40 years later, Airman still serves

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 436th Air Wing Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  A retired Airman and avid United Services Organization volunteer was honored Sept. 21 with the first USO Volunteer of the Year award.

More than 40 years after serving in the jungles of Vietnam, Dave Wilson, was presented the award during the USO World Gala ceremony in Washington.

For Mr. Wilson, the months after Sept. 11, 2001 were a heavy burden. He felt he needed to do something, he said.

As America's youth were raising their hands, eagerly volunteering to serve their country, so was Mr. Wilson, as a USO volunteer.

"Back in the '60s, I had many experiences with the USO," he said. "They were always there -- in Vietnam, volunteering to make us feel better. After Sept. 11, I figured I was too old to serve in the military, but knew I could make a world of difference with the USO." 

Since then, Mr. Wilson has voluntarily deployed to Germany once and to the Southwest Asia area of responsibility three times.

Along with volunteering for many fundraisers and greeting servicemembers as they return from deployments, Mr. Wilson has dedicated four to five days a week at the USO lounge in the Dover Air Force Base, Del., air passenger terminal.

In light of everything he does for the men and women of the U.S. forces, it's no wonder he was honored with the award, said Joan Cote, USO Delaware director .

"After being with the USO for almost 17 years, I felt pretty confident that Dave's achievements over the past four years would be hard, if not impossible, to surpass when measured against so many other fantastic volunteers," Ms. Cote said. "It seems Dave has the well-being of our military men, women and families on his mind around the clock."

Mr. Wilson drives an hour each way to fill his shift at the passenger terminal lounge, comes at all hours of the day and night to honor America's fallen heroes during dignified transfers, supports every fundraiser and special event and has deployed four times, she said. 

"He is the kind of volunteer every center wishes they could duplicate!" Ms. Cote said.

Still, Mr. Wilson is modest about what he calls all the 'hoopla.' 

"I just want to make life easier for the troops -- the way people made life easier for me in Vietnam,"  he said.

However, for Ms. Cote and Team Dover, Mr. Wilson is the gem of the 436th and 512th Airlift Wings, she said. 

"We are extremely thrilled and humbled that Dave was selected as the first-ever USO Worlwide Volunteer of the Year," Ms. Cote said. "His dedication and commitment to our military heroes is a shining example and representative of so many incredible USO volunteers around the world. We know the Dover Team appreciates him as much as we do!" 

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