From Vietnam to Lehi: Quinn Allred's Journey of Service and Community
Vietnam veteran Quinn Allred shares a powerful narrative on the transition from high-stakes military intelligence to a lifetime of quiet, dedicated community leadership in Lehi.
Quinn Allred
Vietnam War Veteran and Longtime Lehi Resident
At a Glance
Archive Scoring
Introduction
Quinn Allred’s story is a testament to the enduring threads that connect a person to their home, even when separated by oceans and the fog of war. Arriving in Lehi in 1956, Quinn’s youth was defined by the intimate boundaries of a small town where every merchant was a veteran and every neighbor a surrogate sibling. His transition into the military during the height of the Vietnam draft marks a pivotal shift in his life, leading him into the shadowy world of the Army Security Agency where he managed top-secret signals intelligence. This chapter of his life reveals the profound duality of the soldier’s experience: the technical precision of aerial reconnaissance contrasted with the visceral, human impulse to protect the vulnerable in a foreign land. The most poignant of these memories is Quinn’s work with a Catholic orphanage in Pleiku. By redirecting military rations and building secret caches to hide food from the Vietcong, Quinn and his fellow soldiers engaged in a quiet rebellion of mercy. Decades later, a Facebook message from a woman named Janet—a survivor of that orphanage who recognized Quinn from a fifty-year-old photograph—closed a circle of healing that began in the Central Highlands. Returning to a 1970s America that was often hostile to its veterans, Quinn chose the path of quiet reconstruction. He built his first home in Lehi with his own hands through sweat equity, a physical manifestation of his desire to root himself back into the soil of his childhood. His career in refrigeration and maintenance eventually gave way to a second calling: fifteen years as the Post Commander for the American Legion. In this role, Quinn transitioned from an invisible soldier to a visible advocate for the next generation. Under his leadership, the American Legion became more than a social club; it became a conduit for civic education, sponsoring students to learn the intricacies of the Constitution and the mechanics of government. He reflects on the transformation of Lehi from a town of ninety-seven graduates to a sprawling city of thousands, mourning the loss of the old Tabernacle while championing the need for new leaders to 'be the one' who checks on a struggling neighbor. Quinn’s legacy is found not in the medals he earned, but in the scholarships he facilitated and the veterans he helped pull from the brink of isolation. His story reminds us that service does not end with a discharge paper; it simply changes its uniform.
Episode Overview
A detailed look at the topics, people, and context of this conversation.
In this episode, oral historian Ryan Harding sits down with Quinn Allred, a central figure in Lehi’s veteran community and a resident since 1956. The conversation spans Quinn’s early years in Lehi, his top-secret service in the Army Security Agency during the Vietnam War, and his extensive career in the HVAC industry, including a decade at Jordan Commons. Central to the discussion is Quinn’s fifteen-year tenure as the Post Commander for the American Legion, where he revitalized local engagement through youth scholarships and veteran advocacy. The episode explores the shifting landscape of Lehi, from the demolition of the old Tabernacle to the rapid population growth that has altered the town’s social fabric. Quinn also shares a deeply personal account of his continued connection to a Vietnamese orphan he assisted during the war, illustrating the long-term impact of individual acts of kindness. The emotional core of the interview focuses on the 'Be the One' initiative, highlighting Quinn’s commitment to preventing veteran suicide and ensuring that no former service member feels forgotten by the community they served.
Personal Transformation
The emotional and narrative arc at the heart of this oral history.
Quinn Allred’s journey is defined by a transition from a young man seeking direction after his LDS mission to a high-stakes intelligence specialist whose survival became the catalyst for a lifetime of service. Initially drafted during the height of the Vietnam War, Allred chose to enlist in the Army Security Agency (ASA), a move that pushed him into the world of top-secret communications and Morse code intercept. This period marked his first major shift—from a small-town Lehi boy to a specialized technician operating in the 'hush-hush' environments of airborne platforms over Cambodia and Laos, where he navigated the thin line between intense technical focus and the 'sheer terror' of combat aviation.
A pivotal turning point occurred when Allred was pulled from the 'Jaguar 21' flight at the last minute to give a briefing to a commanding general. The subsequent disappearance of that flight and the loss of his 16 comrades left him with a profound sense of survivor’s guilt and the haunting question, 'Why me?' This moment of existential crisis did not lead to withdrawal, but rather to a deepening of his humanitarian efforts, specifically his work with orphans in Pleiku. He transformed his survival into a mission of protection, using his military resources to build hiding places for the children’s food to protect them from the Viet Cong.
Upon returning to a country that was often hostile to Vietnam veterans, Allred underwent a quiet internal transformation. He spent decades focusing on his career in refrigeration and raising a family, suppressing his veteran identity in response to the cultural climate. However, the discovery of a motorcycle club—the American Legion Riders—became the bridge that reconnected him to his past. This sparked his final transformation from a veteran who 'didn't feel comfortable' at meetings to a community pillar who led the Lehi American Legion post for fifteen years.
Today, Allred stands as a man who has reconciled the trauma of war with the duty of community building. He evolved from a survivor of a lost flight into a sentinel for other veterans, ensuring that no soldier in Lehi feels forgotten. His growth is characterized by a move from technical silence to vocal leadership, proving that the meaning of one's life is often found in the service one provides to the next generation.
Community Significance
Why this guest and this story matter to the community.
Quinn Allred's significance to Lehi lies in his role as a bridge between the town's agrarian, tight-knit past and its rapidly expanding present. For fifteen years as the Post Commander of the American Legion, he has been the primary advocate for veterans in a city that has grown from a population of a few thousand to over 80,000. Under his leadership, the American Legion Post 19 has remained a vital institution, providing a sense of continuity and honor for the men and women who served in every conflict from World War II to the present day.
His impact is most visible in his dedication to Lehi’s youth. By championing programs like Boys State and the Oratorical Contest, Allred has ensured that hundreds of local students receive scholarships and a rigorous education in civics and the U.S. Constitution. He has effectively mentored the future leaders of the community, instilling in them a reverence for the democratic process that he fought to defend. Without his intervention in 2010, when the post faced a leadership vacuum, these programs and the veteran support network in Lehi might have vanished entirely.
Allred has also served as a critical emotional support system for local veterans struggling with the transition to civilian life. Through the 'Be the One' program, he has worked to combat veteran suicide by fostering a culture of 'checking in' on neighbors. He has created a safe space for veterans who, like himself, previously felt they had to hide their service. This has strengthened the social fabric of Lehi, ensuring that the 'war stories' and wisdom of older generations are passed down rather than buried.
His relationship with the city government and the Civic Improvement Association has ensured that the American Legion remains integrated into the community’s identity. By organizing monthly breakfasts and commemorative events, he has kept the spirit of 'old Lehi' alive—a spirit where neighbors look out for one another and service is a lifelong commitment. His presence in Lehi is a reminder that a community’s strength is measured by how well it honors its elders and invests in its youth.
"Growing up in a small town, I learned that connections go beyond blood. They're built through shared experiences, friendships, and the moments we celebrate together."
— Ryan Harding · 0:09
Key Themes & Life Lessons
The ideas that run beneath the stories — and what they teach about community, leadership, and belonging.
Military Intelligence and the Vietnam War
Veteran Transition and Readjustment
Community Advocacy through the American Legion
The Transformation of Lehi from Small Town to Suburb
Humanitarianism in War Zones
Youth Civic Education and Mentorship
Historical Preservation and Community Memory
Community Service
Wisdom & Life Lessons
One piece of extracted wisdom is that '90% of war is boredom, and 10% is sheer terror.' This insight applies beyond the battlefield to the human experience of high-stakes professions and long-term commitments; it teaches that resilience is found in how one handles the quiet, mundane moments between crises. Allred’s life suggests that preparation during the 'boredom' is what allows one to survive the 'terror.'
Another lesson is the realization that 'Why me?' is not a question to be answered, but a debt to be paid. Allred’s survival of the Jaguar 21 flight led him to a life of service as a way of honoring those who didn't come home. This wisdom teaches that when we are spared from tragedy, our gratitude should be expressed through the service of others.
Finally, Allred offers the wisdom that 'the worst part about being a veteran is being forgotten.' This extends to all marginalized or elderly members of society. He teaches that visibility is a form of care—that acknowledging someone’s history and their 'uniform' (whatever that may be) is the first step in building a healthy community.
Key Takeaways
- 1Military service during Vietnam often involved highly technical, top-secret intelligence roles that remain largely unknown to the general public.
- 2Small-town media, such as the Lehi Free Press, played a critical role in maintaining the morale and connection of overseas soldiers to their homes.
- 3Veteran support organizations like the American Legion are evolving from social clubs to critical mental health and suicide prevention networks (e.g., 'Be the One').
- 4Lehi's demographic shift has moved the community from a place where 'everyone knew everyone' to a modern city where traditional social bonds are harder to maintain.
