Legacy Run Day 3: ‘I don’t want anybody to forget my friend’

For many, June 6 is a reminder of D-Day. For others, it brings up memories of the day Robert F. Kennedy died following being shot 26 hours earlier by Sirhan Sirhan.

For Ohio American Legion Rider Mike Schrull, June 6 means both of those things to him. But it also means something else: the death of his best friend, who was killed in action that day in Vietnam.

On the opening day of the Legacy Run, the ride made a stop at Veterans Park in Tupelo, Miss., where a scaled replica of the Vietnam War Memorial exists. Two days later, on Aug. 23, the ride stopped at Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial, where a full-size version has been built.

At both stops, Schrull – commander of Avon Lake American Legion Post 211 – went straight to a very familiar name on the wall, leaving behind a coin he had specially designed. It honors U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jack Enix, who was KIA on June 6, 1968, while based at Landing Zone Loon southeast of Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province in central Vietnam.

“Jack Enix was my best friend,” said Schrull, who served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. “Jack and I, we went over together. And the day before we deployed, we got together and we said, ‘Hey, when we get back, we’ll have a beer.’

“So, when I was over there, I get notified that he got killed. So, I made up my mind that nobody was going to forget him.”

Schrull, a veteran of 11 national Legacy Runs who coordinated an Ohio Legacy Run this year that raised $74,565, had a special coin created for his friend since grade school. It lists Enix’s rank and service, along with his date of birth and date of death.

“Every time I go anywhere, like the Wall, I leave one,” Schrull said. “A lot of the Marines that are left from (Landing Zone Loon), and there aren’t very many of them, I sent them a coin. I don’t want anybody to ever forget my friend.

“There are no words to describe the feeling I get to travel around and see Jack’s name memorialized and know that people will always remember him.”

Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial was created by Vietnam War veteran Jim Eddleman, who while in the U.S. Army fought in the Tet Offensive. When his service finished, he made a promise he would do something to make sure all those U.S. servicemembers who fought during the war would be remembered.

Decades later, he kept his promise. And seeing veterans of every generation visit the memorial still is special to Eddleman.

“I did this as a promise that I made in Vietnam … and not just for Vietnam veterans, but for all,” he said. “And it keeps getting bigger. But I never, ever realized it would get this big. Veterans come in here, and they go to the Wall or something, and they thank me so much for what we’ve got here. It’s just unbelievable.”

Maryland’s Big Day. During Legacy Fund donations at American Legion Post 133 in Perryville, Mo., a group of Maryland Legion Riders took the stage to make an announcement: the department’s annual Gold Star Legacy Run did pretty well this year.

When the ride first started in 2016, it generated $13,500 for the Legacy Fund. This year, that amount grew by more than 1,000 percent, to $137,000. Past Sons of The American Legion National Commander Joe Gladden, a member of Towson, Md., ALR Chapter 22 and chairman of the state ride, presented the check from the ride and later explained how the department has grown the ride and its donation total.

“One of the things that we did that was really cool, and has really made a big difference, is we started a contest that whatever Legion Family donated the most would get a special plaque,” Gladden said. “We created a first, second and third (plaque), and we also created a fourth plaque (for the yearly Legion Family with the most donations). It goes from year to year, and they get to keep that plaque for that year.”

Harry White Wilmer American Legion Post 82 in La Plata took home the plaque again this year after its Legion Family raised $33,000. “It’s all about wanting to be that top donor,” Gladden said. “Something so simple has made such a big difference. And I really think it comes down to actually identifying what the cause is. We send out a letter to every post, unit, chapter and squadron in the state, outlining exactly what we’re doing, how they can help … or whether they want to make a pledge. But the real thing is just asking people and letting them know what they’re helping with.”

Welcomed in Missouri and Illinois. The Legacy Run made its way to two American Legion posts during Day 3: Post 133 in Perryville, Mo., and Henry J. Schmitz Post 683 in St. Libory, Ill.

At Post 133, ride participants were treated to a fantastic fried chicken lunch that included sides and desserts. Post 133 Commander Paul Kohm Jr., a 34-year member of the Legion, said the post is known for its fried chicken and was happy to provide it to the ride.

“It’s exciting,” Kohm said of the stop. “When (Legacy Run Chief Road Captain Mark Clark) called and said, ‘Hey, we might stop by there’, I said, ‘Come on. We’d be glad’. It’s something you don’t see very often.”

In between Perryville and St. Libory, the ride crossed the Mississippi River into Chester, Ill., where it was greeted by a town of less than 9,000 residents with a full-on welcome. Residents lined the streets, cheering, clapping and raising U.S. flags as the ride rode down the middle of town.

Once in St. Libory, Post 683’s Legion Family – which has more than 240 members in a community of 600 residents – was there to provide drinks, snacks and a chance to cool off inside. Post 683 also made a $3,300 donation to the Legacy Fund from its Legion Family.

“It's not what I expected when Mark Clark first contacted us, but to look at it tells you everything,” said Post 683 Commander Mike Reed, as he surveyed the nearly 200 motorcycles in the post parking lot. “It’s neat. And I think (hosting a stop) means everything. We’re always trying to do stuff for others outside of the Legion. When we’re able to help people inside the Legion, that makes it more special.”

Before leaving town, a few dozens of ride participants headed to Wennerman Park for a wreath laying at the Veterans Memorial. Dedicated to all those who have served and featuring bricks honoring local veterans, the memorial was erected in 2013 and almost totally funded by Post 683. The emblems of the Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion are imprinted in stone on the walkway leading to the memorial.

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