Vietnam War veterans honored at Las Vegas event

Vietnam veterans paved the way for today’s soldiers, guaranteeing when they returned home that they would never again be booed, hissed at or spit upon.

They were called a host of terrible names by the protesters of their time. There were no ticker-tape parades back in the Vietnam War era. The phrase “Support Our Troops” was nowhere to be seen.

There was no distinction between war and the warrior; they were one and the same.

But these veterans are finally getting their recognition. It has been a long time coming — about four decades.

On Saturday, nearly 100 veterans, politicians and citizens turned out at the Gold Coast to honor them for Nevada’s first Vietnam Veterans Day.

Although not yet an official national holiday, the day of recognition was proclaimed by Gov. Brian Sandoval in October . Actually, it’s to be observed on March 29 every year, but Chapter 17 of the Vietnam Veterans of America in Las Vegas decided to hold a party of its own on Saturday so that more people would be able to attend.

Guardsmen posted colors. Speeches were given. Percentages and statistics were cited as evidence of how well the Vietnam veterans have rebounded: 75 percent said they would serve again if they were given the choice and 87 percent of the public now holds these veterans in high regard.

About 97 percent of the veterans were honorably discharged. Of the 2.7 million Americans who served in the war between North Vietnam and South Vietnam, 7,484 of them were women.

“That’s a heck of a number for a combat zone,” said Tom George, a Vietnam veteran and member of the local chapter.

More than 58,000 Americans were shipped home in caskets during the war.

Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., could relate. She said Saturday that she grew up during that era. She had classmates who died in that war. She said she traced her finger along the names of some of them on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., said he hopes that America has learned from its past mistakes of pulling out of Vietnam. He said he also hopes the country takes measures not to repeat the same sort of “mistake” in Afghanistan.

“Two years after we pulled out of Vietnam, we know what happened,” he said to the patriotic crowd. “Saigon fell.”

Saigon, now called Ho Chi Minh City, has long been the rallying cry for anti-communism ever since it was stormed by the communist regime in North Vietnam in April 1975.

Don Leckburg, a Vietnam veteran and member of Chapter 17, said he thought that all the troops from Afghanistan should come home immediately.

“We need to keep an eye on the terrorists, of course,” said the 63-year-old Las Vegas resident. “But we’ve got the drones. We should fly them and let them handle the situation. We don’t need to put boots on the ground over there. I just don’t see a good end to it — just like in Vietnam.

“But we didn’t lose that war. Our government pulled us out.”

Contact reporter Tom Ragan at tragan@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5512.