- 5The experience of war is often defined by 90% boredom and 10% sheer terror, with lifelong questions about survival and destiny.
- 6Service to the youth through programs like Boy State is the primary legacy work of contemporary veteran organizations in Lehi.
- 7Personal connections made during war, such as Quinn's relationship with a Vietnamese orphan, can span decades and continents through modern technology.
Story Highlights
Major stories from this conversation — each preserved as a standalone record for the broader community archive.
Returning from an LDS mission in 1967, Quinn Allred found himself caught in the height of the Vietnam War draft. With Utah colleges refusing undergraduate deferments, he faced an inevitable call to service. Rather than being passively drafted into the infantry, Allred exercised a moment of agency, joining the Army Security Agency (ASA), a branch of the National Security Agency requiring top-secret clearance. This decision set him on a path of high-stakes intelligence work, moving him from potential front-line combat in the infantry to a role as a linguistic and technical analyst.
Emotional Significance
Reflects the tension and uncertainty of the Vietnam era, where young men had to make life-altering decisions under the pressure of the draft. It captures the desire for control over one's destiny in a time of national upheaval.
Why This Matters
This story documents the specific administrative and social pressures faced by young men in 1960s Utah, illustrating how the war dictated the life choices of an entire generation.
Life Lesson
In circumstances where you feel powerless, finding even a small avenue for choice can change the trajectory of your life.
Transformation
Allred transitioned from a recently returned missionary to a high-level security professional, shifting his identity from a civilian to a key player in the nation's intelligence apparatus.
What It Reveals About Quinn Allred
He is proactive and seeks to make the best of difficult situations by applying his intelligence and aptitude.
What It Reveals About the Community
Lehi was a community where global events like the Vietnam War and local institutional policies (college deferments) collided in the lives of its residents.
Community Value Preserved
The history of how local veterans navigated the draft and the specific roles they served in the military.
For future generations: It provides a first-hand account of the 'deferment' crisis in Utah and how military service was often a matter of navigating systems rather than just ideology.
In a harrowing account of survival by happenstance, Quinn Allred recounts the story of Jaguar 21, a helicopter flight he was scheduled to be on. At the last moment, he was pulled from the mission by his company commander to provide a briefing for the general of the Fourth Infantry Division. While Allred was conducting the briefing, the helicopter went down. Despite finding the wreckage, no bodies were ever recovered. To this day, sixteen of his fellow crew members remain missing, their fate unknown.
Stationed in Pleiku, Allred and a group of fellow soldiers spent their off-duty hours assisting a Catholic orphanage run by Montagnards. They discovered the Viet Cong were stealing food from the children as a form of 'taxation.' In response, Allred and his team built secret hiding places within the orphanage to secure food supplies. To fund their efforts, Allred—who did not smoke or drink—sold his military allowances of cigarettes and liquor to other GIs, using the proceeds to buy food for the children in the local market.
Years after the war, Quinn Allred was contacted on Facebook by a woman named Janet. She revealed herself to be the little girl in a photo he possessed—a child from the orphanage whom he had once danced with. Janet shared her harrowing story of escaping Vietnam as a 'boat person' after the fall of Saigon, walking 200 miles barefoot through enemy territory to reach safety. She eventually settled in Michigan, but she never forgot the American soldier who had helped her.
While serving in the high-stress environment of Vietnam, Quinn Allred received a consistent piece of home: the Lehi Free Press. A local woman named Betty Fowler made it her mission to mail the local newspaper to every Lehi resident serving in the military. Whether it arrived weekly or monthly, the paper kept Allred connected to the births, deaths, and sporting events of his hometown. Upon returning home, Allred sought out Mrs. Fowler to thank her, a moment that moved her to tears.
After years of focusing on his career and family, Quinn Allred rejoined the American Legion, initially through the Legion Riders motorcycle group. In 2010, the Lehi Post faced a leadership crisis when the commander suffered a stroke and no one would volunteer to lead. Allred, noticing he was the only Lehi resident in the meeting at the time, stood up and offered to conduct the meetings. What started as a temporary fix turned into fifteen years of service as the Post Commander, a role he is finally retiring from.
Quinn Allred reflects on the dramatic transformation of Lehi from a small town where his graduating class had only 97 students to a burgeoning city with thousands of students per class. He recalls an era when everyone was 'family,' knowing each other's business at the three tiny grocery stores. He fondly remembers local icons like the old Tabernacle and the father-son banquets, and even the 'old-school' policing of Ray Edwards, who would discipline a child and then take them home to their father for further discipline.
"She made sure that all of the Vietnam vet... from Lehi... she would send them copies of the Lehi Free Press to let them know what was going on back home."
— Quinn Allred · 17:12
Historical Preservation & Legacy
What this interview preserves about community history, cultural legacy, and intergenerational knowledge.
Preservation Value: Exceptional
This episode is of exceptional value because it captures highly specific technical and historical details of the Vietnam-era Army Security Agency, which are rare in local oral histories. It also provides a comprehensive 70-year overview of Lehi's physical and social evolution, narrated by a man who was both a witness to its past and an active builder of its modern civic institutions. The inclusion of the 'Jaguar 21' mystery and the 'boat person' connection adds significant global historical weight to this local record.
Why This Episode Matters Historically
This episode serves as a rare primary source for the history of the Army Security Agency (ASA) operations during the Vietnam War, specifically the 'Left Bank' program. Allred’s detailed description of Morse code intercept, triangulation from UH-1 Huey helicopters, and the technicalities of the 'mill' typewriter provides a granular look at the electronic warfare of the era that was classified for decades. It also documents the specific, unresolved mystery of the 'Jaguar 21' flight, contributing a personal perspective to the broader military record of lost personnel. Furthermore, the interview captures the sociological history of Lehi’s transition from a small town where every resident knew the local police and merchants by name to a modern metropolitan area. Allred’s recollections of the old Tabernacle, the original high school, and the influence of WWI veterans on the city’s early governance provide a 'bottom-up' history of municipal development in Utah County. This record preserves the memory of the physical landmarks and social structures that defined mid-20th-century Lehi before they were erased by the growth of the Silicon Slopes.
What Future Generations May Learn
Future generations will learn the true meaning of civic resilience through Allred’s story. They will see that the most impactful leadership often comes from those who step up not for glory, but because 'nobody else would.' Allred’s fifteen-year tenure as Commander, fueled by a desire to keep a local institution alive, teaches that the health of a community depends on individual residents taking responsibility for shared traditions and support systems. They will also gain insight into the psychological landscape of the Vietnam veteran—the paradox of being a highly skilled specialist abroad while feeling 'hated' or ignored at home. Allred’s eventual reclamation of his veteran identity through the American Legion Riders illustrates the importance of finding 'interest-based' pathways back to community involvement. His story emphasizes that healing from trauma is a long-term process often aided by the simple act of sitting around a breakfast table with those who have shared similar burdens. Lastly, future residents of a much larger Lehi will learn about the 'family' atmosphere that once existed in their city. Allred’s description of a graduating class of 97 people where 'everyone knew everyone' provides a blueprint for the kind of deep, intergenerational connection that modern urban planning often struggles to replicate. It serves as an invitation for future citizens to seek out that same sense of brotherhood in their own neighborhoods.
Community Memory Preserved
This archive preserves the memory of Betty Fowler and the 'Lehi Free Press,' specifically her dedicated effort to send newspapers to every Lehi soldier serving overseas. This act of 'correspondence as a lifeline' illustrates the town's commitment to its residents even when they were thousands of miles away. It also protects the history of the old Lehi Tabernacle and the original seminary building, detailing their roles as the spiritual and social centers for father-and-son banquets and baptisms before their demolition. The episode preserves the story of Janet, a Vietnamese orphan whose life was touched by Lehi soldiers and who eventually found her way to the United States. This narrative arc connects the local history of Lehi to the global impact of the Vietnam War and the 'boat people' refugee crisis of 1975. Additionally, it preserves the memory of 'old stalwarts' like Wilkey the barber and Herman Goats, the stake president, ensuring that these figures who 'run Lehi' in the mid-20th century are not forgotten as the population turns over.
Local Knowledge Preserved
Allred provides specific local knowledge regarding the 'sweat equity' housing programs of the 1970s, where veterans like himself built their own homes—specifically in the Stewart subdivision on Fifth West and Sixth North—using GI Bill benefits and family labor. He also details the transition of Lehi’s educational buildings, identifying which modern-day junior highs were once high schools and the specific locations of the three 'tiny' grocery stores that served the town before the era of supermarkets. His account of Ray Edwards, the local policeman who practiced a 'two-tier' system of discipline involving both a 'kick in the butt' and a trip home to one's father, preserves a disappearing cultural memory of mid-century law enforcement.
