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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

CareSource, Dragons Team up to Honor Local Veteran

August 8, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


DAYTON, Ohio - CareSource and the Dayton Dragons will host United States Army veteran Ed Damron during the CareSource Veteran Salute Program on Saturday, August 10, at 7:00 p.m. when the Dayton Dragons take on the Lansing Lugnuts at Fifth Third Field. Saturday will be the fifth and final CareSource Veteran Salute date of the 2019 season.

The CareSource Veteran Salute Program provides veterans in the Dayton region with a once-in-a-lifetime experience to celebrate their service to their country. Each honoree has their story shared in front of the crowd at Fifth Third Field, followed by a standing ovation in appreciation of the veteran's hard work and dedication both in military and civilian accomplishments.

Ed's Story

Ed Damron enlisted with the United States Army in September of 1970 at the age of 23 during the Vietnam War. After completing Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, he had an opportunity to go to Fort Rucker in Alabama for Flight Operations. Interested in aviation, Damron jumped at the opportunity and spent 15 weeks in aviation school. Shortly after completing his 15 weeks in school, Damron was deployed to Vietnam.

On September 16, 1971, Damron was working a visual reconnaissance mission with two others in a helicopter in Vietnam. It was early morning when Damron's aircraft began taking heavy fire from enemy troops. "The helicopter just started blowing up and the windshield went out. I got shot in the face and the leg, my pilot got hit in the legs and arm, and the gunner got hit in the head," Damron recounted.

Damron's three-person helicopter went down and crashed in the middle of a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) base camp with 5,000 enemy soldiers. Immediately after crashing, NVA soldiers put an AK-47 to Damron's head. Luckily, Damron had three weapons on him and was able to evade the NVA soldiers. In tending to his severely injured pilot and gunner, Damron tried to bandage them up the best he could, using shoestrings, belts, and clothing. Because of his efforts, both the pilot and gunner survived.

After three and a half hours of hiding out in the enemy camp he heard rustling in the bushes. With only three bullets left, Damron thought this was the end, but, to his surprise, it was not NVA soldiers that came out of the bushes, but rather it was his own men; help had finally arrived. With the help of his fellow soldiers, Damron and his two companions escaped the enemy camp. In a rice paddy with water levels up to their waist, Damron, the pilot and the gunner were lifted into a medivac and taken away to safety.

Because of his heroic actions on that day, Damron was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star and later was awarded the Bronze Star.

Today, Ed spends his time supporting local veterans in any way he can, including being active with the Dayton VA and serving as the State Commander for the Military Order of the Purple Heart Honor Guard.

CareSource's Veteran Salute program highlights five veterans' stories during the course of each season. Veterans who are chosen are honored at a Dragons game with an in-game ceremony and provided with VIP treatment during their special night. The program is an extension of CareSource's continued commitment to serving special populations and its new efforts to support veterans through innovative health and life services programs. For more information about the Veteran Salute program, visit www.daytondragons.com/veteransalute.

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