Vets reunite after 40 years

By Jon Johnson
Assistant Editor
Published on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:12 AM MST

This year's Veterans Day was especially significant to Gila Valley resident Scott Allred as his two roommates from the Vietnam War paid him a visit.

Allred hadn't seen the men since 1969, when they were stationed together at the Kadena Air Base in the town of Kadena on the island of Okinawa. The base stretches into the town of Chatan and Okinawa City as well.

The group worked in supply positions for the United States Air Force and shared a room.

Allred told the Courier life in the town of Kadena and the surrounding area mainly catered to the GIs during the time he was there with an abundance of bars, restaurants and pawn shops.

There were also a lot of places that were off limits due to containing unexploded but live ammunition left over from WWII.

The group were all discharged within a few months from each other.

Charles Glynn and Robert Marco were brothers-in-law (they married two sisters from Nicaragua), but they hadn't seen each other in more than 30 years. The two men contacted each other through their children and then were able to get ahold of Allred.

Allred said Marco spends most of his time in São Paulo, Brazil, but only had to travel from Miami for the reunion. Glynn traveled from his home in Marysville, Calif.

The trio spent four days with Allred in the Gila Valley and visited Mount Graham, explored Indian ruins and enjoyed other activities. Allred said the men had a great time together and plan on reuniting annually from here on out.

"It was like seeing some family that you hadn't seen for a long time," Allred said. "Right away we were like brothers again and even had more connection now than we did back then."

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