Intergenerational Lessons
The first lesson is that service is a lifetime commitment that takes different forms at different ages. Allred served as a soldier in his 20s, a provider in his 40s, and a community leader in his 70s, showing that one's contribution to society should evolve but never cease. For young leaders, his story demonstrates that 'showing up' is often the most important qualification; he became a commander simply because he was willing to conduct the meetings when no one else was. A second lesson concerns the power of small humanitarian acts within a larger conflict. Allred’s decision to build hiding places for orphan's food in Vietnam teaches that even in the midst of '10% sheer terror,' one can find a way to act with compassion. This serves as a lesson for future generations on maintaining their humanity in high-pressure or ethicaly complex environments. Thirdly, the story of his reconnection with Janet via Facebook teaches that the ripples of one's actions can return decades later in unexpected ways. It highlights the long-term impact of kindness and the enduring nature of human bonds formed in hardship. For children, this story emphasizes that names and faces remembered today may become significant connections in the distant future. Finally, the lesson of 'Be the One' is a call to action for every community member. It teaches that preventing tragedy is often as simple as a phone call or a shared breakfast. Allred’s work with veterans shows that the strongest safety net is not a government program, but a neighbor who refuses to let another neighbor be forgotten.
Community & Cultural Insights
Lehi’s culture has shifted from a homogenous, LDS-centered small town where the Stake President and WWI veterans managed both spiritual and civic life, to a diverse, pluralistic city. Allred notes that in the 1950s, the local merchants were the same men leading the church and the American Legion, creating a singular, unified power structure. This episode reflects the gradual 'opening' of Lehi’s social circles as veterans returned from more diverse experiences abroad.
The town’s relationship with its veterans has also undergone a cultural evolution. The interview reveals a period of 'silent service' where Vietnam veterans felt culturally alienated, contrasting with the current era of public reverence. This reflects a broader national trend but shows how it manifested specifically in a small Utah town where the 'Mormon in a Catholic orphanage' dynamic highlighted the growing global awareness of Lehi’s residents.
Educational culture in Lehi was once defined by intimacy—class sizes were small enough that classmates felt like 'brothers and sisters.' The interview provides an insight into how the physical layout of the town supported this, with few stores and centralized schools ensuring constant face-to-face interaction. The loss of this 'forced' intimacy is a major cultural shift that Allred observes with a touch of sadness.
Furthermore, the interview highlights the enduring value of the 'GI Bill culture' in Utah, where veterans used federal benefits to gain technical degrees and build homes, literally constructing the physical foundations of modern Lehi. This 'blue-collar professionalism'—transitioning from military intel to HVAC and maintenance—was the backbone of the town's economic growth during the Cold War era.
Historical Context
Quinn Allred's narrative spans a pivotal era in American and Lehi history. Drafted in 1967 at the height of the Vietnam War, his service in the Army Security Agency (ASA) represents a specialized tier of the military effort, focusing on signals intelligence and the secret 'Left Bank' airborne intercept program. This period was marked by significant domestic unrest, which Quinn personally experienced through deployment for riot duty in Washington D.C., highlighting the internal conflicts of the Vietnam era where soldiers faced hostility from the citizens they served. In Lehi, the context shifts from an agrarian, tight-knit community run by World War I veterans to a rapidly expanding urban center. Quinn recalls a town where the local stake president and merchants were the primary civic leaders, and where the 'Lehi Free Press' served as the vital umbilical cord for those serving abroad. The demolition of the old Tabernacle and the construction of the new Civic Center mirror the physical and social transformation Quinn has witnessed over his nearly 70 years in the city.
Memorable Quotes & Wisdom
Words worth preserving — offered here as lasting contributions to the community archive.
"Growing up in a small town, I learned that connections go beyond blood. They're built through shared experiences, friendships, and the moments we celebrate together."
— Ryan Harding
0:09
Reflects the generational transition of Lehi from a small town to a growing city while trying to maintain its core values.
Establishes the fundamental philosophy of community building in Lehi, emphasizing that social cohesion is an active process.
"I decided that if I was going to go into the military, I was going to do something that I wanted to do rather than let them choose."
— Quinn Allred
2:16
Demonstrates the individualistic and self-reliant spirit common among Lehi residents during the mid-20th century.
Highlights personal agency and the search for purpose even during the restrictive era of the Vietnam-era draft.
"I always told my children that was that the Vietnam experience was 90% boredom and 10% sheer terror."
— Quinn Allred
9:03
Preserves a veteran's perspective for a community that has a high population of military families.
A raw, honest distillation of the soldier's experience, cutting through romanticized versions of war.
"And I was supposed to be on that flight... you always wonder why me?"
— Quinn Allred
9:28
Adds a deeply personal, human layer to the service history of a local resident.
Captures the profound sense of survivor's guilt and the random nature of fate in combat zones.
"A few of us got together and we would we would go into the orphanages and we would build hiding places for their food."
— Quinn Allred
12:31
Illustrates the service-oriented character that Lehi residents value, showing how they carry these traits abroad.
Shows the capacity for humanitarian compassion even in the midst of a violent conflict.
"She looked me up on Facebook and we still we still correspond to this... She's a sweetheart and we send Christmas cards together."
— Quinn Allred
14:00
An example of the far-reaching impact of a single Lehi resident's life and kindness.
Demonstrates how small acts of service can create lifelong bonds across decades and continents.
"She made sure that all of the Vietnam vet... from Lehi... she would send them copies of the Lehi Free Press to let them know what was going on back home."
— Quinn Allred
17:12
Honors Betty Fowler and the Lehi Free Press as institutions of community connection.
Highlights the crucial role of local journalism and community outreach in maintaining morale for soldiers.
"When I grew up, it all of it was all World War I veterans... they basically run Lehi."
— Quinn Allred
17:51
Preserves the memory of the town's former leaders and the cultural impact of military service on local governance.
Observations on the civic leadership structure of mid-century Lehi and the influence of the 'Greatest Generation.'
"If you guys is looking for somebody to conduct the meetings, I'll do it."
— Quinn Allred
22:35
Speaks to the volunteerism and 'can-do' attitude required to keep community organizations like the American Legion alive.
A moment of quiet heroism and willingness to step up when others wouldn't, defining local leadership.
"The worst part about being a veteran is being forgotten."
— Quinn Allred
29:35
Serves as a call to action for Lehi residents to continue honoring and engaging with their local veteran population.
A poignant reminder of the emotional needs of service members post-deployment.
"In Lehi, it used to be that your class was like a family. Everybody knew everybody. You knew everything about everybody."
— Quinn Allred
32:02
A historical record of the 'Old Lehi' social fabric for those living in the new, modernized city.
Captures the essence of small-town intimacy and the social changes that come with rapid urbanization.
"I always wondered after fighting that war in Vietnam... that I would have to sit there and point guns at my own citizens. Citizens I fought for."
— Quinn Allred
36:20
Provides a nuanced look at the traumatic homecoming and complex political landscape many Lehi veterans faced.
A heavy reflection on the social domestic conflicts of the 1960s/70s and the complex role of the soldier.
Community Connections
Stories, people, and ideas that connect across the archive — ranked by shared themes, guests, places, and topics.
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Related Themes
(4)Civic Leadership
Profiles of the people who shaped local government, planning, and policy in Lehi — and what their stories reveal about what good leadership actually looks like at the community level.
Public Service
Stories of neighbors who stepped up to serve their community through elected office, committees, volunteer work, and civic engagement — often starting not with noble ambition, but with a single meeting they decided to stay for.
Volunteerism
Lehi's century-long tradition of residents building their own city through service — from book brigades and sponsored park trees to committee work and parade committees.
Family Legacy
The stories of families who planted roots in Lehi across generations — the ones who built the traditions, the parks, the businesses, and the sense of belonging that others now enjoy.
Ways to Serve
(4)Mentor through the Miss Lehi Pageant
Miss Lehi Pageant
Volunteer for the Lehi Arts Council
Lehi Arts Council
Volunteer with Alpine School District
Alpine School District
Volunteer at Farmers’ Markets
Lehi Farmers’ Market
Explore More Stories & Themes
Related topics and community themes that connect this episode to the broader archive.
Military Intelligence and the Vietnam War
Explore this theme in the archive →
Veteran Transition and Readjustment
Explore this theme in the archive →
Community Advocacy through the American Legion
Explore this theme in the archive →
The Transformation of Lehi from Small Town to Suburb
Explore this theme in the archive →
Humanitarianism in War Zones
Explore this theme in the archive →
Youth Civic Education and Mentorship
Explore this theme in the archive →
Connected People, Places & Stories
Leadership and Post Commander
Quinn served as post commander for 15 years, directing community scholarships and veteran welfare initiatives.
Professional Service
Quinn Allred served four years in this specialized military branch during the Vietnam War.
