50 Years Later: Fallen Green Beret Honored By Classmates

It’s been nearly 50 years since Lee Napier graduated from Orchard High School and 48 years since his death during Vietnam.

But his classmates haven’t forgotten the fallen Army Green Beret, especially Dale Strope, who called Napier his closest friend in high school.

Last week the Village of Orchard formally accepted a donation of a bench in Napier’s honor from the Class of 1966. Napier graduated from Orchard on May 17, 1966, and was killed in Vietnam on May 21, 1969.

Coincidentally, the bench was approved on March 29, which happened to be Vietnam Veterans Day. It’s a day established to remember and honor those who served during the Vietnam War Era and their families.

The idea of donating an item in honor of Napier started with conversation back in October when 1966 Orchard graduate Dale Strope asked alumni association organizer Janice Mosel if it was still customary for the honor class to present a gift of some sorts to the school or community. 

"He gave his life for our freedom," Strope said. "I've always wanted to do something in memory of Lee, so I started contacting our classmates."

Actually, Strope personally contacted every one of his classmates. After all of these years, Lee is the only member of the Class of 1966 who is deceased. 

"I wasn't sure how my classmates would respond, but they were 100 percent for it," he said. "I was so happy everyone chipped in. I hope the town enjoys it, and it's a great memory for everybody."

Strope has many memories of his fallen friend - from the summer they worked construction in western Nebraska to Napier's love for iced coffee, which, of course, was long before it was popular.

"He was probably my closest friend in high school," Strope said. "We were farm kids, so we didn't get together with others often. But when I did, it was with Lee."

While Napier served in the Army, Strope was in the Navy. The two lost contact after high school, and Strope was on a submarine when Napier was killed in the line of duty. He didn't even know about his friend's death until much later. 

Strope, who resides in Connecticut and hasn't been back to Orchard in nearly a decade, said it was important to the entire class to honor Napier. It took time, but Strope was able to track down every classmate and encourage them to attend the May alumni banquet.

Nearly every member of the Class of 1966 will be in attendance. Strope said they are anxious to see the bench they donated in Napier's honor, which he said will be put in the Orchard park near a memorial that was erected for him. 

Napier was also recognized last Friday by the Daughters of the American Revolution at an event held in North Platte. 

Several Vietnam veterans were honored during the annual meeting; however, Napier was the only solider killed in the line of duty to be recognized.

Napier died with the rank of Private First Class in the U.S. Army. He was a member of 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment (Airborne)/ C Company.