The Viet Nam Wall Memorial.

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The Vietnam Wall (Something you may not have known)


I think the Vietnam Memorial Wall is something this country got right. Read on . . .


A little history most people will never know.

Interesting Veterans Statistics off the Vietnam Memorial Wall

There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010.

The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized.


It is hard to believe it is 36 years since the last casualties.

The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth , Mass. Listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965.

There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall.

39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger.

8,283 were just 19 years old.

The largest age group, 33,103 were 18 years old.

12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old.

5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old.

One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old.

997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam ..

1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam ..

31 sets of brothers are on the Wall.

Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons.

54 soldiers attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia .

8 Women are on the Wall. Nursing the wounded.

244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall.

Beallsville , Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons.

West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall.

The Marines of Morenci - They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest . And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of Morenci's mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home.

The Buddies of Midvale - LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martin ez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few yards apart. They played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to Vietnam . In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths.

The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 - 2,415 casualties were incurred.

For most Americans who read this they will only see the numbers that the Vietnam War created. To those of us who survived the war, and to the families of those who did not, we see the faces, we feel the pain that these numbers created. We are, until we too pass away, haunted with these numbers, because they were our friends, fathers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters.


There are no noble wars, just noble warriors.

Please pass this on to those who served during this time, and those who DO Care.

[budtripp]

 

Sent chills down my spine reading this. I've always had tons of respect for 'nam vets, talked with alot of Marine Corps Vietnam vets when I was stationed at Camp Pendelton. Semper Fi

[wisconsinteacher]

I was able to see the wall last summer near sunset and it was amazing.  Thank to all of the men and women that have supported and served for our nation.

[mikejd]

My Dads a vet. First Recon. I have seen many pics and Heard many stories.

Thank you to all of our vets.

[TnTurk]

God Bless them ALL. 

[redarrow]

When i visited the portable wall i was made speechless  by the Vets that were there that thanked me for coming.It is I who should be thanking them.

[tomstopper]

First time I seen the wall was back in 2003 after I returned from Iraq. The combination of both having 2 uncles who fought over in Vietnam (only one returned) and losing some friends myself while invading Iraq, tears flowed from my eyes. God Bless all who served, especially those who paid the ultimate price.

[Fullfan]

Thanks for posting, I had no idea.
Having also served in Irag i know somewhat what it is like.

[Eric Gregg]

I am honored to be the son of a Vietnam Veteran. My dad was over there in 69. He and his cousin joined the Marines and left for Vietnam after basic. I have a picture of my dad taken just before they left and you can see the fear on his face. I am greatful for all of those that served our country and we owe you guys a great debt of gratitude for your service.

Thank you 

[RutnNStrutn]

Thank you to all veterans!!

[mikejd]

I am honored to be the son of a Vietnam Veteran. My dad was over there in 69. He and his cousin joined the Marines and left for Vietnam after basic. I have a picture of my dad taken just before they left and you can see the fear on his face. I am greatful for all of those that served our country and we owe you guys a great debt of gratitude for your service.

Thank you 

I see pics of my dad and his team and there little kids. 120 lb kids. He was a Corpsman in a recon team.

[kamski1151]

I have 3 friends with their names on that wall. 

[thundrchikin]

Thank You for the post, very important that we never forget those that made the country great.

[longspur]

thanks for posting and thank you to all who served and those are still serving

[TrackeySauresRex]

Great Post!  Thank You Vets.