Military Service Experience
Quinn served as a cryptologic and direction-finding airborne operator during the war, shaping his life perspective.
Community Support Link
Sent copies of the Lehi Free Press to soldiers stationed abroad, maintaining their emotional tie to home.
Lived Experience
Quinn provides a contrast between the tight-knit Lehi of the 1950s and the modern, larger city.
Hometown Newspaper
Served as a vital lifeline between Lehi town life and deployed local military personnel.
Post-war Homestead
Site where Allred built his first family home utilizing veteran sweat equity and the GI Bill alongside his father.
Memory and Place
The landmark served as Quinn's center of community life before its demolition and modern reconstruction.
Program Benefactor
Co-funded local youth participation in the American Legion Boys State civic leadership program.
Regional Industrial Employer
Allred supplied industrial oxygen and nitrogen to the mill via National Cylinder Gas during his early post-service career.
Advocacy Focus
Highlighted the 'Be The One' campaign to mitigate isolation, PTSD, and suicides among returning service members.
Site of Personal and Communal Memory
Quinn attended Father and Son banquets here, met Gene Fullmer, and his father supervised building the replacement stake center.
Alma Mater
Quinn graduated in 1965 with 97 students, representing an era where classmates lived like extended family.
Military Service Trauma
Deployed on riot duty while stationed at Vint Hill Farms, an event he found deeply painful as he had to point guns at citizens he fought to protect.
Community Authority Figure
A historic Lehi police officer whose firm, personal community policing reflected small-town norms in early Lehi.
Landmark Reference
Used as a geographic anchor defining the location where the newer high school was constructed around 1960.
Suggested Future Guests & Topics
A future interview with Janet (formerly My), the orphan who looked Quinn up on Facebook, would provide a powerful 'full circle' narrative and document the refugee experience of the 'Boat People' from a local perspective. Interviewing the current recipients of the American Legion Oratorical Contest would document the intellectual and civic priorities of Lehi’s contemporary youth. A deep-dive interview with the families of early Lehi merchants (like the Laneys or Powers) would further flesh out the history of Main Street business. Finally, recording the stories of the few remaining Korean War veterans in the post would preserve a 'forgotten' era of service that Allred mentions as being particularly overlooked.
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This episode is a high-value record for military technology historians and Utah community archivists. It contains specific technical details about the Army Security Agency (ASA) operations, Morse code training (15 to 30 groups per minute), and the top-secret 'Left Bank' airborne platform. It also records the internal emotional struggle of Vietnam veterans, specifically the 'boredom vs. terror' dynamic and the trauma of returning to a divided country. For community retrieval, the transcript identifies specific lineage of Lehi leadership (Laney, Powers, Goats) and the physical movement of schools and civic buildings. It highlights a specific cultural value: the 'sweat equity' program for Vietnam veterans that helped build neighborhoods in the 1970s. The narrative of the Vietnamese orphan 'Janet' serves as a significant cross-cultural human interest touchpoint.
Full Transcript
Transcript source: AI-generated. This transcript has been lightly edited for readability.
Chapter 1: Introduction to Roots and Branches of Lehi 0:00Welcome to Roots and Branches of Lehi, the podcast where we get to know the faces, stories, and lives that make up our community. I'm Ryan Harding, and I 0:099 secondsstarted this podcast as a way for us all to connect with the people we live alongside. Growing up in a small town, I learned that connections go beyond blood. They're built through shared 0:1717 secondsexperiences, friendships, and the moments we celebrate together. Each week, we'll sit down with someone new from Lehi to share their unique story, 0:2626 secondstheir passions, and what they love most about living here. So whether you've been here for years or just arrived, 0:3333 secondsjoin us as we deepen our roots and reach out to our branches one story at a 0:4444 secondstime. Welcome Quinn all red to Lehi Roots and Branches. Oh, okay. where we get to we get to know the people of Lehi Chapter 2: Meet Quinn Allred: Lifelong Lehi resident 0:5252 secondsand you're one of those guys. So, but well, thanks for coming. I appreciate you coming. So, give us give us a little background of you. What you know, you 1:001 minuteknow, you did you grow up here. Where where you from originally? I moved here to Le my parents moved here to Lehi when 1:071 minute, 7 secondsin 1956. Okay. I was in the fourth grade when I started. Okay. Carl Miller was my was my fourth grade school teacher. 1:161 minute, 16 secondsNice. Okay. And so I've I've known Lehi since then. So yeah, long time. That's about it. Okay. And and and so then you 1:251 minute, 25 secondsyou know, so yeah, you've been here ever since then. That's a long time. Okay. Chapter 3: Military draft & experiences during the Vietnam War 1:291 minute, 29 secondsWell, other than my time on a LDS mission and Sure. four years in active duty in the military. So Okay. And so 1:371 minute, 37 secondslet So let's talk about that. So what led you to join the military? Basically, when I come home from my mission, it was during the Vietnam War, 19 I got home in 1967. 1:481 minute, 48 secondsOkay, it was at the height of the draft was just beginning. Okay, I wanted to go to school, but none of the colleges in Utah were were accepting undergraduates. 1:591 minute, 59 secondsThey were saving their deferments for for postgraduates. Mhm. So, basically, I had nowhere to go. So, I it was hard to 2:082 minutes, 8 secondsfind a job. I was just a high school graduate. And so when I got my draft notice, I just went down and joined. I I 2:162 minutes, 16 secondsdecided that if I was going to go into the military, I was going to do something that I wanted to do rather 2:232 minutes, 23 secondsthan let them choose. Sure. Sure. Well, and so so did you end up going to Vietnam? Yes. Okay. And so tell me how 2:312 minutes, 31 secondsthat affected you. Well, the story behind that is is I joined the Army Security Agency, which was a it was a 2:382 minutes, 38 secondsfour-year commitment rather than a three-year commitment. Okay? And one of their selling points was is there is no 2:452 minutes, 45 secondsASA in Vietnam, which was true. There was no ASA. The AR Army Security Agency was a a branch of the National Security 2:542 minutes, 54 secondsAgency. It was a military branch. We answered only the NSA and had our own command structure. and you had to have a 3:023 minutes, 2 secondstop secret security clearance to belong to it. And I went through that basically as a drafty. I went into Ford, California for basic infantry training. 3:143 minutes, 14 secondsAnd if my clearance hadn't come through, I would have been in the infantry anyway. Oh. Because I was being trained as a scout, sniper, and a and a mortman. 3:253 minutes, 25 secondsOkay. In the infantry. Yeah. My preliminary clearance came through and I was sent from there to Monterey, 3:323 minutes, 32 secondsCalifornia to Defense Language Institute because I scored high on the aptitude test for learning languages and there 3:423 minutes, 42 secondsthey assigned me Spanish which I already knew how to speak because I went to Mexico on my mission. I was just going to say where did you go on your mission? 3:483 minutes, 48 secondsOkay. Okay, that's perfect. So when I I challenged the course passed I was only there a month. Mhm. They sent me on to 3:583 minutes, 58 secondsFort Deans, Massachusetts, where the Army Security Agency did 90% of their training and I was supposed to go in 4:074 minutes, 7 secondsthere as a crypto analyst. Okay. And they didn't have any classes going. So, they moved me over into Well, the army 4:154 minutes, 15 secondsbasically you do whatever the army tells you to do. That's kind of how it the military works, right? You do what you're told. So I I was sent to basic 4:244 minutes, 24 secondsMorse code and there you had to learn Morse code and be able to copy on a mill 4:314 minutes, 31 secondswhich is a typewriter with all uppercase letters and numbers okay numbers and everything. So and to pass the class you 4:414 minutes, 41 secondshad to be able to copy 15 groups per minute which is five random letters broken up into five fiveletter groups. 4:514 minutes, 51 secondsOkay. So, you do that 15 and then then you moved on and then there was several different options and one of the options 4:584 minutes, 58 secondswas what? High-speed intercept operator which you had to learn to to copy up to 5:055 minutes, 5 seconds30 groups per minute. Okay. And I never could copy that fast. So, I was sent to 5:135 minutes, 13 secondswhat they called a special identification techniques operator. 