RESS COLUMBUS — Area Vietnam Veteran’s Chapters gathered on March 29 in Columbus in honor of their service during the Vietnam War. Over 2.7 million Americans served in Vietnam. The average age of those not making it back to “the world” was 23.
March 29 was chosen for the day of honor and remembrance when the last American troop left Vietnam. Former President Donald Trump established the day of observance in 2017.
The U.S. tried to help South Vietnam as it tried to form a more democratic government against the North Vietnamese’s Communist rule.
The conflict started in earnest when a large scale of Americans was deployed in 1961 into the hotbed that began way earlier in the 1950s.
By 1969, more than 500,000 Americans were stationed in Vietnam fighting the Viet Cong.
By 1973, the last U.S. military unit had left Vietnam.
The gathering of veterans from all branches marked the second anniversary of this event in this area.
The El Campo chapter will host next year’s National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
Veterans from VVA Chapters in El Campo, Schulenburg, Hallettsville, Victoria and Columbus attended, which was hosted by the Columbus VVA Chapter.
