Vietnam War: Beginning 13 years of commemorating a divisive conflict
At the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Monday, President Obama began a national commemoration of the 50-year anniversary of the Vietnam War 鈥� the most divisive war in US history since the Civil War.
It鈥檒l last 13 years 鈥� the length of time the United States spent building up its major combat presence there to more than half a million troops under three presidents, losing 58,282 American service personnel, battling politically over a war that most Americans eventually rejected, and then disengaging in defeat 鈥� hurriedly leaving in 1975 as North Vietnamese forces swept into what was then Saigon, US helicopters lifting off building tops carrying what few South Vietnamese families they could.
Aside from family and friends (and not all of those), it was years before most Vietnam vets heard a 鈥渨elcome home鈥� 鈥� officially not until the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1982. And even that was controversial 鈥� critics called the stark, black granite wall inscribed with the names of those lost 鈥渁 black gash of shame.鈥�
Two stories of how Vietnam came home to the family
As some veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan did last week, some Vietnam veterans 鈥� largely a young and scruffy lot still wearing their jungle fatigues, some bearing the wounds of combat 鈥� had tossed their medals over a fence on Capitol Hill in protest. One of the antiwar leaders at the time was a young US Navy lieutenant named John Kerrey, now a veteran US senator.
Members of the Vietnam generation faced 鈥渢heir war鈥� in different ways.
More than 3 million served in Southeast Asia, most of them not draftees but volunteers. Some left the country for Canada and other countries to avoid the draft. Others found legal ways to avoid service. Some (like former vice president Dick Cheney, who said he had 鈥渙ther priorities鈥� at the time) accumulated multiple deferments. More than 300 professional athletes got Reserve or Guard appointments, including听Bill Bradley, Nolan Ryan, and seven members of the听Dallas Cowboys. So did former president George W. Bush.
In recent years, there have recurring stories of men who embellish (or flat out lie about) their military experience. The list is uncomfortably long.听Actor Brian Dennehy, Toronto Blue Jays听manager Tim Johnson, former听U.S. Rep. Wes Cooley,听Pulitzer-winning听historian听Joseph Ellis.
Vietnam vet听B.G. Burkett, author of 鈥淪tolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History,鈥� claims to have revealed more than 2,000 men who falsely claimed to have served in Vietnam.
In his proclamation for the commemoration, the President hinted at the domestic strife that marked the war, referring to its veterans as those 鈥渨ho saw our country through one of the most challenging missions we have ever faced.鈥�
鈥淚t is never too late to pay tribute to the men and women who answered the call of duty with courage and valor,鈥� he said, evoking the call to 鈥渟eparate the warrior from the war,鈥� however long after the fact that would come.
And at 鈥渢he wall,鈥� he took further note of how many returning vets were treated.
鈥淥ften you were blamed for a war you didn鈥檛 start,鈥� he said. 听"You came home and were sometimes denigrated when you should have been celebrated. It was a national shame, a disgrace that should have never happened."
In many parts of the country today, older Vietnam vets are mentoring young veterans of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, helping them get through tough economic times and tougher memories of combat.
鈥淚t鈥檚 here we feel the depth of your sacrifice,鈥� Obama said to the assembled Vietnam vets and their families on Memorial Day. 鈥淵ou did your job. You served with honor. You made us proud, and you have earned your place among the greatest generations.鈥�
Then, at their memorial site 鈥� Washington鈥檚 most-visited place of national historical significance 鈥� Obama said the words Vietnam vets typically say to each other: 鈥淲elcome home.鈥�
