Small by WWII or WWI standards..... but far more sobering than what's going on in Afghanistan and Iraq. On a side note, my boys suffered the highest of casualties for all MOS's and services. More than pilots, chopper crews, Marines, AirForce or whatever. We lost 27 percent. You can google KIA by MOS(Military Occupational Specialty) to verify. Here's a link. http://www.ktroop.com/HonorRoll/casualty.pdf But anyway.... here are some facts on "The Wall" and the Vietnam War. And it's sad that they show such hoaxes as Apocolypse as a Vietnam War movie. It is so unrealistic, and so Hollywood Vietnam War. My boys deserve better. The Wall The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington DC honors those who died in the Vietnam War. Their relatives and friends leave letters, poems, and photographs at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and on this web site. We bring the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to your home to help remember the sacrifices of the fallen and their families. WHO FORMED THE IDEA OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL? The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was founded by Jan Scruggs, who served in Vietnam (in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade) from 1969-1970 as a infantry corporal. He wanted the memorial to acknowledge and recognize the service and sacrifice of all who served in Vietnam. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. (VVMF), a nonprofit charitable organization, was incorporated on April 27, 1979, by a group of Vietnam veterans (John Wheeler, Chairman of the Board for VVMF, served in Vietnam as a captain at U.S. Army headquarters from 1969-1970; Robert Doubek, VVMF project director, then executive director, served in Vietnam from 1968-1969 as an Air Force intelligence officer) in Washington, D.C. Jan Scruggs (President of VVMF) lobbied Congress for a two acre plot of land in the Constitution Gardens. Significant initial support came from U.S. Senators Charles McC. Mathias, Jr. (on November 8, 1979, Senator Mathias introduced legislation to authorize a site of national parkland for the Memorial) of Maryland and John W. Warner (Senator Warner launched the first significant financial contributions to the national fund raising campaign) of Virginia. On July 1, 1980, in the Rose Garden, President Jimmy Carter signed the legislation (P.L. 96-297) to provide a site in Constitution Gardens near the Lincoln Memorial. It was a three and half year task to build the memorial and to orchestrate a celebration to salute those who served in Vietnam. WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL NAME OF THE MEMORIAL? "The official name of the Memorial is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It is sometimes referred to as VVM or "the Wall". The figures are called "The Three Servicemen". This is not a war Memorial but a Memorial to those who served in the war, both living and dead. WHEN DID CONSTRUCTION BEGIN? On March 11, 1982, the design and plans received final Federal approval, and work at the site was begun on March 16, 1982. Groundbreaking took place on March 26, 1982. The Gilbane Building Company acted as the general contractor, and the architectural firm of Cooper-Lecky Partnership supervised the construction. The Memorial (wall) was completed in late October and dedicated on November 13, 1982, climaxing a week- long salute to Vietnam veterans. WHEN WAS THE MEMORIAL COMPLETED? The walls and landscaping were completed by November 1, 1982. On November 11, 1984, all three units (the wall, the statue, and the flag) were combined. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. (VVMF) officially transferred control of the Memorial to the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior and it became a national monument. The now completed Vietnam Veterans Memorial was accepted by the President of the United States on November 10, 1984 WHO PAID FOR THE MEMORIAL? The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. (VVMF) raised nearly $9,000,000 entirely through private contributions from corporations, foundations, unions, veterans and civic organizations and more than 275,000 individual Americans. No Federal funds were needed. WHAT WERE THE CRITERIA REQUIRED FOR THE DESIGN? There were four: 1. be reflective and contemplative in character; 2. harmonize with its surroundings; 3. contain the names of those who had died in the conflict or who were still missing; 4. make no political statement about the war. Some thoughts you might consider while reflecting on Memorial Day..... There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010. The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized. It is hard to believe it is 36 years since the last casualties. Beginning at the apex on panel 1E and going out to the end of the East wall, appearing to recede into the earth (numbered 70E - May 25, 1968), then resuming at the end of the West wall, as the wall emerges from the earth (numbered 70W - continuing May 25, 1968) and ending with a date in 1975. Thus the war's beginning and end meet. The war is complete, coming full circle, yet broken by the earth that bounds the angle's open side and contained within the earth itself. The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth, Mass. listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965. There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall. 39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger. The largest age group, 8,283 were just 19 years old 3,103 were 18 years old. 12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old. 5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old. One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old. 997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam. 1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnan. 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall. Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons. 54 soldiers on the Wall attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia. I wonder why so many from one school. 8 Women are on the Wall. Nursing the wounded. 244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall. Beallsville, Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons. West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall. The Marines of Morenci - They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest. And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of Morenci's mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home. The Buddies of Midvale - LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martinez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few yards apart. They played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to Vietnam.. In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths. The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 - 2,415 casualties were incurred. That's 2,415 dead in a single month. From http://thewall-usa.com/information.asp
David, I understand (no I really do not) the intense fighting that you undertook in Vietnam. As my father ages the more he opens up to me, but not much. You guys are all heroes in my book. Both my grandfather and father fought in Vietnam at the same time. Here is a small excerpt of something my father wrote a few years ago: "For Memorial Day (2007) the Lubbock newspaper ran an article on a former commanding officer of the Zorros at NKP, LtCol Al Martin. As my father was at NKP at the same time flying A-1's (LtCol Fred Tillett), I called Al and met him for the first time. Both are 85 now. During July of 1970, as a Marine infantry company commander operating in I Corps I was the happy recipient of air support by two A-1's coming into VietNam and heading to Danang. Their support was guided by a Marine OV-10. Later found out that the pilots of the A-1's were my dad and his wing man. I never ventured to find out anything about NKP until today and was surprised at this great website. Thanks!"
I got a chance to see the moving wall when I worked at GM plant. The local Union brought it in, it really makes one appreciate our armed forces. I'm at fort custard this weekend, they have military base. They have American flags on all the graves, and there is a ceremony on Monday, I am taking my kids. Really makes one think.
997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam. 1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnan. That's astounding.