5:185 minutes, 18 secondsthere. I had to be able to send and receive Morse code up to 25 groups per minute, which was easy, which was easy 5:275 minutes, 27 secondsfor me to do. So that's I I went through that 27week course and passed it and I 5:345 minutes, 34 secondspassed in the in the upper 10% of my class. So I was sent on to an analyst to be able to analyze and plot on the map 5:445 minutes, 44 secondslocations of enemy transmitters. So, and then I got my orders to go out of that school to be deployed and I was being 5:525 minutes, 52 secondsdeployed to Bad Eing, Germany. And between that time and the time that I deployed, I President Johnson decided he needed 50,000 more troops in Vietnam. 6:036 minutes, 3 secondsOh. So, they changed my orders while I was on leave and I was sent to Vietnam. Okay. Went to Oakland, California. Yeah. 6:136 minutes, 13 secondsAnd loaded onto a plane and and off you went. My next stop was in Saigon. Wow. 6:186 minutes, 18 secondsWow. Wow. And how long were you there for? I was there my first tour of duty was a year. Okay. And then I extended my 6:266 minutes, 26 secondsmy tour so I could fly. I wanted to fly the there was a at that time it was a 6:346 minutes, 34 secondstop secret program called Left Bank. the ar the NSA had had developed these helicopters that I could do the same 6:436 minutes, 43 secondsthing I was doing at the base camps but only in a in a platform an air platform. 6:496 minutes, 49 secondsMhm. So I learned to fly in fly my position in a UH1 Huey helicopter 6:576 minutes, 57 secondsand we flew low and slow in circles until we would locate enemy ground units. Then we sent that information on 7:067 minutes, 6 secondsto the field commanders. Okay. We were basically a direct support unit and and I was I was in direct support of the 7:157 minutes, 15 secondsfifth special forces in the fourth infantry division. 7:197 minutes, 19 secondsAnd I flew an eight UH1 helicopters and OV1 Mohawk. Okay. It was a it was a twin 7:267 minutes, 26 secondsseat turborop and we flew up and down the rivers and it had side search radar. 7:317 minutes, 31 secondsWe would look under the trees. Okay. Fly up the rivers and the Ho Chi Min Trail over into Cambodia and Laos. Yeah, that was all hush hush and we weren't there. 7:427 minutes, 42 secondsAnd and so I did that for about let's see from February into May. Okay. Then I 7:497 minutes, 49 secondscame and then I was I was what they call TDY, temporary duty. So I didn't have to 7:557 minutes, 55 secondsfill a whole a whole tour. So it was only about six or seven months that I fi 8:038 minutes, 3 secondsfive five or six months and I came back and it was such a new platform that they sent me to Fort Wuka of Arizona and it 8:128 minutes, 12 secondswas and I taught classes there on on how to run that position out of a out of an airborne platform. So Oh, that's super 8:198 minutes, 19 secondscool. Yeah. Then I left from there to go to Ventill Farm Station. Okay. in Virginia and that was a that was a top 8:288 minutes, 28 secondssecret installation army installation in Warrington, Virginia. Okay. It's where it was a worldwide intercept area. Okay. 8:388 minutes, 38 secondsIt doesn't none of these places belong. 8:408 minutes, 40 secondsNone of these places exist anymore. So Okay. Okay. Going back to your Vietnam thing, any any stories stand out from, you know, for you like, you know, 8:478 minutes, 47 secondsanything that defined that experience or any kind of thing that I mean, obviously that's other than boredom. Sure. And 8:558 minutes, 55 secondsthat's that that's boredom's good actually when you're at war, I guess, right? You know, I I always told my children that was that the Vietnam 9:039 minutes, 3 secondsexperience was 90% boredom and 10% sheer terror. Okay. Okay. Sure. Looking back on it, it's probably there. The crews 9:129 minutes, 12 secondsthat that that I flew with, 16 of them are still there. Okay. They were lost, 9:199 minutes, 19 secondsnever found. And so we all I always watch to see if any of these recovery efforts have ever found any of these. 9:289 minutes, 28 secondsJaguar 21 went down. And I was supposed to be on that flight, but I had been called by 9:359 minutes, 35 secondsthe company commander to give a a briefing to the field commander that morning. So they took me off that flight 9:449 minutes, 44 secondsand I stayed behind to to do the the briefing to the commanding general of the fourth infantry division. Wow. And 9:529 minutes, 52 secondsat the end of the briefing, we found out that the helicopter had gone down. Wow. 9:579 minutes, 57 secondsAnd they were looking for it. Wow. they had sent. And so we had got in all of the helicopters we could. We went out looking and we found the wreckage, but 10:0510 minutes, 5 secondsthere was nobody there. There was no evidence of anybody dying. We destroyed the helicopter. Mhm. 10:1310 minutes, 13 secondsBecause it was all everything on that helicopter was pretty important. Top secret. Yeah. So the we destroyed the 10:2010 minutes, 20 secondshelicopter and then we spent weeks looking for them and we never found any evidence as to where they went and no 10:2810 minutes, 28 secondsground intelligence to find out if they they had been captured or killed or or whatever. So and still to this day you 10:3510 minutes, 35 secondsdon't know. We don't know. Not to this day. That was probably the most divining moment. Sure. Sure. Because you would have been on that that if I'd have been 10:4410 minutes, 44 secondson that flight I'd have been Yeah. I'd been there. So yeah. Yeah. And you always wonder why me? Sure. Yeah. That's it's always a question you would ask. 10:5210 minutes, 52 secondsYeah. So, and then there was there was other incidents of one of our most of our groundbased operations was done in the back of a of a 3/4tonon truck van. 11:0411 minutes, 4 secondsMhm. And had a field a array of antennas, directional antennas. We could tell which direction the radio signal 11:1211 minutes, 12 secondswas coming from. Mhm. And by that, by taking a bearing on that on a on a compass, you would triangulate and we 11:2111 minutes, 21 secondscould tell at them distances that was if you were 25 miles away, it was about a 85%. Okay? 85% chance that it was right 11:3111 minutes, 31 secondsthere. Okay? And then they would call in artillery on those on those spots, bomb bomb raids and artillery on those areas 11:3811 minutes, 38 secondsbecause they these units we listened to were they were four or 5,000 men, you know. Sure. So, yeah. So, your chances 11:4611 minutes, 46 secondsof doing some damage was probably pretty good. Pretty high. Sure. Yeah. Wow. So, but other other than that, I spent my off time working in a in a orphanage. 11:5811 minutes, 58 secondsOkay. We found out that the children in the little I was in a town called Pleu, which was up in the central highlands. 12:0612 minutes, 6 secondsIt was in the mountainous country and it's where the Montyards mostly lived in Vietnam. And there was indigenous people and there were a lot of orphans in these 12:1612 minutes, 16 secondsCatholic orphanages. And we found out that the at night that the the Vietkong 12:2212 minutes, 22 secondswould collect their taxes. Oh. And they would actually steal food from the children and leave them destitute. So a 12:3112 minutes, 31 secondslot a few of us got together and we would we would go into the orphanages and we would build hiding places for 12:3712 minutes, 37 secondstheir food. Wow. Good. Good. And so they and so and then we would you know and we would we got along great with the kids. 12:4512 minutes, 45 secondsThe kids loved Americans. I'm sure. 12:4712 minutes, 47 secondsYeah. Well, especially you were helping them too. So and I had a the mother superior at one of them had used to she 12:5412 minutes, 54 secondsknew that I was Mormon and she always she always laughed when she said what what was a Mormon doing there in a 13:0213 minutes, 2 secondsCatholic in a Catholic Catholic orphanage. Orphanage. Sure. And and so but we got along great. We got got along 13:1013 minutes, 10 secondsgreat. And we would actually take our in the military, we got a a a liquor and a and a cigarette allowance, I guess. 13:1913 minutes, 19 secondsAllowance every month. And we were allowed to buy so much. Well, we would take that and sell it. Sure. To other 13:2613 minutes, 26 secondsGIS that didn't that that ptook of it and we would take that money and buy food on the in the town. Yeah. And give 13:3513 minutes, 35 secondsit to the orphanages. Oh, that's so and I I did that for the whole 15 months that I was there. But later on in life, 13:4313 minutes, 43 secondsI was on Facebook and I got a message on Messenger one day and it was a picture and it was of me and a little girl and I 13:5313 minutes, 53 secondswas had her on my foot and we were dancing. She was like probably two or three years old. Yeah. Well, this was 14:0014 minutesthe little girl. Oh wow. And she remembered my name. Oh wow. So, she looked me up on Facebook and we still we 14:0814 minutes, 8 secondsstill correspond to this. She's a probably in her late 50s now. And Sure. 14:1314 minutes, 13 secondsand married to an ex-marine in Minnesota. Oh, really? Oh, wow. Not Minnesota. Michigan. Michigan. Okay. 14:1914 minutes, 19 secondsOkay. He's an ex-Marine and he's a county sheriff up there. Oh, wow. Has four children together and they're Oh, that's She's a She's a sweetheart and we 14:2814 minutes, 28 secondssend Christmas cards together. Sure. But she was a boat person. her and her grandmother when Saigon fell in 1975. I 14:3814 minutes, 38 secondshad already been home for what almost three years and the story she tells is her and her grandmother found her in the 14:4814 minutes, 48 secondsorphanage and they walked barefooted from Pleu to Natrang which was about 200 14:5414 minutes, 54 secondsmiles. Wow. And all the time they were there the the Vietkong and the communists were trying to kill them. 15:0215 minutes, 2 secondsWow. So they would do it only at night and they finally got put on a boat and she ended up in the Philippines and at 15:1115 minutes, 11 secondsthat time the American government was accepting refugees out of the Philippines and then she was sent to 15:1815 minutes, 18 secondsPort Fort Smith, Arkansas. Okay. And a young couple from Michigan adopted her and changed her name. Oh 15:2615 minutes, 26 secondswow. And she was raised as a as a with an American name and Yeah. in the whole her name is Janet now. So, okay. It was 15:3515 minutes, 35 secondsmy back then. Yeah. Wow. Wow. That's cool that she remembered you, you know, and she had that picture still. Yeah. 15:4115 minutes, 41 secondsThat survived that. Yeah. And she and she has a group on Facebook that honors all of the veterans. Oh, sure. To this day, she she's very adamant about Yeah. 15:5215 minutes, 52 secondsremembering the veterans that helped. 