Credit to Nationaldaycalendar.com – March 29, 2018 –
National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29 honors the men and women who served and sacrificed during the longest conflict in United States history.
It was on March 29, 1973, when combat and combat support units withdrew from South Vietnam. Generations later, Veterans of this time period are gaining the respect that was not so freely given upon their return. Involving five U.S. presidents, crossing nearly two decades and 500,000 U.S.military personnel, it left an indelible mark on the American psyche.
Returning Veterans did not always receive respectful welcomes upon their arrive on American soil. There were 58,000 killed, never to return. National Vietnam War Veterans Day recognize the military service of these men and women who answered the call to service their country when she needed them. They didn’t make the decisions to go to war.
On National Vietnam War Veterans Day, we recognize the service and duty rendered by all servicemen and women of this era.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Around the country, commemorative events, speeches and luncheons are being held inviting Vietnam Veterans as honored guests. Thank a Vietnam Veteran. Buy them a drink or lunch. Send them a shout out using #VietnamWarVeteransDay on social media.
HISTORY
U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., introduced legislation in 2017 to honor Vietnam Veterans with a day on the anniversary of the withdrawal of military units from South Vietnam. President Donald Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Day Act on March 28, 2017, calling for U.S. flags to be flown on March 29 for those who served.
Doug Westfall says, “Besides me, there were the biggest Rats that I had ever heard of down that passage way where I slept.
I slept with a knife in each hand to deal with them. The guys would have to throw things at me to get my attention.”
Pictured below is Doug Westfall, 1970 in Da Nang, Vietnam, overlooking the harbor.
I have been to that black wall in a hole in DC two times. People say it heals, but it just freaked me out.
Doug, spent a glorious year at Phu Bai just to the north of Da Nang. It was a real pleasure. Came back through Oakland to be spat on by a long line of grateful protesters who didn’t have a clue. Seems like they were clueless then, and not much has changed in today’s world of angry activists. Carried an M16 then, but never heard it called an “assault rifle”. Have to laugh when I hear the term being used to refer to an AR15. No such thing in military parlance, and an AR15 would make a poor substitute for the M16 used by Vietnam Vets.
Welcome Home Doug!
Obama proclaimed it, Trump reinforced that proclamation. From Wikipedia:
On March 28, 2017, President Donald J. Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017. This act officially recognizes March 29 to be recognized as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. The Act also includes the day among those days on which the US flag should especially be displayed.
On March 29, 2012, President Barack Obama proclaimed March 29, 2012, as Vietnam Veterans Day. The proclamation called “upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that commemorate the 50 year anniversary of the Vietnam War.” It further stated,
“The Vietnam War is a story of service members of different backgrounds, colors, and creeds who came together to complete a daunting mission. It is a story of Americans from every corner of our Nation who left the warmth of family to serve the country they loved. It is a story of patriots who braved the line of fire, who cast themselves into harm’s way to save a friend, who fought hour after hour, day after day to preserve the liberties we hold dear. From Ia Drang to Hue, they won every major battle of the war and upheld the highest traditions of our Armed Forces.”
Many US troops got to ride the medivac chopper to a hospital in the rear for very painful rabies treatments due to being bitten by those rats. I had a wound to my arm healing in the open air when I woke up feeling something crawling on that open wound. It wasn’t a rat, it was a group of cockroaches nearly as large as rats feeding on the uncovered wound — recovered the wound.
Nam was a filthy country!
Thanks John, someday I’ll have to tell about the Water Buffalo I scrambled one night.
I would like to hear about your buffalo encounter. Did the Army have to pay for it?
In 3/5 Cavalry scout platoon we got a new guy who was sent to us from an infantry unit. He was a tough guy from South Chicago named William, but his nickname was Buffalo Bill. He got kicked out of the infantry and sent to be a scout for the cavalry as punishment because he had a habit of shooting water buffaloes for fun and sport. The Army had to compensate every slain buffalo with many times the true amount that buffalo was worth in real monetary terms. I was afraid he was going to be a problem since he and I were assigned to be partners, but we became close friends immediately. Guess he just didn’t like the infantry. As you know, we got to ride most of the time and didn’t have to do too much walking in the cav. Guess he was tired of humping a ruck sack, because I never saw him shoot, or even take aim at all the water buffaloes we passed.
I will have to show you his picture some day.