by Rees Lloyd, Attorney
March 29, 2023
March 29, 2023, is the 50th Anniversary of the day in 1973 that America terminated the “U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam” — a/k/a the Vietnam War — and the day the last American troops left Vietnam for home.
March 29, 2023, is also National Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, by Act of Congress signed into law by former President Donald J. Trump in 2017.
The Vietnam War divided the nation to an extent exceeded only by the Civil War itself.
While more than nine million Americans served when the country called them to defend the nation, anti-war demonstrations involved many thousands who condemned not only the war, but those who were sent to fight it.
The Vietnam War was the only war in American history in which those who served and sacrificed in defense of the country were not welcomed home with expressions of thanks for their service.
Instead, many on returning home found themselves the subjects of hate-filled attack, accusations that they were war criminals. Publicly vilified. Shunned in other instances. Even spat upon.
So hate-filled were the anti-war demonstrators that many troops coming home were advised by their officers not to wear the their uniforms to avoid verbal attacks, or worse.
More than nine million Americans — many if not a majority of them draftees — served honorably in defense of the nation in the almost twenty years in which the nation was mired in Vietnam, from November, 1955, to April 30, 1975, when Saigon in South Vietnam fell to the communists of North Vietnam led by Ho Chi Minh.
More than 58,000 thousand American troops gave their lives in the Vietnam War. More than 300,000 were wounded. No matter their personal views of the war, they responded when the country called them to serve. In fact and in truth: “All gave some, some gave all.”
Further, it must not be forgotten that while those veterans of Vietnam served —no matter what their personal view might be of the war—so did their families serve, and suffer, in all the nine million Blue Star families who had a loved one in service, and especially the Gold Star families who had a loved one killed in service.
While the modern liberal media is likely to ignore or minimize the importance of Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, it should not be ignored by a grateful nation.
There will be many observances, especially by veterans, at posts of the American Legion, VFW, and other veterans organizations, which welcome the participation of non-veterans in honoring all who honorably served. Go, welcome the Vietnam Veterans home, and be welcomed by them.
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E-Mail Rees Lloyd: ReesLloydLaw@gmail.com
