NASHUA – Vietnam War Army veteran Andre Pelletier of Nashua lost with battle to COVID-19 at the beginning of this year. But his memory lives on in the dedication and service that he gave his country.

His daughter, Toni Bobenrieith, fondly shared memories of her dad with The Telegraph, saying that Andre was very proud to be a veteran.

“He was,” she said. “And he was proud to serve his country. Especially being a Vietnam War veteran, because during that time, those who were coming back from Vietnam were not seen in a good light. So getting the thanks now, where he would walk around wearing his veteran hat or driving around with his veterans plate was a big deal to him. People would honk and wave to him.”

Bobenrieth said her father entered the service directly out of high school and served from 1969 until September 1974. When he passed earlier this year, he was still working for the City’s Department of Public Works.

“He had no plans to retire,” she said. “He really enjoyed his job. He also enjoyed antiquing and those ‘finds’ that you would just get. There was always lots of random knick-knacks and stuff around the house.”

Pelletier’s father served in the Korean War, and growing up, Bobenrieth said there was always that sense of pride in the family for serving your country.

“My dad was drafted, so he didn’t choose to go to Vietnam, he was selected,” she shared. “But that still didn’t mean that he was any less proud. I just think he would have preferred to have the chance to choose on his own. He was still in high school when his number was called.”

Bobenrieth said her dad had many friends who were veterans and belonged to the VFW in Nashua.

“For him to have that connection with other veterans, made him feel like he was part of that community,” she said.

For any veteran, being a soldier and fighting for our country is a feat that is beyond parallel. Pelletier took solace in being with his friends.

“Growing up, my dad didn’t talk about what had happened during his time in Vietnam,” Bobenrieth said. “He just turned it off. He said, ‘That’s not for you to know about.’ So clearly he had seen some things and didn’t want it to be a burden to others.”

Bobenrieth lives in Nashua; her half-sister Jodie, resides in Michigan and her younger brother Jeffery lives in Nashua.

“Jodie grew up in Michigan,” Bobenrieth said. “Dad was married right after he got out of the army. Just as he was finishing his time, he divorced and moved back to New Hampshire, where he ended up meeting my mom.”

Bobenrieth said her dad was part of the Veterans Administration and was very thankful for the services.

“He had a lot of doctor’s appointments through the V.A.,” she said. “I used to drive him up to Manchester sometimes if they were going to dilate his eyes or something.”

Bobenrieth said her dad would watch WMUR news and they would show planes coming into Portsmouth, as crowds clapped and cheered.

“He was always very proud of those things,” she said. “And the way people interact now. But there is the little bit of bitterness from the ’70s. There was that counter-culture that rejected the Vietnam War and kind of pointed that toward the folks that were fighting in it, but not always by choice.”

Bobenrieth was too young to recall the environment of the times, but she said her dad often said he wished he had been thanked when he returned home from war.

“People were spitting at him,” she said. “People were protesting and they were pointing at him. He reconciled that, especially after the culture changed. He would wear his hat with tons of pins in it and all of them are military pins. He loved – loved – wearing that hat.”

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