Christmas 2011

It is Christmas eve and I hope that you, your family and your friends and loved ones are celebrating in some way. Regardless of religious belief, or lack of it, this is traditionally a time of year for celebration and renewal. From time beyond our memory, people have celebrated the renewal of the light, the return of the sun at this time. The ancient Celts, the Romans, the Greeks and countless others all over the planet have found a way to have hope at the darkest time of the year. I hope you and yours have hope, peace and a joyous season, whatever your belief.

The pictures here are from a very recent weekend (December 2-5) in New Mexico. I hope you enjoy them.

Be sure to remember our brave men and women who are not able to be with their loved ones at this time of year. I remember how hard it was to be in 'Nam during this season of hope, joy and renewal.

California VIII

Located very near Seal Beach, just south of L.A. is the town of Westminster. Since the town has the largest Vietnamese population in Orange County, it is not surprising to find a beautiful memorial here or to learn that it was designed and sculpted by a Vietnamese (Tuan Nguyen) who escaped from a "reeducation" camp in 'Nam. After walking to Cambodia, he eventually made it to the U.S.

Said to be the first in the country to honor both American and Vietnamese soldiers this magnificent site boasts a 12 foot statue of each, an eternal flame, fountain, rose garden and the flags of both the U. S. and the Republic of Vietnam. There are a number of dedication pavers around the site and the various signs are in both Vietnamese and English.

Dedicated on April 27th, 2003, the memorial stands in Sid Goldstein Freedom Park. The park is located at 14180 All American Way. There are several government buildings on this street and thirty minute free parking.

California VII

Far west of Riverside, I went to a place called Chiriaco Summit. In the middle of the desert the temp was 117 degrees and I wondered," why is there a monument this far into this desolate place?" Well, the monument, called "Wall West" by many is located at the George S. Patton Museum. This still begged the question for me; why was the Patton Museum out in the middle of nowhere?

As students of WWII will probably know, Chiriaco Summit is where the General set up his desert training sites for the war in Africa. In thousands of square miles in California and Arizona (yes, I was practically in AZ) the US trained its tank and desert warfare fighters. It is said that the tracks from tanks etc. can still be seen in the sand after all these years.

I have been unable to find out why the West Coast Vietnam Wall was placed here, but someone at the museum told me that the board of Directors wanted to honor Vietnam vets, they had the space available and so it was done.

This memorial, like some others, honors all who served and you can arrange to have your name or that of a buddy, unit, etc added for as little as $10.00. There are plenty of spaces still available.

You can see from the plaques that a number of approaches can be used. As a member of Patriot Guard, I am always proud to see that we are represented.

We all know the Wall in DC and I have written, previously, of Wall South in Pensacola. Fla. and now Wall West. You may be surprised to know that there is, also, a Wall North! I promise to write more about this one in the not too distant future.

Go here, if you would like to know more or arrange a name placing on Wall West;

www.generalpattonmuseum.com

California VI

As promised, the following pictures are of the National POW/MIA Memorial in Riverside, California. The following was taken, verbatim, from the National POW/MIA website

"The Prisoner of War/Missing in Action National Memorial was designated as a national memorial by the U.S. Congress through Public Law 108-454 on December 10, 2004. Vietnam veteran Lewis Lee Millett Jr., sculpted the bronze statue which depicts an American serviceman on his knees with hands bound by his captors. The statue is surrounded by black marble pillars that evoke imprisonment. The memorial was formally dedicated at Riverside National Cemetery on September 16, 2005. It stands in honor to all American prisoners of war and those listed missing. (bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith) "

This, for me, was a very difficult site to visit. The plight of thousands upon thousands of soldiers tells the story of man's inhumanity to man. I have read that since the Revolutionary War, 188,000 are unaccounted for, and most probably never will be!

