On this Memorial Day, today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is dedicated to the 58,318 Americans who gave their lives in service to their country during the Vietnam War.

Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union Veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Decoration Day started on May 30.

After World War I, the day expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day became a national holiday by an act of Congress. The day honors the more than 1.1 million Americans who died in the nation’s wars.

During the Vietnam War, 58,318 Americans gave their lives in service.

The first name listed on Panel 1, East Wall, is Dale Richard Buis. He was an Army major serving as an American adviser. Viet Cong attacked the Military Assistance Advisory Group building in Bien Hoa province July 8, 1959, killing him and Army Master Sgt. Chester Ovnand.

The last casualty was Air Force 2nd Lt. Richard Vandegeer. He was a pilot who died after his helicopter crashed on May 15, 1975, during the SS Mayaguez rescue attempt.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund maintains a searchable database of names at https://www.vvmf.org/.

According to current Department of Defense guidelines, service members are eligible for inscription on The Wall if they have died:

  • within the defined combat zone of Vietnam (varies based on dates; no matter the cause)
  • while on a combat/combat support mission to/from the defined combat zone of Vietnam
  • within 120 days of wounds, physical injuries, or illnesses incurred or diagnosed in the defined combat zone of Vietnam

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency maintains a list of those still missing. The lists are broken down by state. The lists are at https://www.dpaa.mil/Our-Missing/Vietnam-War/Vietnam-War-POW-MIA-List/.

We honor their service.

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Contributors

Writer: Adam Stump

Graphic artist: Tass Mimikos

Topics in this story

Air ForceArmyMarineNavyUS Coast GuardVietnam VetVietnam VeteranVietnam War

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5 Comments

  1. Ben Doogood May 26, 2020 at 07:02

    when are veterans going to get their stimulus money, why is the va remain silent and do nothing. VA who did you give our information to, did you give it to the treasury? Oh yeah?

    What is the date you gave it to them and what office? What date did they say they will pay us, if they are not going to pay us, then give me my money back VA

    And give us our info back you gave the treasury, give us our money back and our information back, something smells VA, apparently VA gave our info went to treasury and everybody is trying to ignore veterans and not talk about the money anymore, why is it such silence? When will disabled veterans get the stimulus money?

  2. Bobby Clemons May 25, 2020 at 17:08

    “REST IN PEACE” SGT. EDWARD CLEMONS, I left you in Germany in 1969…PANEL 33w LINE76

  3. PAUL F. ECKMAN May 25, 2020 at 16:48

    I WISH I COULD GO TO THE GRAVE SITE OF LBJ.MY BLATTER WOULD NEED RELEIF AND I COULD PUT HIS GRAVE SITE TO GOOD USE.

  4. Senior Veterans Care Network May 25, 2020 at 13:22

    We honor the service of all Americans who gave their lives in service to their country during the Vietnam War.

    This Memorial day we honor the more than 1.1 million Americans who died in the nation’s wars.

  5. Ben Doogood May 25, 2020 at 11:46

    WHEN DID THE VA GIVE THE TREASURY OUR INFO TO PAY US, WHAT DAY, WHO DID THEY GIVE IT TO, WHAT IS THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION, WHO GOT PAID SO FAR, WHAT DAY AND TIME ARE WE GOING TO SEE OUR STIMULUS MONEY, WHY ARE WE WAITING FOR MONTHS, WHY IS THE VA SAYING NOTHING AND NOT TELLING US WHAT DAY WILL OUR STIMULUS CHECKS WILL ARRIVE

Comments are closed.

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