Blackhorse Troopers Riding for Those Who Cannot Run For the Wall

Motorcyclists riding for Vietnam veterans who can't
by Tiffany DeMasters

Left, A few dozen motorcyclists from the Blackhorse Troopers Motorcycle Group ride through St. George on Monday on their way to Ontario, Calif., to participate with hundreds of other motorcyclists in this year's Run for the Wall.

ST GEORGE – With some Vietnam veterans still struggling with war memories and with some soldiers still far from home, the Blackhorse troopers are preparing for their "Run for the Wall" on motorcycles as a way to heal and support fellow soldiers who can't join them.

About 19 years ago, the Blackhorse troopers, the 11th cavalry Vietnam veterans, wanted a group to get together and ride motorcycles. Now, more than 1,000 veterans are riding together to the Vietnam wall memorial in Washington, D.C… 

Audra Sabo, a St. George resident who serves as Web master and events coordinator for the group, said the mission of the "Run for the Wall" is to make sure politicians never forget that veterans want an accounting for every soldier – even if they're no longer alive.

"We're riding for those who can't," she said.

Blackhorse troopers from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Idaho gathered at Fort Collins, Colo., to start their journey to Ontario, Calif., where they will begin their cross-country journey to the famous memorial. But they don't plan on leaving anyone behind.

Sabo waited eagerly at a Texaco gas station Monday morning in Washington City for the group's arrival so that she could join the pack.

"By the time we get to Ontario we'll have 1,500 bikes," Sabo said.

The ride is an emotional event for all of the Vietnam veterans. Larry "Sardog" Levindofske, a Vietnam veteran, has the dog tags of deceased soldiers mounted on his motorcycle as a reminder of those who have passed away. The tags include those of his father, Dalys Kezar, his uncle, Kenneth Rowe, his master chief, Donald Horsley, and his best friend, John Pennington, who was killed in combat.

"There's times when I'm riding along, and I can feel their presence," he said. "They keep me upright."

This year Levindofske is riding in honor of Robert E. Jenne, who went missing in 1968 when his helicopter crashed in Vietnam. Levindofske is one of the road guards for the trip. His duty is to get the bikers safely down the road.

"My goal is to get them (the veterans) there and get them there safely – it's a necessary mission," he said. "I'll put myself between a semi and the pack if I have to. As a road guard it's the most dangerous job."

This is Levindofske's fifth year in the "Run for the Wall."

"Every year is like a reunion," he said. "A lot of the vets have never been to the wall and never had that closure."

The event has been therapeutic for several of the veterans.

"I've heard so many times how no one talked about the war," Sabo said. "Then someone had the courage to talk to them (a Vietnam veteran) about the 'Run for the Wall' – it's a healing and an emotional high," Sabo said.

Bill "Honey Buns" Kable, has been riding in the "Run for the Wall" for three years. This year he is the missing-man coordinator. His duty is to set up people to ride for those who cannot ride.

"People can request that you ride in honor of a person who can't," he said.

The veterans agreed that serving the country is important.

"We serve so everyone else can be free – so everyone else can sleep at night," Levindofske said.

Kable agreed.

"Patriotism is not dead in this country," Kable said. "This ride helps them (veterans) deal with their inner ghosts."

The Blackhorse troopers plan to be in Washington, D.C., on Memorial Day.

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