Delegation--monument1

The Upstate Vietnamese-American community and United States veterans of the Vietnam War have worked together for months to develop a concept and a scale model of an appropriate  memorial to honor the American and Vietnamese military personnel who fought side-by-side in an effort to preserve the freedom of the Vietnamese people.

Factual history shows that although the military won the war, a weary United States Government abandoned the effort and the Vietnamese people to fend for themselves against an oppressive Communist regime.

Members of the Vietnamese military and others who worked with Americans along with family members were imprisoned in “reeducation” work camps until they proved their loyalty to the Communist regime or escaped by boat at sea or to an adjoining country. 

Thousands risked their lives to escape and eventually make their way to the United States. Many of those who were successful are now productive American Citizens living in Upstate South Carolina.

They love their new country and will never forget the sacrifices made by members of the United States military in an effort to preserve their freedom.

Through the proposed memorial, the Vietnamese and American veterans of the Vietnam War now living will memorialize their close bond of friendship for future generations.

Mrs. Bang Hall, who with the aid of her heroic United States Marine Corps veteran husband, escaped the Communist Regime, and is now vice president of the Greenville area Vietnamese Community.

Mrs. Hall, accompanied by Disabled American Veteran Chapter Commander Daniel W. Holtel, addressed the Greenville County Legislative Delegation, Monday evening in Greenville.

Commanders of the Vietnam and Korean War Veterans organizations were in the audience along with a number of men who wore the uniform of the Vietnamese Army and are now American Citizens living in Greenville.

Mrs. Hall said the Vietnamese soldiers want to show their appreciation for the sacrifices made by American soldiers “who fought shoulder to shoulder with them and did not receive appreciation when they returned to this country.

“We cannot change what happened when American soldiers came back from Vietnam War, but today we can do something. We would like to build a monument to say thank you to all the people who risked their lives and sacrificed their youth, their blood and their happiness for us.”

Mrs. Hall noted that Greenville Mayor Knox White has endorsed the memorial project. It is supported by all the area veterans organizations. The next step is to acquire a suitable location for the memorial.

 

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