Green Fields of France by John McDermott

Vietnam War Veterans Day

March 29 is Vietnam War Veterans Day. It was signed into law in 2017 by President Donald Trump

29 March is a fitting choice for a day honoring Vietnam veterans. It was chosen to be observed in perpetuity, as March 29, 1973 was the day United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam was disestablished, and also the day the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam. In addition, on and around this same day Hanoi released the last of its acknowledged prisoners of war.

U.S. involvement in Vietnam started slowly with an initial deployment of advisors in the early 1950s, grew incrementally through the early 1960s and expanded with the deployment of full combat units in July 1965. The last U.S. personnel were evacuated from Vietnam in April 1975.

Some facts:

9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam Era (August 5, 1964 - May 7,1975).

8,744,000 GIs were on active duty during the war (Aug 5, 1964-March 28, 1973).

2,709,918 Americans served in Vietnam, this number represents 9.7% of their generation.

3,403,100 (Including 514,300 offshore) personnel served in the broader Southeast Asia Theater (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, flight crews based in Thailand, and sailors in adjacent South China Sea waters).

2,594,000 personnel served within the borders of South Vietnam (Jan. 1, 1965 - March 28, 1973).

Another 50,000 men served in Vietnam between 1960 and 1964.

Of the 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million (40-60%) either fought in combat, provided close support or were at least fairly regularly exposed to enemy attack.

7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam.

Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old.

The oldest man killed was 62 years old.

58,148 were killed in Vietnam, 75,000 severely disabled, 23,214 were 100% disabled, 5,283 lost limbs and 1,081 sustained multiple amputations.

Over 130,000 suffered non-mortal wounds

Of those killed, 61% were younger than 21 years old.

11,465 of those killed were younger than 20 years old.

Of those killed, 17,539 were married.

The average age of the men killed: 23.1 years.

Of the 2,709,918 Americans who served in Vietnam, less than 850,000 are estimated to be alive today, (2021) with the youngest American Vietnam veteran's age approximated to then be 60 years old.

Vietnam veterans didn’t come home to parades or welcomes. Many were treated poorly for doing what their country asked of them. They came home in ones and twos, unlike other wars where large numbers of vets were welcomed home with homecomings and festivities. Most vets never talked about the war; some carried the heavy toll it took on them to their graves.

Many of those who served continue facing the effects of that war due to injuries sustained, illnesses caused by chemical agents, defoliants, and environmental exposures, along with PTSD, their children's birth defects and other long term medical issues. They still are fighting a war they will never personally win. Suicide among veterans runs high. Most humans could not remain unscathed by the horrors of war and some simply could not face that continuing burden anymore.

On this day I salute all my Vietnam brothers and sisters, those alive and those who have crossed the bar to meet the Heavenly Father. We will all meet again someday in that big gedunk bar in the sky.

And…

WELCOME HOME!!