It is ironic that the 50th anniversary of the first ground troops sent to Vietnam comes one day after the 50th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" in Selma.
It is widely believed that many more African-American men were drafted to fight in 'Nam than whites, who may have had an easier time getting a college deferment and delayed service till after the war was over.*
The U.S. Postal Service is marking the anniversary with a stamp...not in honor of all who served in Vietnam, but only those who won a medal of honor during the war.
And there are other events across the country that you can see HERE.
(Read tomorrow's Monday Morning Media Memo for some comment about Vietnam War protests.)
[Sunday Focus is a regular feature of TimLennox.com.]
It is widely believed that many more African-American men were drafted to fight in 'Nam than whites, who may have had an easier time getting a college deferment and delayed service till after the war was over.*
WASHINGTON — Sun., March 8, marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the ground war in Vietnam with the deployment of 3,500 Marines. By war’s end on April 30, 1975, nearly 3 million service men and women fought in the conflict that would take the lives of more than 58,000 Americans.Of those who served during the Vietnam War, 258 were awarded the Medal of Honor. More than six out of 10 award recipients made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives while performing the courageous acts for which they were later honored. American military advisers had been involved in South Vietnam since the 1950s.The Postal Service will honor these brave Americans by dedicating the Limited Edition Vietnam War Medal of Honor Prestige Folio Forever stamps on Memorial Day, May 25. The 1 p.m. ceremony, hosted by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, and the National Park Service, will take place at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The event is free and open to the public.The Prestige Folio stamp sheet depicting many of the nearly 50 living Vietnam War recipients will be previewed later. The folio, which lists the names of all 258 recipients, will be modeled after the World War II and Korean War Medal of Honor Prestige Folio stamp sheets issued in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
And there are other events across the country that you can see HERE.
(Read tomorrow's Monday Morning Media Memo for some comment about Vietnam War protests.)
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| *I beat the 2 year draft, by joining for 3 years. |
[Sunday Focus is a regular feature of TimLennox.com.]
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