While this memorial honors ALL, I guess I will always see it as a 'Nam memorial. The fact that it was sculpted by a 'Nam vet and the presence of the POW/MIA flag which came from the Vietnam War adds to that feeling for me. I found an interesting site about the flag and you can read the interesting and touching story of the POW/MIA flag here;

http://www.rollingthunderco1.org/Pages/the_powmia_flag.htm

California V

Those of you who follow this blog will remember that in July (7/29/11) and August (8/18/11) I wrote extensively about a memorial created by Tom Schomberg and later commissioned and placed by Tom Kane. The initial placement, you will recall, was at a church in Denver and later in Ireland to commemorate the visit by the traveling Wall.

I promised, at the time, to tell more of the story at a later time. Well, I have now visited the third and final placement of this beautiful and haunting memorial.

The National POW Memorial is located in the National Cemetery at Riverside, California. Located about 70 miles east of Los Angeles, this astoundingly beautiful site is, also, the home of the last of three memorials commissioned by Tom Kane.

The following pictures are of these two remarkable visions from our war; the lost soldier and a POW. Those of us who were lucky enough to survive, no matter our difficulties, must always remember these heroes. I will post additional photos of the POW memorial, next time, on the 9th of December, as always, at 9:00am

The cemetery is located at Harmon and Van Buren in Riverside and is extremely beautiful and worth a visit if you are in the area.

California IV

I think that for we of the Vietnam generation, Salinas, California is imbedded in our collective memory forever. Probably due to Janis Joplin's hit of Me and Bobby McGee; "Somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away, looking for that home, and I hope she finds it" A song that speaks to loneliness and isolation that just might touch a nerve in a soldier thousands of miles from family and loved ones.

When I discovered that I was only 45 minutes from Salinas, I decided to stop by to see what they might have and was amazed to find this remarkable site.

It is the only one I have seen, out of several hundred so far, that has as its main component a sandbag wall. As familiar as this would be to any 'Nam vet, it just doesn't turn up too often and this is by far the largest one I have seen. This flag lined wall is fronted by a Vietnam Service Ribbon, and has a huge Flag Wall with names of local heroes inscribed upon it sitting just behind it. In addition, school children have made and placed ceramic mosaic tiles with various sentiments upon them. This, too, I think is unique. I have not seen many other sites where children have been highly involved. The only other one I can think of right off hand is the previously posted Connecticut memorial.

Happy Thanksgiving

I'm taking a break today to spend time with family and friends. I hope all of you are too. While giving thanks today, in whatever manner you do so, remember to be thankful that you made it back!

Take a moment to be thankful that we have young men and women, all over the world willing to be away from their homes and, possibly, make the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I think one of the silver linings of Vietnam is that we have learned not to blame the soldier for decisions made by others. Whatever your views are on this war or that, remember those who are away, and most likely very homesick, this Thanksgiving 2011.

California III

There last few shots highlight some of the remaining components of the site. As promised earlier, the first and second shots are of the dedication plaque and statue. The plaque below the statue gives some info on each of the elements within the memorial.

The third shot is of a map of Vietnam. It is pretty detailed with names of many familiar places. A compass rose is located nearby.

The fourth pic is of a plaque placed above the map reminding us of the most infamous of the prison camps in 'Nam and what these heroes withstood.

The last pic is of a fairly well known poem by Maj. Michael O'Donnell included here so that we might always remember.


"Take what they have left you
and what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own

And in that time when men decide
and feel safe
to call the war insane

Take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
You left behind"

It seems fitting to me that the California memorial should be grand. California lost more of her sons and daughters to this effort than any other state; 5822 lost or missing.

California II

Once inside the memorial, the story of "a day in the life" is told through additional statuary and Bas Relief panels. The young soldier, reading his letter from home is surrounded by the realities of his current life and the war. Even though we referred to all else as "the world" thus making 'Nam not real, we knew what the reality really was and they are depicted here for all to see.

The first picture is of an unidentified POW as it sits wondering about his fate at the Hanoi Hilton, sitting next to him (picture two) is what is usually an empty bowl. The night before my visit it had rained and filled the bowl with water. I could not help but think about the conditions these heroes survived and the "food" they were given. The water made me think of a thin gruel that may have been a days ration.

