By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator
When James Alt returned from the Vietnam War in October, 1970, be brought back with him a strong work ethic, a new appreciation of solidarity, strong desire to protect his own, and a need to keep serving.
“I learned a good work ethic. Being a combat veteran, we all work together, no matter what,” James said. “We have to protect each other – that’s what I brought home with me.”
Yet, James brought one more thing home with him: a Purple Heart.
James was honored as the Seneca County Veteran of the Year during a ceremony hosted by Seneca County Veterans Services at the Attica Fairgrounds Social Hall on Nov. 6. The hall was packed with people who wanted to extend their gratitude to Jim for his service, including Seneca County Common Pleas Court Judge Damon Alt; Seneca County Juvenile and Probate Judge Jay Meyer; Seneca County Commissioner Anthony Paradiso; Seneca County Commissioner Bill Frankart; Seneca County Commissioner Tyler Shuff; Tiffin Mayor Lee Wilkinson; Fostoria Mayor Don Mennel; and Seneca County Veterans Service Office Executive Director, Tara Balliet.
“I’m really glad you were the one chosen,” Balliet said. “Jim deserves to be Seneca County Veteran of the Year. He’s humble. It’s very deserving.”
James was inducted into the U.S. Army in April of 1969. His father, Mark Alt, took part in the second wave of invasion on D-Day during World War II, and James was proud to continue his family’s tradition of service and sacrifice.
James deployed for Vietnam in October, 1969, and served as a machine-gunner with the 25th Infantry Division in the Tay Ninh Province and along the Cambodian border. On May 19, 1970, his platoon was attacked.
“We set up a night ambush. It was a typical thing we did. We did that four or five nights a week,” James said. “That night, we got hit. Two were lost, and 11 were wounded.”
James was among the wounded, but he returned to combat after treatment and, despite his new understanding of the horrors of enemy attack, he bravely completed his tour of Vietnam.
For many years, his memories of war were held tightly guarded, and his Purple Heart was kept out of sight. His middle daughter was unaware that her father was a Purple Heart recipient until she learned of the honor through a chance conversation with a teacher when she was about 18.
But while his past remained behind a veil, his heart was poured generously into his family and community. He volunteers with many local organizations, all with the blessing of his wife, Ray Ann, whom he married over 50 years ago.
“We’ve had many chats,” Balliet said. “Never once in our chats has he revealed much about his time in the service, but when it comes to his family, he’s just very talkative. He talks about his wife and daughters – he is very smitten.”
About 15 years ago, James and Ray Ann began searching for James’ platoon members, and six of them met for a reunion in Green Bay, Wisconsin in about 2010. When James walked into the reunion, the gate that held his memories at bay began to slowly open.
“To get together like that, it’s like being together just yesterday,” James said. “We reminisced about when we served together. People talk about the brotherhood. We have it. It’s unreal. It’s just a different feeling.”
In the midst of the shared memories, minds began to heal. Family members of the men who died in the May 19, 1970, attack attended the reunion.
“Two men died. It’s the sad and sorrowful part of it,” James said. “But we got to meet the families of the fallen. Some of the families came to the first reunion. It helped them get closure, and we got closure, too.”
From that point, James’ past was free to intertwine with his present. Although he had been actively involved with the community, he held a new-found desire to serve other veterans.
“After that, I got involved in the vet side of things,” he said.
The sweetness of connecting with the family of friends who died by his side gave James the freedom to live more fully than he ever had before.
“One of the men who died was from Kentucky. His wife and sister came to our reunion,” James said. “That’s the good part. It’s the good part of the sad and sorrowful part we didn’t want.”