the reunion, a more definitive locations of the sites will be made, and we hope to visit at least one those locations, possibly more. Should you wish to join us, please gather at 1300 hours on Friday at the entrance to the Promenade Ballroom.

Chaplain Blandin “Bill” Karabinos

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