By Mary O’KEEFE

Saturday, March 29, was Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day. Veterans from American Legion Post 288 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1614 were joined by members of the Don Jose Verdugo Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, along with community members, at the Vietnam War Memorial in Montrose to honor those who fought in the Vietnam War. 

Communist North Vietnam and the Viet Cong fought against South Vietnam and the United States. 

“The U.S. actions in Vietnam began slowly with the deployment of advisors in the early 1950s and expanded incrementally to include combat forces in July 1965. The conflict continued until January 1973, when representatives of the United States, North and South Vietnam and the Viet Cong signed a peace agreement in Paris. U.S. forces returned home over the next few months, with the last military unit leaving on March 29, 1973,” according to www.army.mil.

According to the National Archives, 58,220 U.S. military lives were lost during the Vietnam War. 

“More than 2.7 million Americans served in the conflict, displaying immense courage and sacrifice,” said Lynn McGinnis of Post 288. “For Americans, the Vietnam War sparked widespread debate and protest as the nation struggled to reconcile its ideals with the realities of war. The war highlighted the power of public opinion, forever altering the relationship between its citizens and their government. 

“On March 29, 1973 the last American combat soldier left Saigon. On March 28, 2017 then-President [Donald] Trump signed into law the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017, permanently recognizing March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. This is the 52nd anniversary of the Vietnam War Veterans Day and we honor the men and women who served during this challenging time. We acknowledge their bravery, dedication and resilience in the fact of much adversity.”

McGinnis added that these veterans deserve our deepest “gratitude and respect for their service to our nation.” 

Then the names were read of the local men who died in the war and are listed on the wall of the Vietnam War Memorial. They include: Ralph N. Duemling, First Lt, U.S. Marine Corps, 1945 to 1970; LTJG William A Pedersen, U.S. Navy Pilot and FTL, 1945 to 1970; Michael A Najarian, Naval Hospital Corpsman-U.S. Marine Corps, 1945 to 1966; Steven Frank Burlingame, Specialist Fourth Class – U.S. Army, 1942 to 1967; Manuel Miranda, Sgt., U.S. Army, 1949 to 1971; Lt. John C Sweet, USN USS Scorpion (SSN-589) Lost at Sea, 1942 to 1968; William Warren Hail, Lt. Col. U.S. Air Force, 1932 to 1965; James Reginald Bauder, Capt., U.S. Navy, 1931 to 1966; Jerry Ray Murphy, Specialist Five, U.S. Army, 1945 to 1966; Norman Richard Kidd Jr., Capt., U.S. Army, 1936 to 1967; Roy Allen Fryman, Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 1933 to 1969; Warren Richard Spencer, Major, U.S. Air Force, 1943 to 1972; Gary Nels Nelson, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, 1945 to 1966; Robert A Chapp, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 1939 to 1967; Richard C Ramsey, Sergeant, U.S. Air Force, 1944 to 1968; Jack D Downs, Private First Class, U.S. Army, 1947 to 1968; Patrick O Quinn, Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, 1945 to 1966; George P Kelly, Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, 1944 to 1967; Callen Courtemanche, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, 1947 to 1968; Michael D Sheahan, Private First Class, U.S. Army, 1949 to 1968; Fred B Beckermann, Jr Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, 1946 to 1966; John Patrick Lee, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, 1946 to 1967; Loren Eugene Engstrom, Warrant Officer, U.S. Army, 1945 to 1968; Stephen Arthur Golsh, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, 1946 to 1970.