OPINION:
Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29, recognizes a precious sacrifice. North Vietnam agrees that the U.S. won the battles, but asserts that it made no difference. During Tet, the U.S. and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (principally the latter) shattered the Viet Cong’s main force, causing huge casualties and an irreparable loss of face. In March 1972, the South Vietnamese army destroyed an invading North Vietnamese army.
The Democratic Party secured defeat. Responding to Tet, those who got us into war cut and ran. In 1972, a Democratic Congress refused funding to restore South Vietnamese forces, which had defeated the invading army. Soviet and Chinese support brought the North Vietnamese victory in 1975.
U.S. forces took extraordinary steps to avoid civilian deaths, while the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese murdered over 36,000 people by targeting village leaders, teachers and medical workers.
Two-thirds of Vietnam vets volunteered for duty, compared with only one-third of those who fought in World War II. Over 90% of Vietnam veterans say they are glad they served, and 74% say they would serve again knowing the outcome. Compared with nonveterans, Vietnam vets were more likely to find employment, and when they did, they earned 18% more.
As President Ronald Reagan said, the U.S. cause in Vietnam “was, in truth, a noble cause. A small country newly free from colonial rule sought our help in establishing self-rule and the means of self-defense against a totalitarian neighbor bent on world conquest.”
NOLAN NELSON
Redmond, Oregon
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