Submitted Photo Doug Kalmbach, a Minot Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 4 member from Lignite, was presented a Quilt of Valor by the Peace and Honor Quilts of Valor organization in Minot on Nov. 6. Kalmbach is a U.S. Army Infantry combat veteran of Vietnam. The presentation took place in the Dakota Territory Air Museum hangar in Minot. Luanne Duchsherer, left, of Peace and Honor Quilts of Valor in Minot, presented the quilt to Kalmbach. Sharleen Larson read the script honoring Kalmbach’s service.

Doug Kalmbach, a Vietnam War veteran, was the recipient of a Quilt of Valor at a ceremony during a Disabled American Veterans coffee at the Dakota Territory Air Museum hangar in Minot on Nov. 6.

Kalmbach enlisted in the Army shortly after he graduated from Lignite High School in 1969 along with a classmate on the buddy system. This enlistment option allowed friends to enlist together, train together and be assigned to the same first duty station.

“We got in the buddy system and took the train out of Fargo out to Fort Lewis (Washington) and that’s where we did the basic (training). When both of us went to Vietnam, I was with the Fourth Infantry for a couple months and they transferred us back to the states. I was sent back to the CAV unit in the central highlands and that’s where my best friend I graduated with, that’s where he was at, so we actually got together over there and placed in the same unit. Which was pretty awesome. (The Buddy System) worked for us anyway. It was pretty cool at that time,” Kalmbach said.

Kalmbach was in Vietnam for 14 months, spending his deployment in the mechanized infantry of the 1st Squadron of the 10th Cavalry. Kalmbach said he was stationed at a firebase in the central highlands of Vietnam east of An Khe, performing patrols and guarding the highway and the bridges along it.

“I was with the mechanized infantry so I was in a (personnel carrier) which is a smaller version of a tank, and also being a grunt of course,” Kalmbach said.

Kalmbach left the Army after his deployment concluded in 1971 but spent five years with the National Guard while he attended the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, studying food service and management. Kalmbach worked as a cook and operated a couple supper clubs over the years before retiring in 2014.

Kalmbach said he often struggles to discuss his service in Vietnam and suffers occasionally from post traumatic stress disorder when discussing his experiences.

“I’m not really open much about talking about my service, so everyone kinda of leaves me alone and that’s the way it is. I did my duty. But some days it can be a struggle to open up about some things,” Kalmbach said.

Kalmbach took part in the Northwest Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., last April, and said he treasured the experience visiting all of the museums and veteran’s memorials at the nation’s capital.

“It was pretty amazing. I had never been to Washington, D.C. Just too short of a trip, but we got to see a lot of veterans memorials,” Kalmbach said.

Kalmbach said he feels very honored to receive the Quilt of Valor, calling it “a very prestigious honor.”

“Not everyone gets one to have. I’d like to thank Gene Potter for putting me up for it,” Kalmbach said. “I’m glad I served my country. I’d sure like to thank all the veterans for what they do. Everyone who is a veteran or wants to be a veteran. It’s an adventure.”