Posted on Apr 29, 2017
Has your initial opinion of the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial (The Wall) changed over time?
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I would like the perspective of Vietnam Veterans on your initial reaction when you heard about the project, to when the design was announced and perhaps most crucially, how you felt if and when you saw it and your opinion of it now.
Vietnam era and other vets are of course welcomed to discuss, however, please preface your post with something indicating as such e.g. 9/11 Era, Vietnam era CONUS, etc
Vietnam era and other vets are of course welcomed to discuss, however, please preface your post with something indicating as such e.g. 9/11 Era, Vietnam era CONUS, etc
Vietnam War
Memorial
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 19
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I think that the architect did an excellent job of depicting the scar left on the country by the Vietnam War. However, it wasn't a scar resulting from those young men and women listed there. It was a scar left by the wounds of the cowards who attacked service men and women upon their return. It was a scar left by the wounds of their cowardice proclaiming that they would rather be "Red than dead". It was a scar left by the ignorance of those who believed that Vietnam would live in peace if only we left them alone. (I don't believe that they ever acknowledged the death and torture reaped on the Vietnamese after we left by those very communists that the intelligentsia supported).
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I thought it unconventional but not insulting in any way to vets. Like many, I naturally thought more along the lines of stautues like the "Three Servicemen" eventually added. Spending jr & sr high school watching Vietnam on the news every night, seeing the hippie war protests, enlisting in '69 and barely getting to Nam before the final troop pullouts, I understand the concept of starting at the beginning, going down into the darkest days (for the country & disrespect for the armed forces), and coming out into the light. The light in one way being the 1st Gulf War where we (partially?) got over Vietnam.
Felt that way then - still do now.
Felt that way then - still do now.
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MSG (Join to see)
Thank you MSgt George Cater. Mind if I ask your take on the use of the black granite?
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MSgt George Cater
If I ever heard of controversy about that, I don't recall it. I think I like the reflective surface element of it that gives each visitor the ability to reflect (pun intended) on the sacrifice represented in front of them.
I'll always remember the opening of the movie "Hamburger Hill" that swept along the black reflective wall transforming from the trees of D.C. to the paddies of Vietnam. MSG (Join to see)
I'll always remember the opening of the movie "Hamburger Hill" that swept along the black reflective wall transforming from the trees of D.C. to the paddies of Vietnam. MSG (Join to see)
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From what I read, I was originally disappointed in the design and avoided it for years. While on temporary duty in DC in the late 80s, I woke one morning at about 2 AM and decided it was time. Got in the car and went to see it. At first I was in awe at the peaceful scene, then walked past the names until I reached the time period where I found my Platoon mates from Parris Island. Went a little further and found all the men we lost in my squadron. Leaned against the wall and bawled for a good half hour. It felt as though all the tension from listening to all the stories about how screwed up we and the war were was lifted and I realized the greatness those names represented. Have been back several times since then and the feeling from that night comes back each time.
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