WZW Blog

I have been there more than once and I get chills each and ever time.

Maj Kim Patterson - We love and respect the Vietnam casualty wall!!! I use that beautiful memorial wall in some of my video creations!!! It has tremendous meaning for all Vietnam Era Veterans!!! Thank you for sharing!!!

I was originally disappointed by descriptions of the memorial and avoided going to see it. Finally, in 1988 I was on temporary duty at HQMC and I awoke at 0200 with the thought that it was time. I left the hotel in Crystal City and drove to the memorial. I approached from the south and when it came in sight had to stop and just absorb the sight. I walked first to the panels for the 67-68 timeframe and soon found the names of Marines I had shared my enlisted training with, two high school classmates, and then those who I had trained with as an officer. I then stepped further to read the names of the friends and squadron mates who had been in VN with me. I leaned against the wall and cried for several minutes, but left with a different feeling than when I came home in 1970. I've been back several times since that night and I can only say that I never leave feeling the same as when I arrive. My wife learned the first time we were there together that it's a time I'm alone with all those men, and as much as she is a part of my life, she doesn't fit the moment and gives me my space.