COLUMBUS — Twenty-seven new honorees were inducted Friday, May 5, into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor, and Logan County had a strong showing among the distinguished combat veteran recipients.
Medals were presented for four local individuals, three of which were posthumous honors given to family members, along with several other recipients who are Logan County natives during the Ohio Statehouse ceremony. Their family and friends in the audience traveled from all around the state, and as far as Georgia, North Carolina and other locations to witness and support their loved ones receiving the Class of 2023 recognition.
One of the local recipients included Pvt. First Class* Ronald K. Wenger of West Liberty, a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, who was honored for receiving the Bronze Star with the “V” device. He was accompanied by his wife of 52 years, Marcia, and their children, grandchildren and two of their great-grandchildren.
Mr. Wenger, who also was recently honored at the newly established West Liberty Purple Heart tribute, said he spent 11 months in Vietnam, after being drafted following his 1967 graduation from Logan Hills High School. He was recognized for exposing himself to heavy enemy fire in Vietnam, which helped his unit to continue their mission.
Logan Countian posthumous honors were bestowed on SP4 William L. Arnold for his service in Vietnam with the U.S. Army, received by his wife, Vicky Arnold of Bellefontaine; First Lt. Roger A. Leasure, also for his U.S. Army service in the Vietnam War; accepted by his son, Dustin Leasure of Powell; and Staff Sgt. Robert L. Chalmers Sr. for his U.S. Army service in World War II, accepted by his great-granddaughter Karrisa Vosard, who coincidentally is training to be a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army.
These three individuals also were recognized for receiving the Bronze Star with the “V” device.
Additionally, Logan County natives Victor Dodds, now of Dublin, and Gary Dotson, now of Mechanicsburg, were honored on the stage as well.
Lt. Dodds served as a naval aviator in the U.S. Navy in the Vietnam War and in other conflicts as well. He was honored with the Navy Commendation with the “V” device for his electronic warfare analysis in the Vietnam War.
SP4 Dotson served with the U.S. Army infantry during the Vietnam War and was seriously wounded in action,” drawing the enemy to himself and allowing his comrades to retreat,” explained Ted Mosure, Ohio Military Hall of Fame board president, while presenting Dotson with his medal. Dotson also received the Bronze Star with the “V” device.
Mosure read the wartime accounts for all of the 27 honorees, each of whom are credited with placing their duty to their fellow service members above themselves.
Although their situations varied and dated back to World War II, the Vietnam War and to more recent conflicts in Afghanistan, a commonality among the some of the recipients was keeping their wartime achievements to themselves. Many of the recipients’ families did not realize, maybe until recently, how these heroes had helped their fellow comrades at times of great strife.
Mrs. Arnold said it wasn’t until her husband’s later years that he started sharing more details about his time in Vietnam.
“We attended a Congressional Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House, where his medic was recognized, and then he really started sharing more after that point,” she said.
Mosure said SP4 Arnold stepped up after his battalion leader was wounded and moved through hostile fire to attempt to retrieve his comrade.
Mr. Arnold, who passed away in December of 2019, also received three Purple Hearts. The American Legion Honorable Service Award was bestowed on him in 2013, the first in Logan County.
“I’m glad I was able to do this today,” Mrs. Arnold said following the ceremony, who noted it was an emotional but meaningful tribute to her beloved husband.
Similarly, Dustin Leasure, who accepted the award on behalf of his father, Roger A. Leasure, said he didn’t realize the magnitude of what his father was able to accomplish in Vietnam until he was in high school.
“It was hard for him to talk about it, but when he did, my ears were peeled,” Dustin said, noting that his father had suffered from PTSD from his wartime experiences, along with the unwelcoming attitudes from the public when he arrived back home from Vietnam.
Serving with the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, his father was one of eight people on top of Hamburger Hill during the battle in May of 1969.
A book has written about the battle that used First Lt. Leasure’s name. Then in 1987, a movie was released about Hamburger Hill, with an actor who portrayed the county resident, his son noted.
At Hamburger Hill, the U.S. troops found themselves surrounded by the Vietnamese Army, who had set up trenches all around the hill. The hill was given the name in a grim reference, as it was one of the bloodiest battles of Vietnam.
First Lt. Leasure disregarded his own safety when jumping into enemy bunkers along the hill, Mosure said during the ceremony. His son noted that his father is the recipient of four Bronze Stars, two of which are for Hamburger Hill specifically. Those Bronze Stars have a two oak leaf cluster and a five oak leaf cluster, respectively; referencing the number of lives he saved at Hamburger Hill.
“My dad is my hero. It’s my dream and my goal that I’m working on right now to stand on top of Hamburger Hill,” said Dustin, who is a Bellefontaine High School graduate like his father. Roger Leasure passed away in September of 2019.
“I have a ton of ambition that is driving me.”
The Powell resident is currently working alongside Logan County Vets to D.C. founder Scott Stewart to organize a trip for Vietnam veterans to Vietnam, with a visit to Hamburger Hill planned. To inquire for more details, contact Stewart at (937) 407-6766.