My friend Jack McEncroe contacted me in response to a question I posed on my website: “Why did Vietnam Vets return home differently?” He included a speech he gave when the Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall visited in Kellispell, MT a few years ago, which he feels answers it. A must read…

I am humbled and honored to be standing here surrounded by magnificence.  Yes, the magnificence of the Flathead Valley but, more poignantly this morning, I am speaking of the magnificence of some of your friends and neighbors.  This morning we are addressing the magnificence of sacrifice, the magnificence of duty, honor, country, the magnificence of freedom, and the magnificence of those who keep us free.  

Maya Lin was a 21-year-old graduate student when she captured all of this magnificence in her vision.  Her vision became a reality and it is now known as The Vietnam Veterans Memorial or reverently referred to simply as “The Wall”.  It is the most often visited Memorial in Washington DC.  In 2015 alone, approximately 5.6 million people visited what all Americans should think of as sacred ground.

Allow me to transport you back in time to a period of perceived bliss in America when we first learned of  Television, Rock’n Roll, Disneyland, American Bandstand, Elvis, and Camelot.  The Korean War was behind us and clear skies were ahead.  Nobody locked their doors, the news was the actual news, neighbors helped neighbors, children were to be seen and not heard, and respect for authority, self sufficiency, and manners were the law of the land.  I know, I thought the same thing, what the hell happened?  The ’60s happened and it was during the early ’60s that most Americans first learned of a place called Vietnam. 

In the mid-’60s Vietnam became the focus of every American family.  America was becoming increasingly involved in a war there, and for all able-bodied young American men our opportunity was now. 

Yes, there was a draft but contrary to popular belief, 2/3 of those who served in Vietnam were volunteers, as once again young Americans banded together and became brothers-in-arms.  We fought for one another and mission accomplishment and, for that opportunity, we are eternally grateful. I am convinced that the most often heard prayer from those going into combat for the first time is “Please, God, don’t let me let my buddies down”.  It is never about self but rather about those next to us and, most importantly, those entrusted to us.

  The challenges were many as this was a war like no other. The enemy was often unrecognizable, your allies during the day became your enemy every night, there were no front lines, the climate was horrible, every creature that slithered, bit, sucked, or stung inhabited this place. One would not be dry, clean, or safe for a year or more, and it seemed everyone, including those you were trying to liberate and protect, was trying to kill you.  Yes, the challenges were many, but none were too tough that they would not be overcome. 

Please keep in mind that the military does not start wars, politicians do. Our President made a decision and our military and the youth of America were once again called to action.  Our job is to fight and win, and win we will.  Sadly, most national politicians are weak and beholden to benefactors instead of honor and principle. They undermine those they send into battle and this was no exception as they constantly revised The Rules of Engagement to your detriment.  They left you more vulnerable and, in fact, actually protected the enemy.  Another challenge to be overcome, and overcome it you did.  

However, unbeknownst to you, the ’60s culture was sowing its seeds of deceit and destruction back home and, sadly, that is a challenge America has never overcome. There were many legal and honorable deferments to military service and I am not referring to them in any way when I speak of the rebellious culture that came of age in the later ’60s. 

This was a culture spawned in academia and promoted by a suddenly compliant media, draft dodgers—- also known as cowards disguised as war protesters—- and self-serving politicians.  This cabal of dissidents has affected everything in America for the last 50 years and, in my humble opinion, is the ideological foundation for many of America’s problems today.  This same culture still manifests itself today when the self-anointed privileged find themselves in the minority. Imagine The Vietnam Veteran’s disgust when some of this trash was actually elected to national public office years later.  

I briefly described for you the conditions our young men and young nurses faced in combat on the ground, but I have just scratched the surface.  The filth, mud, swamps, rice paddies, tunnels, booby traps, poison punji sticks, mines, mortars, rockets, grenades, creatures, Agent Orange, and stifling weather made for miserable conditions but were no match for our magnificent young Americans.  