15:5415 minutes, 54 secondsSure. Well, because she because you literally helped her, right? Yeah. Chapter 4: Returning home: rebuilding life and career 15:5815 minutes, 58 secondsThat's great. Well, so so you know, how did your your military service, I guess, shape your your understanding of 16:0616 minutes, 6 secondscommunity and different things? Because obviously we're going to talk kind of what you ended up doing post, you know, the war and stuff, but like how did how do you think that shaped you, you know, 16:1416 minutes, 14 secondsyour feelings on community and and and really trying to Well, just a little background in that. I left Lehi in 16:2216 minutes, 22 seconds1965 667. Back in those days, the Lehigh Free Press, there was a lady that worked for 16:3116 minutes, 31 secondshim. Her name was Fowler. Okay. She was the She worked for the Lehigh Free Press. But she always wrote, she was the 16:3916 minutes, 39 secondsmother of one of my classmates, Bill Fowler. Okay. And she was always to every one of our sporting events, school 16:4716 minutes, 47 secondsevents. She followed everything. But when I left, not so much on my mission, but in the because male in Mexico was 16:5516 minutes, 55 secondshorrible. Sure. You didn't get your mail. Yeah, it still is. When I went to Vietnam, I got the Lehi Free Press. 17:0317 minutes, 3 secondsSometimes it came once a month, sometimes it came weekly, but she made sure that all of the Vietnam vet or the Vietnam or actually anybody in the 17:1217 minutes, 12 secondsmilitary that was from Lehi. She would send them copies of the Lehi Free Press to let them know what was going on back 17:1917 minutes, 19 secondshome. Oh, that's awesome. And Betty Fowler, get my brain working. She she was always a sweetheart and I went and told her that when I got home. So yeah. 17:2917 minutes, 29 secondsGood. And it brought tears to her eyes cuz she knew that we knew. So yeah. 17:3417 minutes, 34 secondsYeah. But yeah, I I whenever I thought of home, I thought of Lehi. So yeah, when I did come back, I I've been here 17:4217 minutes, 42 secondsever since. So yeah, that's great that she was able to give you that connection to home. Yeah. By doing that. I mean, that's Well, see, when I grew up, it all 17:5117 minutes, 51 secondsof it was all World War I veterans that Okay. They they basically run Lehi. 17:5717 minutes, 57 secondsYeah. Uh Herman Goats was the stake president. He was a World War I veteran. 18:0218 minutes, 2 secondsAll of the merchants up and down Main Street were all World War I veterans. 18:0718 minutes, 7 secondsTommy Powers and and Clen Laney and and George Laney, he was a World War I 18:1418 minutes, 14 secondsveteran. So I knew all of these and I knew their their kids because I went to school with them. Sure. Yeah. Yeah, that 18:2118 minutes, 21 secondsmakes sense. Yeah. And so then you came back and and tell me about your profession. What did you go into? I went I went to school on the GI Bill. I went 18:3018 minutes, 30 secondsto Utah. Back then it was the Utah trade college. Okay. I wanted to be a I wanted 18:3618 minutes, 36 secondsto work in the medical field. So I I went into X-ray technician. Okay. Well, when I got home, I was led out of the 18:4518 minutes, 45 secondsmilitary just a little early, like two months early to so I could make it into school. Mhm. And come to find out that 18:5418 minutes, 54 secondsthe X-ray technician class was not an accredited class and I couldn't draw GI Bill money for that class. For that 19:0219 minutes, 2 secondsclass. So I transferred over into heating and air conditioning. Okay. 19:0819 minutes, 8 secondsOkay. It was HVAC. Yeah. Yeah. And so I I went to school for two years. I got my associate degree. Mhm. And now it's called UVU. Yeah. I've heard of it. Yep. 19:1919 minutes, 19 secondsI've heard of it. Yeah. It used to be down on University Avenue in Provo. 19:2319 minutes, 23 secondsYeah. And but anyway, I went I went to school there and then I but when I first came home out of the service, I I got 19:3119 minutes, 31 secondsinto the what they call the Vietnam veteran readjustment program. Okay. And you was able to build your own home on 19:3719 minutes, 37 secondssweat equity. Wow. So if you could find a My dad was a contractor. Mhm. So him and me and my brother built my first 19:4619 minutes, 46 secondshome over on Fifth West and Sixth North over there in the Stewart subdivision. 19:5219 minutes, 52 secondsAnd that's got my GI loan and my GI bill and and I basically the military shaped what I did for the future also. So well 20:0120 minutes, 1 secondand so so when did you become the head of the of Lehi's American Legion? When did that take place? Well, basically I 20:0820 minutes, 8 secondsmade a living from the time I started out working out of school to a place that that sold oxygen and nitrogen to 20:1620 minutes, 16 secondsGeneva. It was called National Cylinder Gas back then and then it was sold out several times and ended up when Geneva 20:2320 minutes, 23 secondswas shut down. I lost my job there and but basically I've been in refrigeration and air conditioning, low temperature 20:3120 minutes, 31 secondsrefrigeration right on up and I've had four or five jobs since since I graduated. My last job was working for 20:4020 minutes, 40 secondsthe Larry H. Miller Group as the maintenance superintendent for Jordan Commons in Sandy. Oh, nice. I spent 11 years there. Okay. Good amount of time. 20:5020 minutes, 50 secondsYeah. Yeah. And so then when when did you when did you join the American Legion? When did you become head of that? I joined the American Legion. Chapter 5: Joining the American Legion 20:5720 minutes, 57 secondsWell, I I joined it right out of 1973. 21:0021 minutesOkay. But I never went to any meetings until probably 2003. 21:0621 minutes, 6 secondsOkay. Basically just made a living till then. Yeah. I didn't feel comfortable in the when I first came back. It was uh 21:1321 minutes, 13 secondsthe veterans there. I just did not they were all older than me. Sure. And the meetings were boring. Sure. Yeah. 21:2221 minutes, 22 secondsThey're not they haven't changed much, but I rode a motorcycle. I I had a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and I was 21:3021 minutes, 30 secondsapproached one day by a guy to join the the American Legion riders. I thought, "Well, yeah, that'd be fun. Get together 21:3821 minutes, 38 secondswith a bunch of veterans and yeah, and ride." And basically that got me back into the American Legion and and I 21:4621 minutes, 46 secondsattended the meetings. You had to attend the meetings to belong to the club. And we went on a lot of lot of fun motorcycle rides and the whole nine 21:5421 minutes, 54 secondsyards. So the I can't remember the post commander is Harold Finn. Okay. Harold Finn was the post commander when I was Chapter 6: Leading as Post Commander 22:0422 minutes, 4 secondsin there and then he stepped down and another gentleman took his place and I can't remember his name but he got a 22:1122 minutes, 11 secondsstroke and couldn't couldn't perform as the post commander and that was in 2010 22:1922 minutes, 19 secondsand nobody would step up and take the position. So after about a six or seven months of that, I I just said, "Well, 22:2722 minutes, 27 secondsI'm the only at the time I was the only Lehi resident that was a member of the post." So I just went up after a meeting. I says, "If you guys is looking 22:3522 minutes, 35 secondsfor somebody to conduct the meetings, I'll do it." So the next week I was in I was the post commander. You got the job 22:4322 minutes, 43 secondsand I've had it ever since. Wow. Wow. So it's been 15 years and I'm going to give it up this month in May. Okay. I'm going 22:5122 minutes, 51 secondsto We need somebody younger and with I don't know if it's drive or the ambition. Sure. To keep to keep going. 