Prairie du Chien Vietnam veteran receives Quilt of Valor
Prairie du Chien veteran Terry Seeley proudly displays the Quilt of Valor he recently received from the Quilts of Valor program in Garnavillo, Iowa. The quilt was made by Wendy Kuhse and presented to him by Wendy and her husband, Lanny, in a special presentation. Some of his family attending the honorable presentation were (from left) his sister, Patti Johnson, of Garnavillo; his wife, Vicki Seeley; and another sister, Chris Foley, of Prairie du Chien. (Submitted photo)
Terry Seeley, of Prairie du Chien, was awarded a Quilt of Valor at the Corner Shoppe in Garnavillo, Iowa, recently. The quilt, made by Wendy Kuhse, was presented to Seeley by Wendy and her husband, Lanny, in a ceremony attended by a few close friends and family members on Aug. 2.
Seeley, who enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1966, was a member of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Division, and earned the rank of Corporal (E4). He spent four months in the Republic of Vietnam, where he was wounded twice in Khe-Sanh and, as a result, earned two Purple Hearts. He recovered at a Japanese hospital and was subsequently moved to Great Lakes Naval Hospital in Illinois.
Ninety-five percent of the battalion (named The Walking Dead) in which Seeley served were either killed or went missing in action. He was one of the 5 percent who lived to tell about his war experience.
Seeley received an honorable discharge on April 24, 1972.
He was very surprised and honored to be presented with his Quilt of Valor.
Vietnam veterans from all over the country are finally receiving recognition for what many considered an unpopular war. Thank you for your service, Corporal Terry Seeley, and welcome home!
Donations of money, supplies, or time for the Quilts of Valor program in Garnavillo can be directed to Wendy Kuhse at the Corner Shoppe.
This article was submitted to the Courier Press by Dorothy Wendel.
