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Truth is coming out about Vietnam War

  • Photo by Photo Contributed by Carl Bludau •
Carl Bludau, right, is a Vietnam veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division.
  • BY CARL BLUDAU
  • Originally published May 14, 2012 at 6:15 p.m., updated May 14, 2012 at 6:15 p.m.

The United States Army, III Corps, at Fort Hood will honor Texas' Vietnam Veterans the week prior to Memorial day weekend. The events are to begin on Monday at the check-in tent for registered veterans, May 21, with Texas' Vietnam Veterans leading a Pass in Review. The ceremony will begin at 1000 hours.

After the Pass in Review, there will be all types of military equipment on display along with the Traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Between 1300 and 1600 hours, the Association of the United States Army will host a barbecue in honor of all veterans.

This event will honor ALL Vietnam Veterans, not just Army Veterans. LTG Don Campbell and Command Sergeant Major Arthur Coleman expressed to Joel Montgomery, who was a helicopter door gunner in 101st Airborne Division; Joe Flores, who served as a rifleman in the 1st Cavalry Division; Joe Pena, who served in the 1st Cavalry Division in the Battle of the I Drang Valley; and myself that the Army realized that so much has been done for the veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan and the nation's wounded, but no one has ever honored the Vietnam Veterans. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime event for us, and, hopefully, you all will attend.

This nation, after more than 40 years, has gradually been educated in some facts about Vietnam Veterans and their war. There have been many publications about the Vietnam War that people should know about. Many of those who served in the Vietnam War have been very successful in life compared to those who never wore the uniform. In Vietnam, the combat soldier - the guys shouldering the rucksacks and rifles and eliminating the enemy - needed between 8 and 13 rear troops to support 1 of them in the jungle. An article in the VFW Magazine a year ago stated that historical facts show that the Vietnam Combat Veteran saw more combat in one year (average of 204 days) than any unit saw in World War II (average of 100 days). History also shows that unlike today, the Texas National Guard never went to Vietnam, as some in this community have been led to believe. As some of us know, the National Guard had a body count of four, with the unarmed Kent State students, zero. Also, in the military, if a person did not serve over 90 days in active service, they are not considered a veteran.

Today, those who did anything and everything to avoid the Vietnam War will never be able to do enough to compensate for not serving actively in our Armed Forces when our country needed them. Vietnam, to the combat soldier, was about duty, honor, country. But most of all, what happened in the jungles of Vietnam was about true manhood, intestinal fortitude, loyalty to one another, and courage. We not only fought for our country, many times we had no choice but to just fight for each other.

The best thing for a Vietnam veteran to do is to reconnect with your old combat unit and you will find that there will be one of your buddies you served with there or someone who knew him. It is consoling to the soul and comforting to know others who have shouldered the same responsibilities that you have.

If anyone needs more information concerning the Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home, Pass Review, please go to www.hood.army.mil. or call me at 361-575-8492. As of now, more than 400 Vietnam Veterans have registered for this event.

Carl Bludau, of Victoria, is a veteran and the founder of the 82nd Airborne Division Wounded Warrior project and a national director for the 82nd Airborne Division association. For 21 years, he has been chairman of the Golden Brigade chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division-Vietnam.