Local Veteran, Greg Payne, Receives Award from the Quilts of Valor Foundation
The quilt is titled “Gratitude.” The center block is called the rising star. And the four-pointed stars on the top and the bottom are called friendship stars. The quilt was made by Oregon quilters. Gregory Payne is seated in the center of the photo and Wasco County Sheriff Lane Magill is pictured to the right behind the podium. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
By Cole Goodwin
Gregory “Greg” Payne was awarded a “Quilt of Valor” by the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office on behalf of The Quilts of Valor Foundation on January 23rd, 2022 at the Oregon Veterans Home in The Dalles, Oregon. Several OVH staff, officers, and servicemen from the community gathered to witness the presentation.
Wasco Coutny Sheriff Lane Magill, MC’d the presentation at the request of the Quilts of Valor Foundation.
A certificate of recognition honoring Gregory ‘Greg” Payne. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
The foundation is a grassroots organization whose mission is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. The foundation was founded by Catherine Roberts in 2003 when her son Nat was deployed to Iraq. During that time she said she felt “ten seconds from panic” at all times.
Then one night she had a dream that gave her the idea to put her quilting abilities to good use.
“The dream was as vivid as real life. I saw a young man sitting on the side of his bed in the middle of the night, hunched over. The permeating feeling was one of utter despair. I could see his war demons clustered around, dragging him down into an emotional gutter. Then, as if viewing a movie, I saw him in the next scene wrapped in a quilt. His whole demeanor changed from one of despair to one of hope and well-being. The quilt had made this dramatic change. The message of my dream was: Quilts = Healing,” said Roberts.
From that dream Quilts of Valor began and early on the Northwest Quilters Association in Portland became involved in making quilts. Over 10,000 registered volunteers in the U.S. help make and distribute the quilts.
“Quilts of Valor are considered the civilian equivalent of a military honor and they are a one-time award, they are not handed out but are individually awarded just as we are doing today,” said Wasco County Sheriff, Lane Magill.
“Greg, we tell you this because we want you to understand that your quilt is not just any quilt. Each quilt is an expression of gratitude from the American people meant to thank you, to comfort you, to honor you for leaving for all that you hold dear to serve your country both in times of crisis and in times of peace.”
“Like most veterans you served our country when asked and then returned to civilian life, absolutely without thanks or acknowledgement we’re all aware of the terrible way Vietnam veterans were greeted when they returned to the states and we actually know that none of our veteran’s ever received the welcome home that they actually deserved not even our world war two veterans. We would like to change that. And in this case we can say thank you more than 50 years after your completion of service,” said Magill.
Magill then shared the history of Payne’s service with the room.
Greg Payne joined the Army in 1968 and was discharged in 1971. He chose to enlist because his friends were dying in Vietnam and you felt it was your duty to serve them and your country. Payne went through basic training at Fort Lewis in Washington State and trained in medical and advanced infantry in Fort Polk, Louisiana. He served in Vietnam in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. Payne was at the first battle of Hamburger Hill and was a stand-in medic with the U.S. Army Advanced Infantry.
Greg Payne said his greatest memory of service was saving 60 troops while under fire by setting up IV’s while trying to give medical attention to all who needed it.
Payne was then presented with the quilt.
“Thank you for choosing me for the Quilts of Valor, it’s a great honor,” said Payne.
Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
Following the presentation of the quilt Payne began to tell a story about how he’d saved 60 people in a fire fight during his war days, but was cut short by OVH staff who requested that they allow the officers in attendance from The Dalles Police Department, Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, and servicemen from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue a chance to come up and thank him so that they could return to duty.
“He’ll talk all day,” said one OVH employee.
For his part Payne was a good sport about it.
“I understand, duty first,” said Payne.
Greg Payne shakes hands with an Oregon State Policeman. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
Shortly after, the line of servicemen returned to duty the room quickly cleared… apart from two friends of Payne’s who had made the trip from the Portland Metro area to see the presentation.
“We go back over 70 years, we were in Cub Scouts together,” said Bob Windus “I was in Vietnam, just a year after Greg and General Loop he was in Vietnam twice.”
Robert Windus (right), Greg Payne (center), and Retired Major General Curtis Loop pose for a photo. Photo credit: Cole Goodwin
“In 2008 I started bringing Greg’s mom up to see him sometimes once or twice a month. And my wife and I started a Christmas gift project for the veterans, we just finished our 14th year doing that,” said Windus.
“My brother and Greg were the same age and I was older of course. Then my brother passed away and Greg’s mother was at the services and that’s how I got reconnected. I hadn’t seen Greg since high school,” said Windus.
Windus then said his goodbye to his friend and left in order to avoid the traffic going back into Portland.
Journalist Cole Goodwin, then decided to sit with Payne for a while to hear the rest of his war story which he hadn’t gotten to finish earlier and to get to know him a little better.
Payne, who is as petite as they come said that he’s “always been little” and that he had to “run faster, jump higher, climb higher, and swim harder than all those other guys” during his basic training.
“Infantry is one of the most demanding physical jobs I’ve ever had…because I was little.” said Greg “I’m small boned. I’m not designed to be a big heavy person. And I went from an ugly 215 lbs down to 106. It seems to be hovering around 106.”
“Big changes. He’s been here for well over 20 years now,” says a nurse.
“Yeah 22,” says Payne.
After some time he finishes his story about the battle in which he was embroiled as a young man, a battle that saved 60 lives, left many dead, and taught us all the importance of never walking through the valley of death with a half empty canteen lest a pointman spot you and drop you where you stand.
He then turns to a nurse who’s joined us and asks her “Do you see how I was caught in the middle of the battle? Did you learn anything? Would you trust me if I was assigned to you?”
“Back then?” she asks. “Yes.”
“Not now?” he asks.
“I think I know you too well Greg,” says the nurse.
Unfortunately Payne, who suffers from myopathy, a neuromuscular disorder that causes muscle weakness, no longer has control of his arms or legs, which makes it pretty difficult to administer an IV.
“I can’t even feed myself,” says Payne.
On top of his health struggles, he’s also not sure how he’s going to afford another year at OVH since his pension has been cut. And he admits that it’s pretty lonely now that most of his family and people he knew are gone.
But, ever a survivor, Greg keeps on.
Following our interview the nurse carefully folds Payne’s quilt, placing it gently under his arm along with his certificate before she wheels him off to the next part of his day.
Happy trails Greg! I hope you get connected to the services you need to keep receiving care at OVH. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