Picture three is of some of the things guys might have had or treasured while in country. It took me a minute to realize that the figure in the back is a short timers calender of the dancing Snoopy! Snoopy and short timer calendars, along with the Huey chopper are some of the most iconic symbols of the time! For those who may not know, a short timers calendar was used by guys who were down to 100 days left in country. Like the religious Advent calendars some use, each day was marked off until you reached number one and were going home, back to "The World" These took any number of forms. Often something meaningful to the particular G.I. but more often something iconic, like Snoopy or something somewhat more graphic. Those who were there know and for the rest I'll let you imagine.

Picture 4 and 5 are of a couple of the daily life depictions from around the memorial. I think they require no explanation.

Veteran' Day 11-11-11

I never anticipated, all those 43 years ago, that today I would be dedicating much of my life to vets. This effort to see, record, and honor Vietnam memorials started out about me and began many years after trying to forget, ignore and act as if 'Nam had never happened. Driven by whatever I was still carrying around from 'Nam, I began searching out these sites and posting them and discovered that I was actually helping other vets. I have heard from many, from all over the world, that they have benefited from the same realization that I had; that America had found a way to to say, "Hey guys, we didn't really mean all that stuff we said" and finally, long over due, "Welcome Home" I spent part of this trip on Ft. Bragg and I can't help but wonder as I think about all these young soldiers I saw, what will their lives be like 43 years from now? How will they be remembered and honored? What struggles will they have faced? What will we as Americans have done to help them through their trials? So, with that in mind, to all my brothers and sisters who made it back, let's be sure we do not abandon them, as we were abandoned and, also, be sure to take a moment to remember and honor those who did not make it home with us.

These pics are of the Moving Wall which was in Veteran's Park in Fayetteville as part of their Vietnam Veteran's Welcome Home events this week. I usually try to take pictures without people in them, but I really liked these, especially the two guys finding a name on The Wall.

Veteran's Day 2011/ 11-11-11

California

I think it is time to move on from New Hampshire. I have some more photos from there and will post them at a later time.

Kate Wolf used to sing about the golden rolling hills of California and I have traveled through many of them. If I were to write only about California until I had posted every where I have gone, I would be on the subject for months! I have been as far north as Grass Valley (I hope to get further up in the state but it has not happened as of yet) and down to the Mexican border. I have gone as far east as Chirico Summit and Nevada City and west to Coronado. So, I will limit how many I post at this time, but will return from time to time to fill in the missed places.

As always, I will begin with the official state memorial. Located on the Capitol grounds, at 15th and Capitol ave. in Sacramento it is one of the most interesting I have visited. It tells a story. A story of a day in a life of a soldier in 'Nam.

The memorial is made up of a number of components and I expect it will take three postings to tell its story.

Today, a few of the basics.

The first picture is of the memorial, note the panels that are inscribed with the 5822 names of those lost or missing. Each of these is listed in a grouping from his/her home town along with their rank and branch of service. A number of benches are placed around the outside for quiet reflection.

The second picture is of a 19 year old soldier reading a letter from home. Those who were there remember that there was no time of day more anticipated than mail call and the joy of hearing from someone back in the world, and the disappointment of not!

Picture three was taken during a night visit to the site. I think it is especially compelling as some unknown visitor has inserted a photograph into the soldiers letter. One must imagine that the person who left it suffered great loss during the war. If not 'Nam, perhaps another!

Picture 4 is part of the dedication marker more of which I will post later.

Picture 5 is a tribute to Brien Collins who lost an arm and a leg during his second tour of 'Nam. He went on to serve in government for three governors and as an Assemblyman. He was a driving force in the building of this memorial and is quoted as saying;

Is the world a better place because you were here?
Did you make a difference?

He seems to me to be a man to remind us of our fortune and abilities and of what can be accomplished if we choose to make it happen.

More, next time, on this magnificent site.