Though many years have elapsed since their service, Rhode Islanders who served in the Vietnam War are as devoted as ever when it comes to preserving the memory of their sacrifice.

The original 107th Signal Company, in association with Chapter 21 of Disabled American Veterans in Providence, will host a 50th anniversary reunion this coming August. The 107th Signal Company, which was originally comprised almost entirely of Rhode Island residents, served in Vietnam in 1968 to 1969.

More than 65 returning members of the 107th will be attending the reunion at Crowne Plaza in Warwick, over the weekend of August 9th through August 12th. The main remembrance ceremony will be held Saturday, August 11th, in the evening.

The 107th Signal Company’s reunions are held every five years. These reunions set out with the goal to honor the memory of the 107th’s deceased members, and to commemorate the service of the remaining veterans.

The 107th was one of the only eight National Guard units activated during the Vietnam War, according to Julian Angelone, an organizer of the reunion and former member of the unit himself. The unit was originally comprised of 337 members, who were called to active duty in May of 1968. After being trained at Fort Devins in Massachusetts, the 107th was deployed to Long Binh, Vietnam, in October of 1968. There, they served until October of 1969 as part of the First Signal Brigade.

The soldiers of the 107th Signal Company remained together as a unit for two months after being deployed, before being separated and deployed to areas where needed. They were later united again two months before they returned to the United States, so they could arrive together as a unit.

During active duty, the unit was noted for outstanding service; they were honored with Battle Streamers, Unit Citations, and Campaign Ribbons, Angelone wrote.

The unit suffered three casualties while on active duty. Two men lost theirs lives in an automobile accident while training at Fort Devins, while another passed due to an accident while the unit was stationed in Long Binh.

On Friday, August 10th, a brief meet-and-greet will be held during which the returning members and their spouses will have the opportunity to reconnect. Refreshments will be provided in a designated hospitality room.

After a buffet served on Saturday, August 11th, veterans will gather that evening for a brief remembrance ceremony. The names of the deceased members of the 107th Signal Company will be read out, and “taps” will be played as their memory and service are commemorated.

More than 65 members of the original unit are deceased. Many members passed away due to the lingering medical complications caused by Agent Orange, a powerful herbicide used by U.S. military forces during the war. Originally intended to destroy forest cover for the opposing army, the herbicide has since been discovered to cause many health problems in those who came in contact with it.

Though most members were originally residents of the Ocean State during their service, many will now be traveling to the reunion from their new homes across the country. Veterans will be making their way to Rhode Island from states as far as Florida and California for the event.

The 107th Signal Company is associated with Disabled American Veterans, an organization dedicated to the care and empowerment of veterans who were disabled in service. In addition to organizing veteran reunions, the DAV chapter of Mt. Pleasant in Providence also provides medical support and care to veterans in the area.

James Pascetta, the commander of the Mt. Pleasant chapter and organizer of 107th reunions since the tradition first began, said that members of the chapter often visit veterans in nursing homes on Veterans’ Day. Groups of about 15 members of the DAV program present each veteran with a flag and a certificate to commemorate their service. They usually visit several nursing homes every year.

“It lets them know that they haven’t been forgotten about,” says Pascetta.

DAV also works to secure medical compensation and pension for those who served. A recent project Pascetta spoke of involved providing a veteran with a wheelchair. Providing emotional and medical support to disabled veterans is crucial to the program’s mission.

There are currently ten chapters of the DAV in Rhode Island that work to provide medical care to those who have suffered service injuries. The Mt. Pleasant chapter meets on the second Thursday of every month, at 7 p.m. at 1675 Douglas Pike. The names, locations, and meeting times of other chapters in Rhode Island can be found by going to davmembers.org and selecting “Find a Chapter/Unit by State.”