March 30th

[Guest hobbles]

Thirty years ago the VietNam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on the
National Mall in Washington, D.C. We call it, “The Wall!” It contains
the names of 58,282 Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen -- our
comrades -- who served their country and paid the maximum sacrifice
during the VietNam War.

From 1959 through 1975, over 2,500,000 of us served during the VietNam
War, including 11,000 women. In April 1969, US Forces peaked at 543,000
troops. For most of us, when we returned home there was no ceremony, no
recognition of service, honor, courage or loyalty to our country -- we
just came back and resumed our lives state-side. Some of us still
struggle with those times -- the scars of that era are both visible and
invisible. Names like Tonkin Gulf, Mekong Delta, the A Shau Valley, Khe
Sanh, Hue, Da Nang, the Central Highlands, TET, and too many others are
seared in our memories. The heat was oppressive,

attacks came from everywhere. We fought on land, water and in the air.
We fought in jungles, rice paddies, in the rivers, in the deltas, in the
mountains, in the air and in tunnels. We even fought in places where
our government refused to confirm our presence.

Please say, “Thank you and Welcome home!” to a Vet on March 30th.

The date of March 30th is significant -- that’s the day when the last of our combat troops returned home.

[R1100R]

Thank you for your service. I came in at the end. My family members served. This Sergeants Major will not

forget.

[Guest hobbles]

Welcome home R1100R

[ttocswob]

Thank you for your service - and thankful that I didn't have to.

 

I came of age after that 'conflict' was over, so no military service for me. My father likewise was too young for Korea, too old for Vietnam. I do have family and many friends who did serve. Both grandfathers served in WWI, and uncles in WWII.