Remember Vietnam Veterans as we Honor Service Men and Women

“I am afraid that someday Ron will be forgotten.”

These words, spoken by the widow of Staff Sergeant Ronald “Ron” Sagers, who was killed in action (KIA) in Cambodia in 1970, echo in the hearts and minds of Vietnam veterans and their families across the nation today.

During hostile action, Ron, age 25, received multiple fragmentation wounds while treating and evacuating his men. He was posthumously awarded a Silver Star, a Purple Heart and several other military honors. I knew him as a school mate in the rural town of Maquoketa, Iowa. But, his sacrifice would no doubt have faded from my memory, had he not also been my cousin Ronnie.

All military veterans—those serving today and those who have served in the past— deserve our nation’s heartfelt appreciation. While the memory of WWI veterans lives on in family lore and a few remaining WWII veterans highlight the service men and women of the Greatest Generation, the soldiers who served in other conflicts, such as Korea, are heralded less often. Those veterans who served in conflicts in the Middle East are part of the fabric of our daily lives as our friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members.

Many Vietnam veterans, however, are living out their days with little recognition of the tremendous price they paid in the service of their country. Fighting a long and unpopular war, they were vilified, booed and even spat on when they returned home. In the field, they experienced horrific conditions and witnessed extreme brutality.

On Memorial Day 2012, a presidential proclamation was signed giving Vietnam veterans well-deserved and long overdue recognition. However, thousands of Vietnam vets still battle PTSD, depression, alcohol abuse, domestic problems, homelessness and suicide.

Community colleges have become a resource for Vietnam veterans, providing them with a place to find veterans benefit information, access counseling and workshops and tap into other resources that will improve the quality of their lives. For the past 10 years, Citrus College has earned a place on the national Military Friendly Schools list, which recognizes colleges and universities that have a reputation for helping student veterans succeed.

This year, annual events honoring veterans may be canceled or postponed. So if you encounter a veteran, please take the opportunity to thank them for their service. If that person happens to be a Vietnam veteran, they might be deserving of a special nod of respect this Memorial Day.

About the Author:

Dr. Edward C. Ortell is the senior governing board member at Citrus College and a Professor Emeritus at Pasadena City College. He has served on the California Community College Trustees (CCCT) state board of directors and 11 terms as president of the Citrus College Board of Trustees.