The Online Vietnam Walls

Remembering Vietnam’s Heros

Image from the National Park Service website

While there’s a little lull in the election cycle, it’s a very good time to remember those who went before our present heros in Iraq & Afghanistan: the Vietnam heros, especially while Memorial Day seems just around the corner.

Many Vietnam  returnees were mistreated when they came home and the MIAs and KIAs were not, in my opinion, given proper respect at first. I know, I was in a cushy R&D job in an Army Lab, but my neighbors in the Ft. Knox community numbered many who had just returned from ‘Nam and couldn’t believe the anti-serviceperson mentality of many, far too many, fellow citizens.

The Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC has gone a long way towards keeping faith with those who paid the ultimate price.

I just learned from a cousin (whose son has been to Iraq twice already), that there is an online version of “The Wall”, The Virtual Wall.

If you were like me, unaware of its existence, check it out. I think it’s a fantastic work of love and remembrance.

Vietnam War casualties are listed by Home of Record on THE VIRTUAL WALL ® www.VIRTUALWALL.org and the entire database is searchable and additional materials such as photos and lists of medals may be submitted along with suggestions & corrections.

It has been online since 1997 and is now in the process of a major update.

Now , with a little Web sleuthing, I also find several “Wall” websites online. (Google helps find everything!)

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial “Wall USA” website is dedicated to honoring those who died in the Vietnam War.

It went on line in 1996 it has evolved into something more. The Wall USA is a non-profit endeavor maintained by veterans of the 4th Battalion 9th Infantry Regiment for the benefit of all.

Then there’s the Interactive Vietnam Veterans Memorial at http://go.footnote.com/thewall/ replete with pictures from sections of the Wall and a searchable database visitors can browse by: all names by any category (58,256); Enlistment type: Regular(34,820), Selective Service(17,848), Reserve(5,842) or National Guard(97); Branch of Service: Army(38,641), Marine Corps(15,003), Air Force(2,611), Navy(2,584), Coast Guard(7); Hometown: New York(1,385), Chicago(973), Philadelphia(628), Detroit(533), Baltimore(422) etc.

But it has some paid services, if you’re ok with that, check into it.

That’s not all, folks, there are more. But these three seem to be the most polished and complete of the ones I visited. They’ll certainly help people remember the costs of war and the details of the those who sacrificed.

I’m suggesting one or more become a permanent link on our website.

Any votes or seconds for the “motion”?

Any other website suggestions in this category?

Just add your comment or suggestion below in the comment space.

Ray Peacock
Ivyland

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