MARY STOLZE, who was a nurse in Vietnam, recounts her experiences during the annual Tribute to Veterans luncheon Friday at Ford Airport. On the screen is a photo of her in uniform during the war. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

KINGSFORD — A former nurse who served in Vietnam was featured as the speaker for the annual tribute to veterans luncheon Friday at the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 439 hanger at Ford Airport.

Veterans were treated to a free lunch in an event taking place on the eve of Ford Airport Day today.

The veterans expressed appreciation for the luncheon.

“I think it’s great” said Ken Davis of Iron Mountain, who was a Marine medic in the Marine Corps and also served in Vietnam.

“It’s wonderful that they have everyone here for this,” said Renee Lindow of Kingsford, a volunteer at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain for more than 20 years.

“This is a good idea” said Merle Parsons of Iron Mountain. “It’s a way to recognize the vets and do something for them. I’m sure all the vets, myself included, appreciate it.”

Parsons served in the U.S. Air Force from 1967 to 1971 but not in any combat areas, he said. His first job was the communications center, where they would receive telegrams from Vietnam announcing the death of soldiers, which they would translate into Western Union telegrams to be delivered to families. He later worked at a communications center in Germany.

In her talk, Mary Stolze said she was stationed in California for training in 1969 and met her husband, George, because they needed a fourth player for bridge. They had their first date on July 4th and married on September 12th.

“We were both really scared and it was either get married or we might never see each other again.” she said.

They both served overseas in Vietnam. She was in several MASH-style field hospitals in Vietnam from late 1969 through most of 1970, until she became pregnant and left the service.

“I used to say ‘Our hospital wasn’t nearly as clean or as fun as ‘MASH“TV show, but we had the same goal.”

Their job was to stabilize the injured before they were taken by helicopter to a hospital.

“We didn’t know if they survived or not,” she said. She said that was the worst, not knowing if the men they treated made it home.

She described supply shortages, terrible climate, bugs and the constant fear of her husband, who served with the 101st Airborne.

She wanted to continue serving as long as possible when she became pregnant, but with all the illnesses and other factors decided it was unsafe.

When she returned home with another nurse and several hundred male soldiers, they were warned of protesters. So she and the other nurse changed into civilian clothes and took commercial flights.

She believes that until Desert Storm, people had negative perceptions of Vietnam veterans. She also said that women were not allowed to use VA services for many years.

“It gets a little easier every time I’ve given it” Stolze later said of his talk. “And I was happy to do it for the veterans. I’ve given it in other places — the sorority and in college. I was happy to do it for the veterans because for these guys, especially the Vietnam veterans, there was no brass band when we came home. And the younger veterans thank us for the care they get at the VA and stuff. But we thank them because the reason we get any kind of recognition now is because of them.”

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