“A lot of times you will see people our age, 55 through 60, and they will see the POW-MIA logo and they’ll stop,” Hohmann said. “They will look, not say anything and just take in the experience. It’s sort of a trait you see a lot.”

 

Hohmann was one of nearly 30 Vietnam veterans who made it out to the Auto Club of Southern California to witness the unveiling of a car dedicated to them – the Vietnam veterans and the families of the POW-MIA servicemen. The common phrase amongst these warriors was a simple, “Welcome Home.” Melanie Troxel drives their high-horsepower welcome wagon.

 

That is the standard greeting among those who served regardless of military branch, rank or area stationed.

Tom Hohmann knows how to spot them and he spotted quite of few during Thursday’s qualifying at the NHRA CARQUEST Winternationals in Pomona, Ca. He admits that he’s become proficient at spotting a Vietnam Veteran. After all, he is one.

 

“A lot of times you will see people our age, 55 through 60, and they will see the POW-MIA logo and they’ll stop,” Hohmann said. “They will look, not say anything and just take in the experience. It’s sort of a trait you see a lot.”

 

Hohmann was one of nearly 30 Vietnam veterans who made it out to the Auto Club of Southern California to witness the unveiling of a car dedicated to them – the Vietnam veterans and the families of the POW-MIA servicemen. The common phrase amongst these warriors was a simple, “Welcome Home.” Melanie Troxel drives their high-horsepower welcome wagon.

 

That is the standard greeting among those who served regardless of military branch, rank or area stationed.

 

Hohmann, who earned many medals during his tour of duty, pointed out this experience will serve as a healing measure for many.

 

“This allows the public to thank them,” Hohmann said. “Many of those who served came home and put those memories away because it caused a sore spot. I think you will see some amazing things come to pass because of this.”

 

One of the more amazing things to transpire was a seventy-something veteran named Bob Marcum. Most of the veterans in attendance had prior drag racing experience so it didn’t take a lot of coaxing to get them to attend. After all, when the conflict began drag racing had the 16 – 24 year old male demographic secured.

 

Marcum presented a different kind of story.

 

“There was no way I was missing this,” said Marcum, who reportedly used a sick day from work to attend. “I saw the news about this car and I wanted to be here to support it.”

 

Troxel, who is the defending event champion, spoke during the unveiling.

"Our veterans do so much for us, especially our Vietnam veterans," Troxel said. "They went over and fought a war -- young Americans who gave so much of themselves, so many of them gave their lives...This is one small thing we can give back to them. I'm so proud to be involved in this, to be giving back to the veterans. It's such a huge honor for me to give something back to them.

"I was barely born when we were fighting over in Vietnam, but I tried to educate myself and understand what happened over there. There are so many people today who are so behind our veterans and troops. You may not agree with the war, but you support them. This wasn't the case when our Vietnam veterans came home. They didn't get a hero's welcome home. This is a little opportunity to kind of make up for that, and let them know we really appreciate everything they did."

The individual responsible for making it a reality was Evan Knoll, who has a personal connection to the Vietnam War through friends and family. Knoll was given special recognition from the veterans who unveiled the dragster.

 

Greg Young, Steve Mackey, Pete Sandros and Hohmann presented Knoll with various items including special Vietnam Veteran coins, a jacket and shirt, and another gift which caught him totally off guard.

 

Knoll was presented with a sculpture commemorating the POW-MIA statue in Riverside, California.

 

“You’ll never know how much this means to me,” Knoll said.

 

It was the response of a grateful veteran that made many eyes well up with tears.

 

“No, you’ll never know how much that means to us.”

 

Troxel made her fans proud on the first day by qualifying the Vietnam Veterans/POW-MIA Top Fuel dragster presented by Torco Race Fuels and Lucas Oil into the ninth spot with a 4.632 elapsed time at over 322 miles per hour.