Nice to meet ya: Gary Hale, longtime resident and Vietnam War veteran

When it comes to veterans, Gary Hale of the VFW Post 2933 and the American Legion Post 290 wears his heart on his sleeve. After leaving south Austin and finding a great place to live in Dripping Springs, he and his wife Sandra have been here for decades.

He was originally a member of veterans organizations outside of Dripping Springs, as Dripping was too small, the populace couldn’t support one on its own. “We found out that you need 25 guys to start a post,” said Hale. “This was a little bitty town. I grew up in south Austin, and when I moved out here it was starting to grow.

Together with two groups of guys we started planning how to organize. We chartered the two posts in 1994,” he continued.

“Myself and 24 guys started the VFW Post 2933 and the American Legion post 290,” Hale said. “If you're a veteran of a foreign war, you can be in the VFW and the American Legion if you serve during wartime.”

“I'm a Vietnam vet,” he said. “When I came back from Vietnam in 1969, I came back to the station, and I spent three years in the regular army.” His dad was a veteran of both WWII and Korea. When he retired the family moved to South Austin.

“As soon as I graduated college, I wanted to join the regular army, went to OCS program and was commissioned lieutenant in 1968. I immediately within six months heard, ‘you're in, you're in Vietnam’,” Hale said. “I got out and then I joined the National Guard in the Army National Guard at Camp Mabry. I spent 28 more years in the Guard for 31 total years of service and retired as a full colonel.”

The populace of South Austin started to grow and a little more room was needed for his two daughters. “We wanted our kids to go to a little smaller school. So we started looking, and we found Sunset Canyon where I live,” he said. “I found a lot and built a house out here 30 to 35 years ago.”

Hale has held numerous posts in both veterans organizations, and is Quartermaster/Adjutant at Dripping Springs VFW Post 2933. In the past he has served as Commander. When the cinder block building at the Triangle was no longer available, the VFW and the American Legion moved to what was originally the old high school and other government offices built in 1937.

Needless to say, a new building or space has been at the forefront of Hale’s mind for quite some time. Now ground is breaking on the facilities of his dreams-Patriots’ Hall. Slated to be complete later this year, Patriots’ Hall will be a 10 acre permanent retreat and resource base for Veterans of all ages and military branches to connect and find support. Although not associated with the VFW or American Legion, the groups will be able to meet there and enjoy all the amenities.

To learn more about the VFW and American Legion local posts, visit www.post290tx.com/home.html and www.vfw2933.com.