22:5922 minutes, 59 secondsSure. Sure. Yeah. Well, so 15 years is a long time. Tell me. Tell me. It's a one-year project. It's a Every time I I 23:0623 minutes, 6 secondsI held elections. We hold elections every year. Yeah. And they all say, "Well, where the hell you think you're going?" You're still in it, buddy. I'm 23:1523 minutes, 15 secondsstill doing it. So, I've seen a lot of veterans come and go. We just buried one of our old stall warts and that was 23:2223 minutes, 22 secondsWilin. We called him Wilkkey. He used to be the He had a barber shop here in Lehi. Okay. When I was a kid, he used to 23:3023 minutes, 30 secondsgive haircuts. Yeah. He went from that to one of my compatriots. So, and Carl Moore, all of the old veterans, World War II veterans are just about gone. 23:4323 minutes, 43 secondsWow. We have one World War I veteran, World War II veteran left in our post at 23:5023 minutes, 50 secondsJesse Beach. He served in the World War the and Vietnam. Okay. Both. Yeah. It's 96 years old now. So, it's up there. 24:0024 minutesYeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's up there. Yeah. Chapter 7: Serving Lehi’s youth through community outreach 24:0324 minutes, 3 secondsSo what what so you know 15 years serving in that post you know what what what would you say some of the things that you're proud of and that you've you 24:1124 minutes, 11 secondsknow that has happened my b well since I've been the post commander we've basically spent most of our time serving 24:2124 minutes, 21 secondsthe youth of Lehi and that's through giving them scholarships okay we have two programs the the 24:2924 minutes, 29 secondspremier program of the American Legion statewide and nationwide is Boy State. 24:3524 minutes, 35 secondsOkay? And that's for juniors in high school that go to Weaver State and they learn how to they learn how the 24:4424 minutes, 44 secondsgovernment works. So, it's basically a civics class. Mhm. They're given a oneweek course on how to form a 24:5124 minutes, 51 secondsgovernment from city right on up to national and state state and national and they're there for a week and they're 25:0125 minutes, 1 secondand speakers come and talk to them and they they run for office. They they learn how the government works and they 25:0825 minutes, 8 secondslearn the Robert's rules of of running a meeting and the whole nine yards. So, and then we have them come back. A lot 25:1625 minutes, 16 secondsof them we we sponsor and we pay their way up there, you know, when we have the money. And Lehi City and the Civic 25:2425 minutes, 24 secondsImprovement Association have been major donors to getting us the money to run 25:3025 minutes, 30 secondsthat program. So, we give away a small scholarship. Our last boy state, we gave each one of them, we paid their way, 25:3925 minutes, 39 secondswhich is $500. So, Sure. and we sent seven boys and then the auxiliary sends the girls and they do the same thing. 25:4825 minutes, 48 secondsSo, and then the other program we have is the ortorial contest and that is the children from I think it's junior high 25:5725 minutes, 57 secondsthrough high school. Yeah, it is. and they they speak on they have to to memorize a speech on one of the on the 26:0626 minutes, 6 secondsConstitution and what it means to them and a and a certain and they're given a subject to make it about they it's an 8 to 10 minute speech which is daunting. 26:1726 minutes, 17 secondsSure. Yes. Especially for a junior high school too. Especially for them. Yes. 26:2126 minutes, 21 secondsAgree. Yeah. Anyway, they they get up in front of a group and they're and they're the contest is is held in front of a 26:2926 minutes, 29 secondsgroup. They cannot they have to stand up in front of a group, no podium, and memor and and recite it from from from 26:3726 minutes, 37 secondsmemory. And then their second speech is a 3 to five minute speech that they have to give on one of the amendments to the 26:4526 minutes, 45 secondsConstitution and they don't know what it is until they get there. Oh wow. So they just got to prepare it all. So they got to be prepared to talk about any one of 26:5426 minutes, 54 secondsthe 27 amendments of the constitution which most most high school students today graduate and don't even know how many amendments there are to the constit 27:0327 minutes, 3 secondsthey don't they don't even know what the constitution says. Sure. So these kids are pretty they're part of the elite 27:0927 minutes, 9 secondsthat graduate from high school as far as government and civics is concerned. 27:1427 minutes, 14 secondsYeah. Have that knowledge. Yeah. But they're sent from post to district to state and then to nation. And if they 27:2227 minutes, 22 secondsmake it all the way to the nation, they're eligible for an $18,000 scholarship plus because during 27:2927 minutes, 29 secondsthat con that contest back in wherever they hold the national convention, they're offered, you know, all of your 27:3827 minutes, 38 secondsmajor colleges, especially colleges that teach government or politics, wants to hear these kids. one of the 27:4627 minutes, 46 secondsgirls that won our post. She's now a law clerk for one of the Supreme Court justices. Pretty proud of her. As you 27:5527 minutes, 55 secondsshould be. Yeah. That's awesome. She's not from Lehi, but that's okay. We still love her. She's from the valley. Yeah. 28:0228 minutes, 2 secondsYeah. As a lot of people don't understand that the American Legion is when I was growing up, it was all Lehi people, but the American Legion is 28:1028 minutes, 10 secondsbigger than that. Of course, it's nationwide. Yeah. We have members in our post that are from Provo. Yeah. The 28:1728 minutes, 17 secondsother valley up in Salt Lake Valley. You don't have to live in the town to be part of that post. So, good. Good. Yeah. 28:2528 minutes, 25 secondsSo, and therein lies the problem. Well, you've you've obviously enjoyed it. You know what what you said the next leader needs to have ambition and and drive. 28:3328 minutes, 33 secondsWhat what do you envision for the future? I mean, for I want somebody younger. Okay. Sure. I'm looking for a younger veteran. Yeah. I'm looking I they don't want to younger veterans. 28:4428 minutes, 44 secondsThey need to be heard. They need to be leaders of the community and take an interest in the community. Mhm. And 28:5228 minutes, 52 secondsthat's part of that's what the American Legion does. Yeah. Is basically you just keep serving. Yeah. What are what are Chapter 8: Challenges facing today’s veterans 28:5928 minutes, 59 secondssome challenge you know so 15 years what any challenges that you faced like in that post? What what were some of the harder things about that job? teaching 29:0729 minutes, 7 secondsveterans how to one of the reason one of the one of the purposes of the American Legion is to help veterans. Okay. PTSD 29:1529 minutes, 15 secondsis a huge problem amongst veterans. 22 veterans take their lives every day. 29:2129 minutes, 21 secondsWow. Nationwide. That's that's got to stop. Yeah. It's too many. We have a program now called Be the One. And 29:2829 minutes, 28 secondsthat's to check on the veterans in your post. You know, the worst part about being a veteran is being forgotten. 29:3529 minutes, 35 secondsSure. Especially to these younger veterans. Life is hard. But then you add that on to it and it's even worse. Yeah. 29:4229 minutes, 42 secondsSo, yeah, helping veterans, getting them up to the VA, getting them help, mental as well as physical is one of the major 29:5129 minutes, 51 secondspedestals to the pillars to the American Legion. So, we have service officers that help. And all they got to do is ask 30:0030 minutesand we ask them, too. Yeah. We we don't we don't wait for them to ask. We always check on each other. We even check on veterans that aren't members of our 30:0830 minutes, 8 secondspost. There's a lot of veterans here in Lehi that they don't belong to a veterans organization. They they they served in 30:1730 minutes, 17 secondsthe National Guard. They don't they don't even consider theirelves a veteran. They are a veteran. Yeah. They wore that uniform. They're a veteran. 30:2630 minutes, 26 secondsYeah. Yeah. So, we're there to help them or to do anything they need to do. So, and I always that's the reason I I even 30:3530 minutes, 35 secondshad anything to do with it. Wouldn't have been for my motorcycle, I probably wouldn't I would be one of those guys that doesn't do anything with it. 30:4330 minutes, 43 secondsDoesn't do anything with it. So, yeah, you got to find an interest. Yeah. To to be able to do it. So, and I and I enjoy 30:5130 minutes, 51 secondswe have a breakfast once a month where we just go have breakfast and they're just veterans and you just sit around the table and there's American Legion 30:5930 minutes, 59 secondsisn't even mentioned. Sure. You just just talking just Yeah. You listen to their war stories. Sure. Sure. That's 31:0731 minutes, 7 secondsgood. That's good. It sounds like it's brought you a lot of joy and and I mean it feels reminiscent of your time helping the orphanage. I mean you're 31:1431 minutes, 14 secondsyou're doing that same kind of thing, you know, as an adult helping the local community here now too, right? I mean that's that that that service you 31:2331 minutes, 23 secondsoriented desires. Yeah. You've continued to do that, I guess. Yeah. And living here in Lehi, you just you you consider Chapter 9: What’s changed in Lehi over the years 31:3131 minutes, 31 secondsit home, but you remember what it used to be like when you was a kid. And it's not the same place. Yeah. Yeah. It's changed. It has changed a bunch. Yeah. 31:4131 minutes, 41 secondsWe have a class reunion 19 I graduated in 1965. All of our class members, there 31:4731 minutes, 47 secondswas only 97 of us graduated. Wow. That year. Now you have the kids classes are 31:5531 minutes, 55 secondstwo 3,000 kids. Yeah. They they have a class reunion. They don't because they didn't know each other. Yeah. You know, 32:0232 minutes, 2 secondsbut in Lehi, it used to be that your class was like a family. Everybody knew everybody. You knew everything about 32:1032 minutes, 10 secondseverybody. Sure. You saw them in the grocery store every day, you know, cuz we only had three grocery stores here in Lehi and they're really tiny. Sure. 32:1932 minutes, 19 secondsSure. That makes sense. That makes sense. And and so when we get together as a class, we we it's more or less like 32:2732 minutes, 27 secondsseeing your brother or your sister rather than your classmate. Yeah. And you just and and you just know everything about each other. So yeah, 32:3532 minutes, 35 secondsit's just not going to be that way anymore. Yeah. So, and that's sad. Sure. 32:4032 minutes, 40 secondsThat is really sad. Sure. Well, cuz that's brought you a lot of joy to have that community, right? That you know. 32:4532 minutes, 45 secondsYeah. See, my dad built they're building this new civic center or Yeah. at the library, civic center. Yeah. And it's it's a it's a replica basically of the 32:5532 minutes, 55 secondsold tabernacle. I grew up with that tabernacle. Yeah. That's where we used to have our father and son banquet. Oh, 33:0233 minutes, 2 secondsnice. That's where I met Jean Fulmer, the heavyweight champion of the world. 