Vietnam veteran Kerwin Douthit speaks to Girls State delegates

By Abigail Beeson

Kerwin Douthit gave a powerful speech to delegates Monday night.

Girls State ended its first general assembly with a speech from the U.S. Retired Air Force Veteran, who goes by “Peewee.”

“Memorial Day brings good memories and some very bad memories,” Douthit said. “Being a Vietnam Veteran, Memorial Day brings back memories of comrades of Vietnam.”

Douthit originally received a draft notice in 1960. He was number one on the draft list.

He wanted a choice in his branch of service, so he reported to the Air Force recruiter’s office the next day.

Douthit, in addition to 14 other men, was sent to perform a special mission in the jungles of Vietnam.

Douthit spent two years in the jungle as an Air Force Communications Specialist (AFCS).

Each of the 15 men were separated in the jungle.

Douthit received news from an aircraft overhead once a month for nine months. Every time he heard the report, it informed him of the loss of a comrade who was killed in action.

After returning home, some of Douthit’s comrades took their own lives because of their experiences in Vietnam.

“Losing your friend and comrade is really hard,” Douthit said.

All of these events raised questions in Douthit’s mind:

“Why me? Why am I the only one left alive in this group,” he said Monday night.

One simple phrase kept him going:

“Life is precious,” Douthit said.

After the Vietnam War, Douthit made positive memories back in the United States.

“One highlight in my mind at this time: There was a lady that got my attention, and I asked her to marry me,” Douthit said. “She is my wife of 52 years.”

Douthit has a precise count of his days of military service — 22 years, six months and 26 days. After he retired from the Air Force, Douthit became a County Veteran Service Officer.

Douthit left one piece of advice for delegates: “Be American.”

Douthit’s speech was inspiring to several Girls State delegates.

“I thought it was good. It was moving to hear his story,” Lily Larsen of St. Lewis said.