Please remember my earlier reference to the fact that there were no front lines. Terror and devastation could come from any direction, including below, in the form of tunnels and underground facilities, 24 hours a day every day.  Imagine the horror our young nurses, fresh from Nursing School, witnessed every minute of every day. This horror was inflicted on our young fighting men, many of whom were the same age or just slightly younger than the nurses treating them. Yet, our young fighting men prevailed and defeated the enemy in every major battle they were involved in.

In  World War II, the average days of actual combat that our ground troops faced in a year was 44.  In Vietnam, the average days of actual combat our ground troops faced in a year was 240.  Whether you were on the ground, in the air, or on ships at sea, excellence was required 24 hours a day every day.  I tell you this only to underscore the aforementioned and often unrecognized magnificence of our Vietnam Veterans.

Allow me to repeat, our young fighting men won every major battle they were asked to win and that included the devastating defeat they handed the enemy in TET 1968.  Surprised? We were too when we came home to hear that Walter Cronkite, “the most trusted man in America”, had reported otherwise.  In other words, he was not telling the American people the truth. This major and convincing defeat of the enemy was somehow reported as a politically convenient stalemate.  

It was paraphrased that Cronkite spoke for “many Americans” when he declared, upon return from the battlefield at Hue during TET of 1968, that the bloody war in Vietnam was destined to “end in a stalemate.”  The term “Many Americans” of yesteryear is analogous to today’s “unnamed but well-connected sources”. This is a convenient way for politicians and the media to deceitfully promote their hidden agenda, which is never good for America or Americans.

I have described the hell hole our young men and women found themselves in 7300 miles from here.  I have shared their undeniable accomplishments, their magnificent valor and, in the case of the men and women whose names are on this sacred Wall behind me, they gave all they had to give for all of us. 

Recreating the fabricated and politically charged homeland the Vietnam Veteran returned to is impossible unless you experience it through their eyes.  We can, however, try to imagine the confusion and frustration a returning Veteran might experience in hearing that the majority of his countrymen believed he lost a war that he knew we won! He was falsely accused of being a baby killer, labeled a misfit, told by superiors not to wear his uniform due to the animosity of his countrymen, and he was even unwelcome in some Veterans’ circles.

 Vietnam Veterans found that their Country had been fed lies and its thought process was poisoned by academia, the media, the aforementioned cowards, and the likes of the John Kerrys, Tom Haydens, and Jane Fondas of the world.  In short, they were made to feel unwelcome in the very Country they had risked everything for.  They faced a citizenry who had been deceived by this cabal of cowardly dissidents, lying media, and opportunistic politicians.  Another challenge and another victory. We turned to our Band of Brothers and to like-minded patriotic Americans. Together we have prospered in every way imaginable.  

 I have shared a brief overview of the conditions our Vietnam Veterans faced. For those fortunate to return home, they returned to a far different America than they left, and they returned far different Americans than those who left 12 or 13 very long months earlier.  

For the living, this Wall behind me and that beautiful Wall in Washington, DC,  validates the Vietnam Veteran’s sacrifice, initiates the closing of the healing loop, and says “well done”.

For those whose names are on The Wall, that healing is never ending for our Gold Star Families.  These magnificent men and women gave all of their tomorrows for all of our todays.  Let me repeat that: These magnificent men and women gave all of their tomorrows for all of our todays. Yes, we really are a grateful nation, but there are no words that adequately express our gratitude for their sacrifice and that of their family and friends.  We are eternally in your debt. 

 I  ask all of our Gold Star families to please stand if able and remain standing. I ask all of the Vietnam Veterans to stand if able and remain standing and, if not able, please raise your hand.

Today provides us an opportunity, an opportunity many Americans never embraced. Today we are here together, surrounded by this aforementioned magnificence. Yes, ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL.  

Today is a gift, a gift from God, and through Him a gift from those on The Wall, a gift from our Vietnam Veterans, and a gift from all of our Veterans. Today is one of those gifts, and another opportunity to say thank you, welcome home, well done. 

God Bless all of our Gold Star Families, God Bless all of our Veterans, God Bless our generous sponsors and all of you for joining us this morning, and God Bless the greatest Country on earth, The United States of America.

Jack McEncroe, Captain, U.S.M.C.

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