surpassed the tally of those killed in the Vietnam War, nearly 60,000 U.S. service members who died in Vietnam, Westmoreland reported seeing a similar light, L.A. County on verge of becoming COVID-19 epicenter. For those of us who served, our experiences as soldiers was very similar in many respects to the soldiers who fought in other wars.”. Most of California bans vacation stays, but travelers, lodgings aren’t in line. “The men and women who served in Vietnam were as important to our country as veterans who have ever served since the time of the American Revolution. And if he wants to contact you, he can do that.’ So I did that, and about a month later I was in D.C. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. In the chaos of the U.S. withdrawal, the bodies of the two Marines were left behind. One is John Ketwig, a Bedford resident and the other is Keith Young, of Roanoke County. I developed great respect and affection for the Vietnamese when I was there. What Americans should know: The men who fought didn’t create the war. The growing popularity of YouTube in South Korea has led to questionable attempts by users to gain viewers, including promises of vigilante justice. More than 60% of the names on the Vietnam Memorial belong to those who were 22 or younger when they died. Sign up for AARP's twice-monthly Your Health newsletter for the latest on coronavirus and more, Many Vietnam veterans don't know they qualify for Agent Orange benefits, Vets urge President Trump to uphold ‘blue water’ benefits, 8-Month No-Penalty CD from Marcus by Goldman Sachs®. Get thought-provoking perspectives with our weekly newsletter. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. We served with honor and distinction.”, Doyle served from 1969 to 1970, as an Army infantry soldier, to “seek out, close with and destroy the enemy.”. Op-Ed: The pandemic made my singing group hit pause. During the war, over 58,000 U.S. military members lost their lives and 153,000 were wounded. Excerpt From THE VETERAN: Now Online. We did what was asked of us, and we looked after those that we served with. Enforcement is a question. More Exxon Mobil Rewards+™ points on qualified purchases, WW will help you build a customized weight loss plan, Guaranteed rate of return on an exclusive 8-month term. PTSD Treatments Not … Individual cases disappear into the whole. If there is anything we’ve learned from the Vietnam War, it is that we haven’t learned anything from the Vietnam War.”. There were no “thank you’s,” no parades and no “welcome homes.” ... Catch the latest in Opinion. Yet time has proven Vietnam veterans to … Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly The dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1982 began the process, but many identify the Gulf War of 1990-91—with its national flag-waving, … Explore more records, information, articles and resources at the National Archives organized by subject area. Jan 30, 2016 at 2:05 PM . That war and this pandemic have each been marked by a pronounced inequitable sharing of the burden and the cost by the poor and by racial minorities. Kirchner entered the Air Force in 1961 at age 25. 509 – Two Vietnam Veterans’ opinions about the war. Opinion Political Op-Eds Social Commentary He served in... Keith Harman, 72, of Delphos, Ohio. The nation has been stunned by the many who have died in this pandemic. The first thought that came to mind was, Maybe I should have listened to my maintenance sergeant. Mike Tharp (middle) at the 16th Public Information Detachment. Most vivid memory: fighting in the Battle of Huê´ during the 1968 Tet Offensive, “Many casualties on both sides, but exceptional esprit de corps by my fellow Marines.”. With the surge showing no signs of slowing down, L.A. County facilities are preparing for how to allocate care in a crisis situation. Now, the American generation that suffered most in Vietnam is the most vulnerable to the coronavirus. And for some reason, I thought he was from Chicago. The McMahon and Judge families had to delay saying farewell to their young sons. The Veterans Affairs Department estimates we are losing more than 500 veterans per day who served during the Vietnam War years. When Vietnam War veteran Michael Kelley finally finished writing his memoir last year, an accomplishment 40 years in the making, he was by no means hoping it … In the mid-1980s, African American veterans of the Vietnam War were twice as likely as White veterans to experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), at a prevalence of 40%. According to federal law, the United States' military involvement in the Vietnam War began in February 1961 and lasted until May 1975. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Most vivid memory: being caught under fire in his helicopter on his first mission, “I remember my maintenance sergeant trying to talk me out of becoming a crew chief, but I wasn’t listening. On my first assault mission, my aircraft was badly shot up, but we didn’t go down. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try The first combat troops arrived in 1965 and fought the war until the cease-fire of January 1973, America’s involvement in Vietnam actually lasted from 1957 until 1975. Both of us were in the 3rd Marine Division. Two Marines, Charles McMahon of Woburn, Mass., and Darwin Judge of Marshalltown, Iowa, were killed in a rocket attack. Not all WWII vets did turn their backs. From time to time during the American war in Iraq which began in 2003, aging Vietnam veterans wearing baseball caps and khaki jackets emblazoned with pins, patches, and the … Sign up for AARP's twice-monthly Your Health newsletter for the latest on coronavirus and more. I was in the bunker, the elevated bunker, and every eighth or ninth round was a tracer round — red or green. In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails again. Our goal is to thank and honor America’s 6.4 million living veterans … The focus is on the number, not our fellow citizens. Most vivid memory: being wounded in a blast on patrol, along with a wartime buddy, Willie Henry, and not knowing what happened to his friend until 26 years later, “After two to three weeks of recovery, I was back out in the field and never did find out what happened to Willie. In the waning days of April, the number of people who died from COVID-19 in the United States surpassed the tally of those killed in the Vietnam War. But who comes next? I was on the board of Vietnam Veterans of America at that time. Charles McMahon had been active in the Boys Club in Woburn where he excelled as a swimmer and taught and mentored young boys. That was an easy call. AARP members receive exclusive member benefits & affect social change. Some hotels and rental hosts may still be taking bookings that California has banned. 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