33:0833 minutes, 8 secondsAnd right next door was the seminary and that's where I got baptized. So, so yeah, you know, that's where that was 33:1633 minutes, 16 secondsLehi back then. And the junior high was when I was growing up, that was the high school. Yeah. And in 1959 or 60, I think 33:2433 minutes, 24 secondsit was, they built the new high school down by the Roller Mills and that become the junior high. Well, it's no longer 33:3233 minutes, 32 secondsthere. Yeah. So, and my father worked for the church and he was the superintendent that built the new 33:4033 minutes, 40 secondstabernacle or the stake center where the old tabernacle used to sit. Wow. Wow. 33:4733 minutes, 47 secondsSo, lot's changed. Yeah, it's changed a lot. Yeah. Growing up, we had six policemen. Knew every one of them. And 33:5533 minutes, 55 secondsthey all knew us, too. They hopefully not too intimately, you know, cuz you were in trouble or something. Oh, yeah. 34:0134 minutes, 1 secondThere was one old policeman. His name was Ray Edwards. He would catch you doing something that you wouldn't be shouldn't be doing. He'd kick your butt. 34:0934 minutes, 9 secondsSure. And then he'd take you home and your dad would kick your butt. Different times. Different times. For sure. Yeah. 34:1634 minutes, 16 secondsWell, so tell me how how can how can the community, you know, you talk about veterans and, you know, how can the community help veterans? I mean, 34:2434 minutes, 24 secondsobviously we can see that you guys are doing a lot of things to help the community, but for those that are listening, how can the community help the veterans? Well, they basically 34:3234 minutes, 32 secondsalready do, you know. They they think they thank the veterans for their service. Yeah. They know we're there. 34:3934 minutes, 39 secondsThey do. Most people have a reverence for the veterans, especially the older ones. Yeah. And that love for from the 34:4734 minutes, 47 secondsthe community to the veterans is still there. The Civic Improvement Association, they recognize us. the 34:5534 minutes, 55 secondsRotary Club has has invited us to come and talk to them and they've even helped some of the kids with our in our 35:0335 minutes, 3 secondsprograms, helped them go to Boys and Girls State and have always backed us. 35:0835 minutes, 8 secondsSo, the community always has always always been on our in our in our court and they all take care of us. Basically, 35:1635 minutes, 16 secondswe if it wasn't for the city and this community, the American Legion wouldn't have a place to meet. Way back when when 35:2435 minutes, 24 secondsthe World War I veterans and World War II veterans was running the American Legion here, they they were an integral 35:3235 minutes, 32 secondspart of the city because they were the city councilman. Sure. Sure. Yeah. They were very important. That makes sense. 35:3835 minutes, 38 secondsthat. But from Vietnam on, actually Korea and on the Korea, the Korean 35:4535 minutes, 45 secondsveterans were basically forgotten. They just come home and went to back into being normal. The Vietnam veterans when 35:5235 minutes, 52 secondsthey came home, they were actually hated. Yeah. So, we didn't talk about our service. Yeah. And to this day, 90% of them don't talk about it. Yeah. Yeah. 36:0336 minutes, 3 secondsWhen you when I came home, I was in at Bentill Farms in V in Virginia and my I got married while I was in the service. 36:1136 minutes, 11 secondsMy wife and I lived there in Virginia and I was called up on riot duty. Oh wow. For Washington DC. Yeah. And I 36:2036 minutes, 20 secondsalways wondered after fighting that war in Vietnam and and all I went through there that I would have to sit there and point guns at my own citizens. Yeah. 36:2936 minutes, 29 secondsCitizens I fought for. Yeah. So that was traumatic. I'm sure it shouldn't be that way. It should not be that way. And luckily it seems to not be anymore. 36:3836 minutes, 38 secondsYeah. So, it's not like that anymore, but you know, and get turned and you know, I I wanted to go to college, but 36:4536 minutes, 45 secondsbasically get turned away by the the local schools here because you were a Vietnam veteran and and there were 36:5336 minutes, 53 secondspostgraduates that needed to get their masters and doctor degrees and so there wasn't room because of the draft for you 37:0137 minutes, 1 secondto be in school. And that was that put a bitter taste in my mouth, I'm sure. 37:0637 minutes, 6 secondsYeah. Yeah. But obviously it it it I can tell it didn't define you because obviously you've gone on to do a lot of good. So that's not you didn't you 37:1437 minutes, 14 secondsdidn't swallow that bitter pill to you know and and internalize it. They used to ask me which school I followed in sports and I says anybody that plays 37:2237 minutes, 22 secondsUniversity of Utah or BYU I like it. I like it. I didn't care. 37:2937 minutes, 29 secondsYeah. Sure. Yeah. I do now but I didn't then. So well Quinn I appreciate you coming on. Is there anything that we 37:3637 minutes, 36 secondshaven't covered or any any, you know, kind of closing thoughts or, you know, things that you wanted to touch on that we haven't maybe touched on? No, that's 37:4337 minutes, 43 secondsabout it. I I can't think of anything. I have a hard time conveying what I want to say anyway. I I think you've done a 37:5037 minutes, 50 secondsvery good job. I you know I so then maybe just to end you know as far as looking back on your life you know you Chapter 10: Family, faith, and personal growth 37:5837 minutes, 58 secondsknow as far as achievements you've done and stuff like that any what would you say some of the greatest achievements of your life you're most proud of I guess 38:0638 minutes, 6 secondsas we end this my family okay yeah I'm proud of them all good good 38:1338 minutes, 13 secondsproud of being I I I consider myself a good neighbor I I help when I can I 38:1938 minutes, 19 secondsdon't I hold no minimous to anybody. So, good. Good. Hate has no no place in anybody's life. Yeah. No. Yeah. Well, 38:2838 minutes, 28 secondsthat's why I don't talk politics or religion. It's safer, right? Cuz I want to love you. Let's let's let's keep that going. Yeah. Let's agree to disagree. 38:3638 minutes, 36 secondsYeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I'm sure your family appreciates that they are so important to you. I'm sure you're a good 38:4338 minutes, 43 secondsYeah. How many children? And I got three children. Three children. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Any grandchildren? I got four. 38:5038 minutes, 50 secondsfour grandchildren and four stepg grandandchildren. Okay, nice. That's awesome. Awesome. And we just in just 38:5938 minutes, 59 secondswelcomed home our oldest granddaughter from her mission in Japan. So Oh, wow. That's that was fun. That's great. 39:0639 minutes, 6 secondsThat's great. Well, Quinn, thank you for coming on and thank you for your service and thank you for all that you're continuing to do. Okay. For Lehi. You're obviously doing a lot of good. Chapter 11: Final reflections and deep gratitude 39:1539 minutes, 15 secondsAppreciate you listening to me. Yes. No, thank you. Thank you. Thank you for joining us on Roots and Branches of Lehi. I hope today's story helped you 39:2339 minutes, 23 secondsfeel a little more connected to the people who make up our community. 39:2739 minutes, 27 secondsRemember, every person here has a unique story, and together we're what makes Lehi feel like home. If you know someone who would be a great fit for this 39:3539 minutes, 35 secondspodcast, please fill out the form in the show notes so we can reach out and schedule an interview. We'd love to hear from you. A big thank you to our 39:4239 minutes, 42 secondssponsors, the Work Harding Home Mortgage team and Play Harding Nightly Vacation Rentals for supporting this show and helping us bring our community closer 39:4939 minutes, 49 secondstogether. Until next time, keep growing those roots and reaching out to your branches. Take care.
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