(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Robert and Richard Gibbs, 95-year-old twin veterans of the Vietnam and Korean Wars, reflect on their service and sacrifices as Veterans Day approaches in Colorado Springs.
The Gibbs brothers, who live just two doors apart at Revel Province in Colorado Springs, served side by side during their military careers. As Veterans Day arrives, they use the occasion to remember their fellow soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“We’re so proud of, and we think of our soldiers today and through the years with great admiration,” said Richard Gibbs.
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Richard recalls the hardships faced by his comrades, particularly those who were captured and imprisoned in Hanoi during the Vietnam War. “There were eight or ten of them who were shot down and spent five, six years in prison in a camp in Hanoi,” he said.
Robert shared a personal story of being injured when an explosive went off while he was flying a helicopter. “It took about 130 stitches to sew me up on my legs, on my hip,” he recounted.
Despite the challenges of war, the brothers also cherish the good memories, such as Robert meeting his future wife at a drugstore. “My mother loved to go to the drugstore and have a milkshake. So, I took my mother to get a milkshake and a lady waited on us, and I liked the way she looked and the way she acted… so I went back and asked her for a date, six months later, we’re married,” he said.
Reflecting on their lives, the twins express gratitude for their health and mental well-being. “Fortunately, I think both of us came back mentally okay,” Robert said with a laugh.
As they honor Veterans Day, the Gibbs brothers continue to find strength in their shared experiences and the enduring bonds of brotherhood. “Job well done back,” Richard said, acknowledging the service of all veterans.
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