Ashland to Honor Vietnam Era Veterans as Greg Gorrell Headlines Annual Recognition Dinner
ASHLAND, Ohio — Ashland County will once again pause to honor its Vietnam Era veterans during the Annual Vietnam Era Recognition Dinner and Program, set for Saturday, March 28, at The Eagles Club, 400 Eastlake Drive, Ashland.
This year’s keynote speaker is Greg Gorrell, an Ashland native, Vietnam infantry combat veteran, and author whose deeply personal story has resonated with veterans, families, and community members across the region.
Doors will open at 4:30 p.m., followed by a social hour until 5:30 p.m., with dinner and the formal program immediately afterward. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the DeSanto and Kellogg Law Office, 432 Center Street, Ashland, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A Story Long Untold
Gorrell’s keynote will draw from his memoir, Vietnam: Survival There & Home, which chronicles his journey before, during, and after the Vietnam War. Drafted into the U.S. Army, Gorrell deployed to South Vietnam’s Mekong Delta in 1967, serving with the 3rd Battalion, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division.
His combat service included multiple 4.2-inch mortar “High Angle Hell” illumination and high-explosive fire missions during Operation Enterprise and other operations. He also served as a forward observer, calling in artillery and air strikes during Viet Cong search-and-destroy missions.
But as Gorrell shared during a recent interview at the Ashland County Historical Society, the war did not end when he came home.
“For many Vietnam veterans, there were two wars,” Gorrell said. “The war in Vietnam — and the war when we came home.”
For decades, Gorrell rarely spoke publicly about his service. It wasn’t until his children urged him to tell his story — and a return trip to Vietnam with two of his sons in 2016 — that he began writing what would become his book.
“It took me nearly 60 years to share my story — primarily for my family, because they wanted to know,” he said.
More Than a Memoir
Gorrell describes his book as an unvarnished account of life, death, heartache, mistakes, divorce, and loss, but also one rooted in faith, forgiveness, hope, resilience, and healing. While written for Vietnam veterans and their families, he says its message extends far beyond military service.
“It’s also for anyone who’s experienced trauma — war, assault, abuse — and is looking for a way to heal,” he said.
In speaking to more than 20 groups across Ashland County and beyond, Gorrell said some of the most powerful responses have come not from veterans themselves, but from wives and widows.
“Especially from widows who no longer have the opportunity to ask their husbands,” he said. “They learn things they never knew — and that can be heartbreaking, but also healing.”
A Race Against Time
Organizers say the urgency of preserving these stories cannot be overstated. Vietnam veterans are currently dying at a rate of more than 400 per day, a number that continues to accelerate.
The hope, Gorrell said, is that events like the Annual Vietnam Era Recognition Dinner will encourage veterans to share their stories — even privately — while there is still time.
“Otherwise,” he said, “their history — and a part of our country’s history — will be lost forever.”
Event Information
For questions about the event, contact Greg Gorrell at 419-651-9953 or Ann Schar at 419-606-4722.
The March 28 program is open to veterans, families, and the public, with organizers encouraging attendees to bring children and grandchildren to learn about this pivotal chapter of American history — both overseas, and at home.
