In honor of Veterans Day, members of the Lake Minnetonka Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution presented hand-crafted Quilts of Valor to three deserving Twin Cities veterans of the Vietnam War.
Each Quilt of Valor recipient is a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart Medal is awarded to members of the United States military who have been wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy. The 2022 Quilt of Valor recipients are East Bethel resident, Philip Perron; Edina businessman, John J. Sorich III of Minneapolis; and Woodbury resident, Joseph L. Coopet, Jr. The quilts were presented to each veteran in a private ceremony.
Mr. Perron volunteered for service in 1968 and served with both the 1-11 Infantry, 1st Brigade, 5th Mechanized Infantry Division and 3rd Platoon, C Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army. He participated in the horrific Battle of Hamburger Hill, so called by the press when a sergeant responded to a reporter’s question saying, “Have you ever been inside a hamburger machine? We just got cut to pieces by extremely accurate machine gun fire.” Perron ran up and down the 937-meter-high jungle mountain every day of the ten-day battle. He was wounded on his last run, but still had the strength to carry his lifeless medic back down the hill. Mr. Perron’s experience is recorded at West Point’s Center for Oral History.
Mr. Sorich and Mr. Coopet first met in 1969 when they served together in the 11th Armored Cavalry “Black Horse” Regiment (ACR) of the United States Army. This famous regiment was established on February 2, 1901 and has a history of valorous service in both World Wars as well as Vietnam. The two veterans reunited in the 1980s and have become good friends.
Mr. Sorich hails from a dedicated military family and is part of “over 100 years of ‘John Sorichs’ serving the country.” His grandfather, John, served in WWI, his father, John Jr., served in WWII, and his son, John IV, served in the Iraq War and has served in the Army Reserve for the past 20 years, achieving the rank of captain. In Vietnam, Sorich III served under the command of Colonel George S. Patton, Jr. Mr. Sorich’s unit sustained heavy combat losses. Of the 120 men in his Alpha Unit, he says “21 were killed and 60 were severely wounded,” and adds, “I am lucky to be alive.” After returning home, he was called with his unit to guard the White House during Vietnam War protests on May 10, 1970. Among other decorations, Mr. Sorich was awarded the Purple Heart with One Cluster, the Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry, and the Bronze Star with Valor. His insightful reflections on his Vietnam service are recorded as part of Minnesota PBS’s “Minnesota Remembers Vietnam” project.
Mr. Coopet served as a gunner on an Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle for several months before becoming track commander of the vehicle and leading a crew of four soldiers. He participated in numerous battles in 1969, including an attack on January 11 near Quan Loi when his column of armored vehicles was completely surrounded in an enemy ambush. After withstanding heavy crossfire and despite being significantly outnumbered, the ACR soldiers were successful in repelling and routing the enemy. Mr. Coopet was promoted to Sergeant E5 during his tenth month of service and is the recipient of three Purple Heart medals. Today he wears golf shirts with “Black Horse” insignia year-round and is proud when he is recognized and “told of the valor of our 11th ACR troopers going to the rescue of other units when they were under heavy combat.”
Each Quilt of Valor is awarded to its recipient with this heartfelt expression of gratitude: “We honor you for your service, for leaving all you held dear, for standing in harm’s way in a time of crisis, and for protecting us from the effects of war. We know freedom is not free. The cost of freedom is the dedication of men and women like you. This Quilt of Valor is our way to say thank you for your service, sacrifice, and valor.”
Quilts of Valor are carefully sewn by members of the Lake Minnetonka Chapter DAR and are rich with meaning. Lake Minnetonka Regent Gigi Hickey explains, “The many colors and shapes on the top of the quilt represent the diverse individuals we are. The warm batting in the center of the quilt represents our hope that this quilt will bring comfort, peace, and healing to the individual who receives it. The backing is the strength that supports the other layers, representing the strength of the recipient and the support of our communities and our nation.” Hickey adds, “Every stitch holding the layers together represents our gratitude.”
Explaining why many veterans choose not to talk about their experience, Mr. Sorich states, “As Vietnam Vets there has always been a good deal of futility and frustration in our experience and lives.” He reflects, “In my personal journey towards understanding, we Vietnam vets have made it known that you can hate war, but respect the soldiers.” Upon receiving his Quilt of Valor he said, “Thank you for planting flowers over the garbage of our memories.”
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