Honoring Our Vets
Honoring Our Vets
America to Observe National Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29th
“Every service member of the Vietnam generation should know that their sacrifices mattered and that their service made a difference.” - President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (3/29/22)
Looking back in history, it’s hard to imagine that fifty years ago this year, on March 29, 1973, the last U.S. combat troops left the Republic of Vietnam. Vietnam Veteran’s Day was first observed as a one-time event in 2012, when President Barack Obama issued a proclamation calling on “all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.” In 2016, The Vietnam Veterans Day Coalition of States Council requested of Congress that March 29 be officially established as Vietnam War Veterans Day. Then on March 28, President Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 which officially recognizes March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. Although flags are not flown half-staff this day, you are reminded to display your flag.
Lasting from 1955 to 1975, the Vietnam war engulfed the Southeast Asian country of Vietnam as well as its neighboring countries, Cambodia and Laos. It resulted in several million deaths, most of whom were Vietnamese civilians. By 1964 the U.S. had 23,000 military advisers in Vietnam, but after the Gulf of Tonkin incident (August 1964) Congress gave President Johnson authority to increase our presence and combat units were sent for the first time. In the face of increasing domestic opposition (think Kent State in 1970, for example), U.S. ground forces had largely withdrawn by early 1972, and their operations were limited to air support, artillery support, advisors, and materiel shipments. The war ended in 1975 with the fall of Saigon. A total of 2,709,918 Americans served in uniform in Vietnam. Of the 2.7 million, between 1-1.6 million (40-60%) either fought in combat, provided close support, or were at least regularly exposed to enemy attack. Vietnam Veterans represented 9.7% of their generation. (vietnamveteranproject.org)
About 58,220 military personnel died (average age, 23) with the largest number (by state) from New York State - 4119, per archives.gov. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), the agency within the Department of Defense responsible for tracking down MIAs, reported in March 2022 that 1,581 Americans are now listed as missing and unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War (pow-miafmilies.org). It is estimated that the Vietnam Veterans still alive number about 610,000, making them the second largest group of American military veterans.
Some Vietnam veterans were treated poorly when they returned home from war. Sadly, veterans started tossing their uniforms in the trash in airports and changing into civilian clothes to avoid being spit on, or jeered at, or worse. It seems they were blamed for what had happened in Vietnam. (They were easy targets - after all, we didn’t have interactions with the politicians who put us into that war.)
When the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was erected in Washington, D.C. in 1982 the public began softening in their attitude. Eventually, the veterans were almost regarded as victims. Consider this: out of the 1.6 million total who served in all capacities in Vietnam, nearly 750,000 became homeless. Even more have committed suicide. Aside from the deaths on the battlefield, there were over 300,000 wounded and more than 700,000 who suffered from PTSD. (reference.com).
Of the 610,000 or so who are living, perhaps you have family members, friends, or neighbors who still carry the scars of that terrible war. Please be sure they or their loved ones know that a law was signed on August 10, 2022 called the PACT Act which expands VA benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic materials. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans - and their survivors - with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve. Call 800-698-2411 (TTY: 711). And you can file a claim for PACT Act-related disability compensation or apply for VA health care now. (va.gov).
If you happen to know of a Vietnam Vet, give them a call or drop them a note to thank them for their service. If they are in a care facility, visit them and let them know they are not forgotten, or you may know of Gold Star families who need to be remembered as well. March 29 is a great day to take a vet to lunch or take lunch to them! America can’t thank our veterans enough for their service and for the sacrifices made by them and their families. Following are two brief, inspiring commentaries about Vietnam Veterans Day: https://youtu.be/v3xaEBSi0HU and https://youtu.be/doVwQUfdH-4.