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Memorial Day: Honor The Dead, Fight For The Living

By John Lindquist

HONOR THE DEAD—FIGHT FOR THE LIVING. This VVAW slogan comes closest to describing what makes VVAW tick. We are urging all chapters and/or individuals members to participate: get out and do something on Memorial Day, May 28, 1984.

In the early days of VVAW we didn't play an active role in traditional Memorial Day events or in private gatherings. I guess the war raged on heavily and Memorial Day meant the glorification of war to us. Sometimes this was the case.

I remember the death of PFC Seeman and another Marine whose name I've long forgotten. This Memorial Day we will remember them. The unnamed Marine was shot in the back of the head with a .45 caliber. The Gunny who did it was in charge of the interior guard that night. Because the Marine had a ten-pack of grass on him, his death went unpunished. PFC Seeman died unloading faulty cases of grenades. He was given this hazardous duty because he was suspected of marijuana use by some lifer. They were expendable, but I will not forget them.....

Some opportunish politicians always use Memorial Day to air pronouncements about those "who gave their last full measure of devotion" to protect the country. While Ronald Reagan speaks at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, he prepares for was in Central America and cuts deep into the VA budget.

It is up to us as veterans to really remember what Memorial Day is all about. After the American Civil War, May 30th was set aside as a day to honor the men and women who died on both sides. Memorial Day was also created to pledge our efforts to peace so the nation could reunite and rebuild.

I remember when Dr. Westphal started a Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Eagles Nest, New Mexico. His son, a Marine officer, and a 12 ?man squad were wiped out in an L-shaped ambush. Dr. Westphal built this Memorial without traditional support because it was called a "Peace Memorial"), and was dedicated to all who died in Vietnam—including the Vietnamese. Local rednecks tried to burn it down. VVAW in Southwest did weeks of perimeter watch to see that it survived. Recently, the Disabled American Veterans has taken it over with the blessing of the family and will break ground this Memorial Day on a visitor's center. This Memorial's history will be not be forgotten....

Nowadays, Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May (May 28th, this year) so everyone can have a 3-day vacation to start their summer. It seems a lot of people don't care about the people who died in America's wars. They would prefer to forget the lessons of Vietnam, but we won't let them. This year you should plan ceremonies in your communities if nothing is planned, or participate in the traditional ceremony wherever it is held. Here are some examples of what will be happening:

The Chicago VVAW Chapter holds a ceremony every year at the eternal flame at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. Traditional vets groups have not, in the past, welcomed VVAW; at times VVAW has held the only Memorial Day ceremony in the city. But even when denied access to traditional ceremonies Vietnam vets must speak about the need for No More Vietnams, for Testing, Treatment and Compensation for Victims of Agent Orange, and to say that we are fighting for the living to make sure that our brothers and sisters did not die in vain.

Other VVAW chapters, like Milwaukee, are involved in their local Memorial Day ceremonies. Since 1978 in Milwaukee, when President Jimmy Carter declared Vietnam Vets week, VVAW has been part of the ceremony at the VA cemetery, including the VVAW colors and laying a wreath along with other veterans' groups. VVAW's presence does not let them forget Vietnam and its lessons.

Back on May 30, 1981, Vietnam vets and their families were locked out of Arlington Cemetery. We were forced to lay our wreath outside the gate, but the message of peace and No More Vietnams was heard across the land. We remembered our fallen comrades plus the hundreds of thousands of walking wounded of mind and limb who fill our VA's and walk our streets.

Memorial Day is one more good day to remember the support that our VA brother and sister patients need; while the politicians heap praise on our comrades on Memorial Day, the other 364 days are spent finding ways to slice the VA budget. The Grace Commission and more recently a draft paper from the Congressional Budget Office have spoken once more about closing the VA hospital system. There's also talk of stopping hospitalization for non-service connected problems, even for those who have a service-connected disability. And these are only some of the proposed cuts. Once again we are under attack, only this time the sappers are the legions of Ronald Reagan.

On Memorial Day this year VVAW will think of Paul Reutersham, Edmund Juteau, "The Tiger" and the thousands of other vets who have died from their exposure to Agent Orange and the killer dioxin. We will not forget the children, whether it be our own children, some born dead or with birth defects, or the children of the Vietnamese. We will remember.

It has taken us 6 years to get to trial on the Agent Orange liability, and the compensation owed to us and our families. The battle is far from over, but at least the trial is set to begin on the 7th of May.

"... I remember the 11 men who died in that ambush—my men," says Rickey Ditch. "Since 1971 I'd had the same nightmare over and over. I come to a tree line and I make the wrong turn, right into a battalion of NVA. Everyone died, everyone except me. The last 12 years I've been locked up 7 years in VA's and state hospitals. I've attempted suicide over 50 times and still the dreams won't end. I'll never forget them...."

John Lindquist
VVAW National Office