Heartwarming Reunion at Ridgeland Gala Celebrates Heroes

Heartwarming Reunion at Ridgeland Gala Celebrates Heroes

Ridgeland was abuzz on November 9 as it hosted an extraordinary evening at the annual gala of Operation Patriots Forward Base (OPFOB) on Hilton Head Island. The event not only aimed to raise awareness about veteran and first responder suicide but also became the backdrop for an emotional reunion between two remarkable heroes: Craig Ostergard and his Vietnamese counterpart, Ri Nay.

Connecting Through Shared Service

OPFOB has established itself as a beacon of hope in the veteran community, providing a 268-acre sanctuary for veterans and first responders to build relationships and sweet memories through outdoor and recreational activities. The organization’s mission is straightforward yet profound: to help preserve the lives of those who have served and stop the heartbreaking trend of suicide among veterans.

As the night unfolded, attendees were treated to heartfelt moments, none more touching than when Ostergard received the coveted Sgt. Baez Honor Courage Commitment Award. He was taken completely off guard when Ri Nay, who served alongside him during the Vietnam War, presented the award. “I am honored to receive this award, but I don’t do this for accolades,” Ostergard humbly remarked. “I just wanted to make a difference in the lives of men and women who served our country so proudly and come home with no purpose, and no one to connect with like they do on the battlefield.”

A Veteran’s Journey

Ostergard, a Hilton Head resident for the past 40 years, has devoted his life to supporting veterans. He was one of the many who returned home from Vietnam to a less than warm welcome. “I was spat upon, isolated, and misunderstood in the country I had been defending,” he recounted. Yet, he remained steadfast in his dedication to his fellow veterans, eventually becoming an Executive Vice President in the corporate world and establishing two real estate companies in his community.

Brotherhood Across Borders

The bond shared between Ostergard and Nay is profound. They served together in the early 1970s in Fubonn Province, with Nay providing medical aid to the Montagnard people while Ostergard led troops as an Army Infantry Officer. They were an inseparable team, often overcoming language barriers through trust and determination. As fate would have it, after a series of transfers, the two heroes lost touch. Nay was among the last passengers on a US helicopter flight out of Saigon when the city fell in 1975.

Years later, they reconnected stateside, but it wasn’t until this gala that they could meet in person once again. Nay expressed his elation at the opportunity, “When I was first approached about the chance to surprise him and honor him, I jumped at it. He is my brother in arms and a man that deserves to be recognized.”

Honoring a Fallen Friend

The Sgt. Baez Honor Courage Commitment Award holds even more significance this year, as it commemorates the life of Carlos Baez, a Marine who fought valiantly on battlefields and faced his own battle with terminal liver cancer. After a year and a half of defiance, Baez passed away just two weeks before the gala. OPFOB Founder JR Brown shared how much the award symbolizes camaraderie and remembrance, stating, “To be able to honor somebody with his name means that this person means just as much to me, OPFOB, and our mission.”

Where Friendship Meets Purpose

The night was not just about honoring individual achievements; it was about recognizing the power of community and the support that OPFOB embodies. As Ostergard shared his pride in what OPFOB has accomplished in such a short span, the bond between veterans became abundantly clear. Events like this remind us all: sometimes, we just need a little help from our friends to find our way back home.