What emotion, if any, does this photo bring out in you?

LTC Ed Ross — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 20:04:37 -0400

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2015 8:14 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 20:14:06 -0400

In my opinion, it was a huge waste of lives. The Vietnam "conflict" is a huge interest to me, and always has been. These boys gave their lives for something, but even presently, we don't know WHAT, except each other. We got entangled in something that we had no business stumbling into. And didn't learn a damned thing from those fortunate to survive.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 10 at 2015 8:16 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 20:16:49 -0400

Oblivious to our sacrifice.

Our lives go on even though there's a war going on.

Somebody else will do it.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 10 at 2015 8:30 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 20:30:51 -0400

I have 6 friends on the wall. I'm reminded of them and others from my generation.

Response by LTC Ed Ross made Jun 10 at 2015 8:30 PM

LTC Ed Ross — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 20:30:53 -0400

I firmly believe it is myopic to view the Vietnam War as a stand alone event. It must be considered in the broader perspective of the global Cold War in which millions died on both sides in a struggle for freedom and democracy. We unequivocally won that war. We have to ask ourselves what would have happened in the larger war had we not stood on our principles. The tragedy of the Vietnam War was the strategic and tactical blunders we made in expecting the war--war of attrition, incrementalism, failure to seek victory. We're making these mistakes all over again.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2015 9:04 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 21:04:34 -0400

They shall sacrifice so you shall live! These American lives where not wasted. Defending an idea is not wrong. Was there mistakes, that could be debated my many for years to come. Yes they where let down by many fellow countrymen. And at times from their country.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2015 9:37 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 21:37:07 -0400

Always somber and sad

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Jun 10 at 2015 9:57 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 21:57:29 -0400

It's a photograph. I have yet been to the real thing. The half-size photo etched copy damn near killed me. I can stand in the middle and I know people within 10 feet on each side.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jun 10 at 2015 10:01 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 22:01:36 -0400

Is my brother's name in the background?

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 10 at 2015 10:42 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 22:42:06 -0400

Touching their name on The Wall is like touching their grave stone.

I also love some of the history of The Wall. A US born Yale undergrad, Maya Ying Lin, was the design winner. Her parents emigrated from China to our land of opportunity.

Names make it more personal insofar as being able to relate to the cost of war.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 11 at 2015 12:09 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 00:09:59 -0400

Those men and women are American heroes. Not people like Caitlyn Jenner!

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Jun 11 at 2015 12:31 AM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 00:31:23 -0400

pride, sadness and a sense that it is something greater than I am.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 11 at 2015 1:41 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 01:41:36 -0400

When this was first built I had no desire to see it. I thought the black slit trench was a cheap way for liberals to buy a clear conscience for having treated us the way they did when we came home, and I wanted no part of that.

Then, by happenstance, I came across the "Traveling Wall" when it was set up in a national park here in Kentucky.

I could not believe the emotion that it stirred up. There was a tent with active duty service members with the rosters of the names, and they would tell you where to find each name.

I was unable to speak, but my wife asked for the locations of those I knew, and touching the names was a powerful experience.

I hadn't known that the names were all in order of their deaths, and I was struck with the way they tapered in from the first and then out to the last. I couldn't imagine what the families of the first and the last must have felt.

It was one of the most powerful things I have experienced, and I’m glad I was able to see it before I checked out.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2015 1:43 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 01:43:00 -0400

When I finally visited The Wall in 1997, my one overriding thought was what a waste. I knew names on The Wall, but the sheer volume was overwhelming. We could have done more, and we certainly could have changed the war's outcome by 180 degrees IF politics and politicians had not been involved. it saddens me that we sacrificed so many for nothing...

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Jun 11 at 2015 2:09 AM

SPC Charles Brown — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 02:09:50 -0400

I chose the Wasted lives, but I believe that all of these apply equally to what I feel when I see this or any picture of The Wall.

Response by CW3 Craig Linghor made Jun 11 at 2015 3:22 AM

CW3 Craig Linghor — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 03:22:37 -0400

Loss

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2015 10:19 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 10:19:45 -0400

American Pride, yes. But more pride in my fallen Brothers, and pride in what I do. I am a soldier. First and foremost. And the names of those brave men that came before me only reinforce my belief in what I do.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Jun 11 at 2015 12:45 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 12:45:23 -0400

Images like this can cause a person to reflect....lots of possible deeper meanings can be imbedded in something like this....and mean many different things to many different people. I had not seen this one before.... like it, but not as well as a couple others I have seen.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2015 2:12 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 14:12:26 -0400

How about REGRET.

The soldiers that died for freedom sure didn't get the proper RESPECT they should have. And the soldiers that returned alive didn't get the proper reaction when they got home. I would hope that there are a lot of people who regret how they acted back then.

If you have no feelings regarding this pic, then you are numb from the heart up!