Today the president said that it would be fair to compare the situation in Iraq today with the 1968 Tet offensive in Viet Nam. Bush said, "George, my gut tells me that they have all along been trying to inflict enough damage that we'd leave,". I'm sure these words haunt anyone that lived through the Viet Nam years. Back then the nation was strung along year by year being told that we just needed to send a few more troops,
we just need to bomb Hanoi, we will pull out as the ARVN stand up and take over military operations. Just like Iraq the South Vietnamese government never took over, the ARVN never did stand up so our troops could come home and there weren't enough bombs on earth to change things. In the end what we got out of it was a black granite wall. The names of 58,178 brave Americans, their voices forever silent, stand as testament to a failed policy. I would ask George Bush to go to the wall. Stare into its black face and listen. Listen to the silence of 58,179 people. Mr. President, you have not attended a single funeral of a fallen Iraq War veteran. The least you can do is to visit the wall and see what your policies are creating. This country doesn't need another wall of names. We do not have the right to ask anymore of our troops to sacrifice their lives for what surely will end in failure.
Here are some facts about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial:
The youngest Vietnam KIA is believed to be Dan Bullock USMC, at 15 years old.
At least 5 men killed in Vietnam were 16 years old.
At least 12 men killed in Vietnam were 17 years old.
At least 25,000 of those killed were 20 years old or younger.
The oldest man killed was 62 years old.
More than 17,000 of those killed were married.
Veterans killed on their first day in Vietnam 997
Veterans killed on their last day in Vietnam 1,448
Number of Chaplains on the Wall ... 16 (2 Medal Of Honor)
Number of Women on the Wall ... 8 (7 Army, 1 USAF - 7,484 served)
SGT Robert Davison of Muskegon, Michigan joined the marines at age 14 and died in Vietnam December 17th, 1966 at age 18.
BUDDIES:
Steven E. Amescua and Anthony J. Blevins joined the Marine Corp on the buddy plan. Steven was KIA May 15, 1968 and Anthony was KIA August 23, 1968.
BROTHERS:
Brothers Charles and Philip Tank of Ecorse, Michigan were both killed in Vietnam. Charles on April 19, 1969 Philip on September 12, 1968.
Brothers Kenneth and Paul Olenzuk were both killed in Vietnam. Kenneth on December 25, 1967 and Paul on August 10, 1968
Brothers Marlin and Norman Eversgerd were both killed in Vietnam. Marlin on March 19, 1967 and Norman on August 18, 1968
Brothers Bennett and Dennis Herrick were both killed in Vietnam. Bennett on March 25, 1968 and Dennis on August 02, 1970
Brothers Gabriel and Paul Trujillo were both killed in Vietnam. Gabriel on February 23, 1971 and Paul on November 04, 1971
Brothers Benjamin and Francisco Montano were both killed in Vietnam. Francisco on April 08, 1967 and Benjamin on May 15, 1969
Brothers James and John Rowden were both killed in Vietnam. James on March 05, 1966 and John on February 10, 1968
Brothers Michael and William Francis were both killed in Vietnam. Michael on September 30, 1967 and William on March 09, 1970
Brothers Robert and Steven Gaftunik were both killed in Vietnam. Robert on August 25, 1969 and Steven on March 27, 1968
Brothers Rudy and Stanley Sagon were both killed in Vietnam. Rudy on December 10, 1965 and Stanley on May 20, 1966
Brothers Robert and Phillip Wyatt were both killed in Vietnam. Robert on July 10, 1967 and Phillip on May 28, 1968
Brothers Samuel and William Nixon were both killed in Vietnam. Samuel on March 21, 1968 and William on May 8, 1968
Brothers Kirby and Lanny Hamby were both killed in Vietnam. Kirby on June 8, 1968 and Lanny on October 14, 1969
Brothers John and David Banks were both killed in Vietnam. John on March 28, 1966 and David on April 21, 1969
Brothers George and James Wright were both killed in Vietnam. George on May 21, 1967 and James on May 31, 1969
Brothers Donald and Cordis White were both killed in Vietnam. Donald on March 5, 1967 and Cordis on September 18, 1969
Brothers Clyde and Edward Withee were both killed in Vietnam. Clyde on February 5, 1966 and Edward on October 6, 1970
Brothers Richard and Larry Land were both killed in Vietnam. Richard on May 18, 1967 and Larry on March 28, 1971
Brothers Robert and Harold Musselman were both killed in Robert on October 25, 1967 and Harold on March 3, 1969
FATHER AND SON:
Richard B. Fitzgibbon Jr. was killed June 08, 1956 his son Richard B. Fitzgibbon III was KIA September 07, 1965.
Leo Hester Sr. Died March 10, 1967 in a aircraft crash his son Leo Hester Jr. was KIA November 02, 1969 also in a aircraft crash.