Local Vietnam veteran recently honored for his service (Feb
23, 2017)
A local veteran, who was recently
recognized and honored for his service in the Vietnam War, decided to share his
story for the first time.
Dale Prout, of Aiken, was one of 53
Vietnam vets honored at a special ceremony Feb. 14 at the Charles Norwood VA in
Augusta.
Prout, 66, volunteered to serve his
country in 1969 and joined the U.S. Navy.
“My father was in the Navy before
me, and I sort of followed in his footsteps,” Prout said. “I went to USC Aiken
out of high school and wasn’t really making the grades. My dad then told me I
should go into the Navy, and that’s what I did.”
Prout said he went all over the
world for about a year before getting the call that he was going to Vietnam.
“A lot of us didn’t really think
they were going send any of us (in the Navy) on the East Coast, but then the
call came,” he said.
He went to Vietnam in 1970, and was
stationed on a destroyer called the U.S.S. Glennon during his time in
Vietnam.
“We were in a gun line a couple
miles off the coast, and our main mission was to fire artillery rounds at
whatever coordinates we were given by spotters,” he said.
Prout said the Viet Cong, or
National Liberation Front, didn’t have planes or submarines, but they did have
long-range guns they would shoot at the ships.
“We definitely would get fired upon
sometimes,” he said. “It was kind of crazy, because they couldn’t see us and we
couldn’t see them. I helped to load the guns on the ship. Some guys would get
the coordinates, put them in, and fire.”
He also said his bed was located
underneath one of the long-range guns on the ship, and he now has hearing
issues from trying to sleep so near the loud weapon.
In 1972, after two years away from
home, Prout was finally able to come back to South Carolina, but he said the
welcome was not quite what you would expect.
“I arrived back to the states on the
West Coast, where there were a bunch of people protesting the war,” he said.
“Returning soldiers were actually told to wear their civilian clothes home, not
their uniform, because the protestors would throw things at you, even spit on
you. I, of course, wore my uniform home.”
Prout returned to Aiken, got married
and went back to college. He has now been married for 45 years, has two
children and four grandchildren.
“I never really talked about my time
in the service, but it’s nice to finally talk about and to be honored at the
Vietnam Veterans Ceremony at the VA.”
Local Vietnam veteran recently honored for his service (Feb
23, 2017)
AIKEN
- Mrs. Susan H. Heath, 64, loving wife of Rick Heath, passed away Friday, July
10, 2015. 
AIKEN
- Carolyn Quinn Nichols passed away peacefully at her home in Aiken, SC,
surrounded by loved ones, on Wednesday, September 7, 2016.
Ray Feaster AIKEN - Mr. Ray Feaster, 66, of Aiken, SC,
entered into rest in the comfort of his home, under the loving care of Kari
Deloach, with Trinity Hospice, with his wife of twenty-nine years, Mrs. Renyea
Flowers Feaster, at his side. Born in Washington, GA, a son of the late Albert
Ray, Sr. and Mary Ida Plunkett Feaster, he had been a resident of Aiken County,
SC, most of his life. He was a graduate of the University of South Carolina,
where he obtained his BA in Psychology. He was a member of Millbrook Baptist
Church. Ray enjoyed fishing, golf and NASCAR. He was also a member of the
Millbrook Anglers and was a former member of the St. Andrews Bass Club. He and
his father were the founders and former owners of Feasters Foods. In addition
to his wife and parents, family members include his children, Jennifer Dance
and Nathan Dance, both of CA; brother, the late Lawrence "Larry"
Feaster, uncle, Olin Plunkett and his wife, Katherine, Augusta, GA,
mother-in-law, Jeri Flowers, Lincolnton, GA, as well as several cousins. The
family will receive friends on Sunday, February 19, 2017, beginning at 2
o'clock at Millbrook Baptist Church, Aiken, SC, followed by a Celebration of
Life Service at 3 o'clock. Pastor Phillip Dunn will officiate.
