Vietnam: Remembering Those Who Served

The first thing I would like to do is thank my son for his help in creating this page. I am not a writer nor am I a computer expert. You may notice these facts as you read on through the text of this page. But this page wasn't meant to be fancy nor was it to show off my ability as a writer.

All this page is intended to do is to help draw attention to the Vietnam Veteran. The living and the ones who gave up their life for a cause in which they beleived in. For those who served in a war which many did not even consider a war, but referred to it as a conflict or police action. I was there with countless numbers of other Americans. Americans who came from all different types of lifestyles. From all fifty states they came. Many of them just kids barely out of high school. Kids who never even heard of Vietnam. Kids who had their whole lives ahead of them. Kids who didn't even understand the cause for which they were fighting. The only thing they knew was that their country called and they had to go. And go they did. Many of them never to return home again alive. Ask them if it was a war. Ask the countless number of disabled Vietnam Vets if it was a war. And God bless the nurses who served there. They saw the results and had to contend with the consequences. Ask them if it was a war.

On a recent trip to Washington D.C. I had the opportunity to visit the many war memorials dedicated to the Veterans. They are all sad places to visit. As I approached the Vietnam Memorials I got a strange shaking type of feeling. It was as if I was taking a walk back into time. I spent some time around the statue and then continued down to The Wall. As I approached The Wall I could feel my eyes beginning to swell. I could feel many years of memories coming back into my mind. And when I layed my hands on The Wall I cried. I cried for all the names on The Wall. Not just for the ones I knew. But for all of them. They were all my brothers and sisters. And they all died in a war for which they felt was just. They died for their country. They died for you and me. For all of you who made it home all I can say is welcome home bro. For those who didn't I say God bless you and may you rest in peace. And that you will never be forgotten.

And lets not forget the cause of the MIAs and the POWs. They should always be remembered. Lets bring them home.

The following is a poem which I was inspired to write and dedicate to all the men and women who died in the Vietnam War.

THE WALL

Along this path I walk the wall Among the trees standing tall. A place to come and say farewell To all of you who bravely fell.

Along this path I walk the wall To honor you my brothers all. Your names forever etched in stone For all to remember and never alone

I've walked the path and seen the wall. I've said good-by to my brothers all. I've shed some tears and dried my eyes. But the memories here they never die.

Along this path I've shed some tears, Thinking back over many years. For me the memories will never cease. God bless you brothers and rest in peace.

I feel that the cause of all American Veterans should be remembered. When their country called they came. They went and many didn't return. Today many of our Vets are homeless and living in the streets. Is this the way a country repays its Veterans? No human being should have to endure such hardships. And no human being should ever have to march off to war. Without war this world would truely be a better place to live. The leaders of this world should take into mind this quote:

WHEN THE POWER OF LOVE OVERCOMES THE LOVE OF POWER THEN THERE WILL BE PEACE.

It has been my decision through the encouragement of others to expand this page. So I have gathered a series of photos that were taken throughout different parts of the war. Anyone who has any pictures or short stories that they would like to share with others are welcome to mail them to me in order for me to publish them on this site.

SO ENTER THRU THE DOOR AND TAKE A JOURNEY BACK IN TIME.

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO SIGN MY GUESTBOOK OR PLEASE JUST TAKE THE TIME TO READ THROUGH THE GUESTBOOK. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE SEARCHING FOR VETS WHO MAY HAVE SERVED WITH SOMEONE IN VIETNAM. MAYBE YOU CAN HELP SOMEONE.

Sign My Guestbook View My Guestbook

Email: hotshot478@yahoo.com

Please Visit My Link Page

American Veterans Search

International War Veterans' Poetry Archives

Battles of the Vietnam War

Operation Starlite__1965

Tradgedy at LZ Albany

The Battle For Hue, Tet, 1968

Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol--Lurps

MyLai

The Australians

Operation Junction City

POW

The 62nd Land Clearing Bn

BOB HOPE IN NAM

The following link is by Arthur Wiknik Jr. He served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne. Arthur Wiknik, Jr. served in Vietnam with Co. A 2/506th of the 101st Airborne Division as an infantry squad leader from April 1969 to March 1970. He was one of the first in his unit to safely reach the top of Hamburger Hill during the final assault. A few months later, he prevented a possible attack on a remote firebase by discovering a nearby enemy weapons cache.

FOR VETERANS WITH QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS VISIT THE VA WEBSITE.

http://www.va.gov

THE DAY THE EAGLE CRIED

The Chapel

On a recent "Today Show" there was a story about two men who went to Hanoi on a business trip. The men encountered a guy selling old GI dog tags from US servicemen who were killed during the Viet Nam War. (and some who are still alive) They were disgusted by the thought of this man profiting from the sale of these tags. Upon returning to the U.S., they decided to go back to Viet Nam and purchase ALL the dog tags. They did so, paying 19 cents per tag! They brought home several hundred tags. The plan is to return the tags to surviving family members, when they can find them. The process has already begun with one set being turned over to a grieving Mom on July 4th, (coincidentally, it was on her birthday)! These two men have set up a website, www.founddogtags.com listing the names of all those whose tags they purchased. If you lost friends, family, or know of someone who lost a loved one in Viet Nam, I suggest you check out this website. If you recognize a name, there's an e-mail address to contact these two men and to help in their efforts to return the dogtag to it's rightful survivor. I'm sure a family member would be eternally grateful to have such an important item returned. Please help by checking this website. And please send the website address to everyone you know. The more people who see the lists, the greater the chance of returning ALL the tags to those who lost loved ones in Viet Nam!

This flag flies at half staff in memory of my hero who served in the 77th Infantry Division in the South Pacific during World War Two. My Father passed away on October 31, 2003. He will always be with me in heart and mind and never forgotten.