Remembering Our Vietnam Veterans

November 1, 1955.

A date some think little about, yet some cannot erase it from their mind.

Then there is April 30, 1975, another date with the same effect on some.

Those are the beginning date and end date of the Vietnam War. A war? Some still call it a conflict. Some still swear we (the United States) had no business being in the war.

Wednesday, March 29, is National Vietnam War Veterans Day. The Buster Deo Post 4067 invites all Vietnam Veterans to join friends at the Post on Wednesday evening for a complimentary drink and our thanks. The day was designated by President Barack Obama in 2011, to honor those who served in the war.

By nearly every measure, the Vietnam War was, in the common sense of the word, a war. The United States committed some 550,000 troops to the Vietnam front at the height of the conflict, suffered more than 58,000 casualties, and engaged in battle after battle with communist forces in the area until its withdrawal of troops in 1973. However, from a constitutional perspective, this conflict did not technically count as a war. The US Congress, guided by the Constitution of the United States, grants our Congress sole authority to issue declarations of war.

Since 1941 Congress has declared war only six times, all taking place during World War II. Congress authorized troop deployment in Vietnam, but, because it did not issue a declaration of war on North Vietnam, the Vietnam War is, technically speaking, not considered a war in the United States. And yet, so many gave so much.

The human costs of the long conflict were harsh for all countries that were involved. Not until 1995 did Vietnam release its official estimate of deaths in the war. According to their findings, as many as 2 million civilians on both sides and some 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. The U.S. military estimated that the loss of lives was between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers in the war. In Washington, D.C., the Vietnam Veteran Memorial was dedicated in 1982, inscribed with the names of 57,939 members of the U.S. armed forces who had died or were missing as a result of the war.

Since that time, additions to the list have brought the total past 58,200. The US was aided by other countries that fought for South Vietnam on a smaller scale. South Korea suffered more than 4,000, while Thailand lost about 350; there were more than 500 from Australia, and about three dozen were from New Zealand.

Our Veterans have looked death in the face and some will not be able to erase the memories and scenes from their mind.

Having been to “The Wall” in Washington, D. C., I can say there is few things that bring chills to one’s soul, within the same time of feeling a sense of connection to the names engraved on the stone.

When one thinks about the Vietnam War, several things come to mind: Kent State, the March on Washington, or perhaps even Forest Gump. “Agent Orange,” the defoliate sprayed over the jungles left not only the enemy dead in its path, it has stayed with all those exposed during their tour of duty. The number of service men and women who lost their lives to Agent Orange will probably never be truly calculated or accounted for.

It lasted 7,210 days; over 19.5 years. It is a hard one to understand. Nevertheless, we appreciate, honor, and salute the Vietnam Veterans, across our great nation. When you get a chance, thank a Vet…we can never say thank you enough.