Paris, Tenn.–The annual National Vietnam War Veteran’s Day commemoration will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 29, on the courtsquare in downtown Paris.
Retired Colonel David Porter of Jackson will be the speaker and Dave Cullen will offer the invocation. All Vietnam War veterans and everyone in the public is invited.
Colonel Porter is a twenty-seven year Army veteran. He was commissioned an Armor Second Lieutenant in 1968 from South Dakota State University Army ROTC. His initial assignment in the Army after basic officer training was in combat as an aerial scout pilot in the renowned 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam. During that year he participated in the 1 May,1970 invasion of Cambodia. In addition to Vietnam, Porter served multiple tours in Cavalry assignments on the inter-zonal border between East and West Germany during the cold war. In February, 1990 he was the Squadron Commander in the Third Infantry Divisional during the perilous days in Schweinfurt as the wall between East and West Germany collapsed. Additionally, he served in various combat divisions, at the Armor School, and held various tactical staff positions including as a member of the Army Staff in the Pentagon.
After retirement, Porter became the Director of Admissions at Colorado Technical University. In 2000 he began a nineteen year career as a government contractor. His contractor responsibilities focused on training American Soldiers at various locations throughout the United States and Germany.
He and Susie, his wife of over fifty years reside in Jackson, Tennessee. They have been blessed with two grown children and four grandsons.
Major Awards:
Distinguished flying Cross (4 awards)
Legion of Merit (4 Awards)
Bronze Star w/ V device
Military Education
Armor Officer’s Basic and Advanced Courses
US Army Helicopter Flight School
Command and General Staff College
UA Army War College
In 2022, Porter’s Vietnam memoirs were published: Taking Fire! Memoir of an Aerial Scout in Vietnam.
by McFarland & Company.
Photo: The Vietnam Veteran flag on display at the 2024 event. Shannon McFarlin photo.