Mecklenburg County Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Charlotte
The memorial is a 270-foot long wall, made of 187 granite panels, that starts at ground level and gently rises to a height of seven feet following the slope of the land. The wall, in the form of an arch with inclined sides, is placed among huge oak trees, landscaping and benches. Thirty-eight of the panels have inscriptions that include a timeline of the Vietnam War from 1959 to 1975. Moving from left to right one sees the historical narrative of the war along with the US president serving at the time, a map of Southeast Asia, and excerpts of poems written by a local Vietnam veteran. The names of 105 Mecklenburg County servicemen who died in Vietnam are listed on panels dated from 1965 to 1972, in order of date of death. The memorial wall and American flag are illuminated at night.
Panel 1: MECKLENBURG COUNTY / VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL / DEDICATED NOVEMBER 11, 1989
Panel 2: IN HONOR OF THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO / SERVED AND TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES / IN VIETNAM. FROM THE PEOPLE OF / MECKLENBURG COUNTY
Panel 3: WITH THIS WE REFLECT ON THE PAST, SHARE / WITH THE PRESENT, AND EDUCATE OURSELVES / FOR THE FUTURE.
Panel 4: 1959 / PRESIDENT EISENHOWER LINKS AMERICAN’S OWN / NATIONAL INTEREST TO THE SURVIVAL OF A NON- / COMMUNIST REGIME IN SOUTH VIETNAM. / CIVILIAN AND MILITARY ADVISORS ARRIVE IN / VIETNAM TO TRAIN SOUTH VIETNAM FORCES. / TWO AMERICAN ADVISORS KILLED IN SURPRISE / ATTACK AT MILITARY COMPOUND NEAR BIEN-HOA. / NORTH VIETNAM PREMIER PHAM VAN DONG / VOWS “WE WILL DRIVE THE AMERICANS INTO THE / SEA.
*_PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER_
Panel 5: 1960 / 685 ADVISORS IN VIETNAM, TWICE AS MANY / AS 1959. JOHN F. KENNEDY ELECTED / PRESIDENT. SOUTH VIETNAMESE ATTEMPT / MILITARY COUP TO OUST PRESIDENT NGO / DINH DIEM. HANOI FORMS NATIONAL / LIBERATION FRONT, LATER CALLED VIETCONG. / V.C., U.S. FORCES INCREASE TO 900 BY YEAR’S / END.
_PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER_*
Panel 6: 1961 / PRESIDENT KENNEDY WARNED THAT LAOS IS / KEY TO SOUTHEAST ASIA. U.S. TASK FORCE / SENT TO GULF OF SIAM. DIEM GOVERNMENT / ASKS U.S. AMBASSADOR NOLTING FOR U.S. / COMBAT TROOPS. JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF / ESTIMATE 40,000 COMBAT TROOPS COULD / ELIMINATE VIETCONG THREAT. FIRST / HELICOPTER UNITS ARRIVE. SPECIAL / FORCES UNITS START PROVIDING / ASSISTANCE. FIRST MECKLENBURG COUNTY / RESIDENT KILLED WAS CHARLES H. MATEER / DOWNED WHILE FLYING A HELICOPTER OVER / LAOS. U.S. TROOPS AUTHORIZED TO RETURN / ENEMY FIRE. U.S. FORCES TOTAL 3,200.
*_PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY_
Panel 7: 1962 / U.S AIR FORCE CONDUCTS DEFOLIATION / ACTIVITIES. CALLED OPERATION RANCH HAND / FIRST MARINE HELICOPTER UNITS ARRIVE. / PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN SAIGON BOMBED BY / INSURGENT VIETNAMESE. 3,000 MARINES / LAND IN THAILAND. SENATE MAJORITY / LEADER MIKE MANSFIELD BECOMES THE FIRST / ELECTED U.S. OFFICIAL WHO REFUSES TO / MAKE OPTIMISTIC STATEMENT ABOUT U.S. / INVOLVEMENT IN VIETNAM. SECRETARY OF / DEFENSE ROBERT MCNAMARA ORDERS PLANNING / OF WITHDRAWAL OF U.S. TROOPS FROM / VIETNAM. CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS OCCURS. / U.S. FORCES TOTAL 12,000.
___PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY___
Panel 8: 1963 / VIETCONG DEFEAT SOUTH VIETNAMESE FORCES / AT BATTLE OF AP BAC. BUDDHIST MONK / BURNS SELF TO DEATH IN PROTEST OF DIEM / GOVERNMENT. HENRY CABOT LODGE / APPOINTED NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO VIETNAM. / PRESIDENT DEGAULLE OF FRANCE PROPOSES / NORTH AND SOUTH VIETNAM UNITE INTO / NEUTRAL STATE. PRESIDENT JOHN. F. KENNEDY / REBUFFS PROPOSAL UNTIL VIETCONG MENACE / ELIMINATED. DIEM SLAIN IN MILITARY COUP. / U.S. ANNOUNCES 1,000 TROOPS TO BE / WITHDRAWN. PRESIDENT KENNEDY / ASSASSINATED. / LYNDON JOHNSON BECOMES PRESIDENT.
___PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY___*
Panel 9: 1964 / GENERAL WILLIAM WESTMORELAND BECOMES / COMMANDER OF ALL U.S. TROOPS IN VIETNAM. / U.S. NAVY SHIP SUNK IN SAIGON HARBOR. / NORTH VIETNAMESE ATTACK U.S. DESTROYER IN / GULF OF TONKIN. PRESIDENT JOHNSON ORDERS / FIRST RETALIATORY AIR STRIKES AGAINST NORTH / VIETNAM. CONGRESS PASSES GULF OF TONKIN / RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT TO TAKE / NECESSARY STEPS TO “MAINTAIN
PEACE.” SOUTH / KOREA SENDS TROOPS TO VIETNAM. FIRST U.S. / WOMEN ADVISORS ARRIVE. AUSTRALIAN AND NEW / ZEALAND TROOPS ARRIVE. 23,000 U.S. TROOPS IN / VIETNAM.
*___PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON___
Panel 10: 1965 / ENEMY FORCES ATTACK U.S. BASE NEAR PLEIKU. / U.S. BEGINS OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER. / CONTINUOUS BOMBING OF NORTH VIETNAM. / PRESIDENT JOHNSON’S PROPOSED PEACE TALKS / WITH PRESIDENT HO CHI MINH REJECTED BY / NORTH VIETNAM. FIRST NORTH VIETNAMESE / ARMY (NVA) REGIMENT CONFIRMED IN KONTUM / PROVINCE. SOVIET UNION CONSTRUCTS SURFACE- / TO-AIR MISSILE (SAM) SITES AROUND HANOI. / FIRST MAJOR COMBAT OFFENSIVE BY U.S., / AUSTRALIAN AND VIETNAMESE OCCURS IN CENTRAL / HIGHLANDS. GENERAL WESTMORLAND’S REQUEST / FOR 44 MORE COMBAT BATTALIONS APPROVED.
___PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON___
Panel 11: 1965 / SAM MISSILES ATTACK U.S. AIRCRAFT NEAR / HANOI. VIETCONG ATTACK U.S INSTALLATIONS AT / DA NANG AND CHU LAI DESTROYING 40 AIRCRAFT. / WHILE ADDRESSING THE UNITED NATIONS POPE / PAUL VI PLEADS FOR PEACE IN VIETNAM. TWO / PRISONERS OF WAR RELEASED BY VIETCONG. U.S. / DEFEATS NORTH VIETNAMESE UNITS IN IA DRANG / VALLEY. PRESIDENT JOHNSON SUSPENDS / OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER ON CHRISTMAS / DAY IN HOPES OF PEACE. U.S. PURSUES ENEMY / FORCES INTO CAMBODIA FOR FIRST TIME. 200,000 / U.S. TROOPS IN VIETNAM.
___PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON___
Panel 12: 1966 / OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER RESUMES. LARGEST / SEARCH AND DESTROY OPERATION OF THE YEAR / TAKES PLACE IN BINH DINH PROVINCE. / PRESIDENT JOHNSON REJECTS U.S. SENATE’S CALL / FOR DIRECT PEACE TALKS WITH NORTH VIETNAM. / MAJOR
ESCALATION OF THE AIR WAR OVER NORTH / VIETNAM WITH B-52’S BOMBING FUEL DEPOTS / NEAR HANOI AND HAIPHONG FOR THE FIRST TIME. / FIRST AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT BATTLE OVER NORTH / VIETNAM. U.S DOWNS MIG-21. TWO NVA / REGIMENTS MOVE INTO CENTRAL HIGHLANDS FROM / LAOS.
___PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON___
Panel 13: 1966 / NVA DIVISIONS CROSS DEMILITARIZED ZONE / (DMZ). U.S. AIRCRAFT BOMB ENEMY POSITIONS / IN DMZ AND CAMBODIA. OPERATION ATTLEBORO, / WAR’S BIGGEST BATTLE TO DATE, INVOLVES 20,000 / U.S. TROOPS. PRESIDENT JOHNSON VISITS CAM / RANH BAY. FIRST THAI COMBAT TROOPS ARRIVE. / U.S. NAVY DESTROYS 47 COMMUNIST SUPPLY / BARGES ON THE MEKONG RIVER. MONTHLY / NUMBER OF AIRCRAFT MISSIONS REACH 25,000. / NEW YEAR’S TRUCE BEGINS. 380,000 U.S. / TROOP IN VIETNAM.
___PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON___
Panel 14: 1967 / U.S. TROOPS TAKE UP POSITIONS IN MEKONG / DELTA FOR THE FIRST TIME. NORTH VIETNAM / REFUSES PEACE TALKS UNTIL U.S. HALTS BOMBING. / NVA FORCES SHOOT DOWN 13 HELICOPTERS IN ONE / DAY. OPERATION JUNCTION CITY, THE LARGEST / SEARCH AND DESTROY MISSION TO DATE, TAKES / PLACE NEAR CAMBODIA. U.S. ARTILLERY SHELLS / NVA FORCES IN DMZ. MARINES ENGAGE NVA IN / HEAVY BATTLE NEAR LAOS. NVA FORCES ATTACK / ACROSS DMZ. INTENSE FIGHTING ERUPTS NEAR / DAK TO. NVA FORCES TOTAL 450,000.
___PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON___
Panel 15: 1967 / MAJOR FIGHTING IS NOW OCCURRING THROUGHOUT / VIETNAM. VIETCONG/NVA LAUNCH ROCKET AND / MORTAR ATTACK ON U.S AIR FORCE BASE AT / DANANG. WHITE HOUSE ASKS NORTH VIETNAM / FOR INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS INSPECTION
OF / U.S. PRISONERS OF WAR. GENERAL / WESTMORLAND ORDERS MAJOR FORTIFICATION OF / KHE SANH. 10,000 U.S TROOPS PROTECT / PENTAGON FROM THOUSANDS OF ANTI-WAR / PROTESTERS. HANOI APPEALS TO ALL GOVERNMENTS / TO HELP STOP U.S. BOMBING OF NORTH VIETNAM. / BATTLE OF DAK TO ENDS WITH CAPTURE OF “HILL / 875” ON THANKSGIVING DAY. U.S. TROOPS ATTACK / NVA POSITIONS IN THE DMZ TO BREAK UP / WINTER/SPRING OFFENSIVES. U.S. TROOPS STRENGTH CLOSE TO 500,000.
___PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON___
Panel 16: 1968 / VIETCONG OVERRUN U.S. AIRFIELD AT KONTUM. / 77 DAY SIEGE OF KE SANH BEGINS. NVA/VC / LAUNCH TET OFFENSIVE ATTACKING ALL MAJOR / CITIES THROUGHOUT SOUTH VIETNAM. VIETCONG / BREACH WALLS OF U.S. EMBASSY IN SAIGON. / HANOI WANTS REENACTMENT OF DIEN BIEN PHU / AT KHE SANH. PRESIDENT JOHNSON GIVES THE / ORDER TO DEFEND AT ALL COSTS. U.S. FORCES / RECAPTURE HUE AFTER A SAVAGE HOUSE-TO-HOUSE / FIGHTING. NVA USE TANKS FOR FIRST TIME IN WAR. / NVA ARE SIGHTED IN MEKONG DELTA FOR THE / FIRST TIME. GENERAL WESTMORELAND BECOMES / CHIEF OF STAFF. GENERAL CREIGHTON ABRAMS / ASSUMES COMMAND OF U.S. FORCES IN VIETNAM. / REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING ASSASSINATED.
___PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON___
Panel 17: 1968 / SIEGE OF KHE SANH ENDS. NVA/VC SUFFER / MAJOR DEFEAT IN LARGEST OPERATION OF WAR / INVOLVING 42 U.S. AND 37 VIETNAMESE / BATTALIONS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. UNITED / STATES AND NORTH VIETNAM SELECT PARIS, / FRANCE AS SITE OF PEACE TALKS. XUAN THUY AND / AVERILL HARRIMAN HEAD DELEGATIONS FOR BOTH / COUNTRIES. SENATOR ROBERT KENNEDY / ASSASSINATED. COMMUNIST OFFENSIVE BEGINS / WITH SHELLING OF 119 CITIES AND TOWNS. LE DUC / THO JOINS FIRST ROUNDS OF PARIS PEACE TALKS. / PRESIDENT JOHNSON ANNOUNCES HE WILL NOT / SEEK REELECTION.
___PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON___
Panel 18: 1968 / U.S. BOMBS MISSILE SITES IN NORTH VIETNAM. / HO CHI MINH WANTS THE WAR ESCALATED. ALLIED / FORCES BEGIN SWEEP IN ASHUA VALLEY. HEAVY / FIGHTING ERUPTS IN MEKONG DELTA. RICHARD / NIXON PLEDGES TO BRING HONORABLE END TO / WAR IF ELECTED PRESIDENT. ANTI-WAR RIOTS / OCCUR DURING DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN / CHICAGO. PRESIDENT JOHNSON HALTS ALL BOMBING / OVER NORTH VIETNAM. UNITED NATIONS / SECRETARY GENERAL U THANT, ADDRESSING THE / GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NEW YORK, STATES, “LET / THE VIETNAMESE RESOLVE THE WAR THEMSELVES.” / U.S. WANTS TO ATTACK INTO LAOS AND CAMBODIA / TO BREAK UP HEAVY NVA/VC BUILD-UP. / BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY ARRIVES ON STATION AND / SHELLS ENEMY POSITIONS IN THE DMZ.
___PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON___
Panel 19: 1968 / RICHARD NIXON ELECTED PRESIDENT. SOUTH / VIETNAM JOINS PARIS PEACE TALKS. 35,000 / ENEMY TROOPS ARE TARGETED BY B-52’S IN TAY / NINH PROVINCE NEAR CAMBODIA. NVA TROOPS / FIRE ON U.S. POSITIONS FROM WITHIN DMZ. / U.S. MISSION IN SAIGON STATES THAT 73% OF / SOUTH VIETNAM IS RELATIVELY SECURE. PHOENIX / PROGRAM CITED AS ONE REASON. U.S. TROOP STRENGTH AT 540,000
___PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON___*
Panel 20: 1969 / HENRY CABOT LODGE APPOINTED NEW CHIEF / U.S. NEGOTIATOR AT PARIS PEACE TALKS. / VIETCONG REPRESENTATIVE JOINS PARIS PEACE TALKS. / PRESIDENT THIEU OF SOUTH VIETNAM WANTS / U.S. TROOPS WITHDRAWN. CHICAGO SEVEN TRIED / FOR ANTI-WAR RIOTING. PRESIDENT NIXON / PROPOSE SIMULTANEOUS WITHDRAWAL OF U.S. / AND NORTH VIETNAM TROOPS. BATTLE OF / HAMBURGER HILL TAKES PLACE IN ASHUA VALLEY. / PRESIDENT NIXON INSISTS ON NORTH VIETNAM / TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM LAOS AND
CAMBODIA /AS PART OF AGREEMENT FOR TROOP REDUCTION. / VIETCONG PRESENT 10-POINT PEACE PLAN FOR / OVERALL SOLUTION TO THE WAR.
*___PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON___
Panel 21: 1969 / PRESIDENT NIXON PLEDGES 35,000 TROOP / WITHDRAWAL BY DECEMBER. BATTLE FOR BEN / HET IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS LASTS FOR 8 / WEEKS. PRESIDENT NIXON VISITS VIETNAM. / BREAKING AN 8 WEEK LULL, NVA/VC ATTACK 100 / CITIES WITH MORTARS, ROCKETS AND INFANTRY. / HO CHI MINH DIES. PHILIPPINE FORCES / WITHDRAW FROM VIETNAM. U.S. INCREASES / RAIDS INTO CAMBODIA. THAILAND WITHDRAWS / 12,000 TROOPS FROM VIETNAM. VIETCONG / PROCLAIM 3 DAY NEW YEAR’S TRUCE. U.S. / REQUESTS STATUS OF 1,406 U.S. SERVICEMEN / MISSING IN ACTION AT PARIS PEACE TALKS. U.S. / TROOP STRENGTH AT 479,000.
___PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON___
Panel 22: 1970 / NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HENRY KISSINGER / AND LE DOC THO BEGIN SECRET PEACE TALKS. / NVA VIOLATE CEASE FIRE AGREEMENT AT DMZ. / GOVERNMENT OF CAMBODIA OVERTHROWN BY / LON NOL. PRESIDENT NIXON ORDERS 150,000 / TROOP REDUCTION BY SPRING. AMERICAN AND / SOUTH VIETNAMESE FORCES INVADE NVA/VC / SANCTUARIES IN CAMBODIA. FOUR ANTI-WAR / PROTESTERS KILLED BY NATIONAL GUARD AT KENT / STATE UNIVERSITY. U.S. NAVAL FLOTILLA ENTERS / CAMBODIA ON THE MEKONG RIVER. FORMER / CAMBODIAN LEADER NORODOM SIHANOUK IN / HANOI PLEDGES CAMBODIANS WITH VIETNAMESE / COMMUNISTS WILL FIGHT TO DEFEAT U.S. / “IMPERIALISTS.” GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION / REPEALED.
___PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON___
Panel 23: 1970 / AMBASSADOR DAVID BRUCE HEADS UP U.S. / NEGOTIATING TEAM IN PARIS. LAST MAJOR / OPERATION INVOLVING U.S. TROOPS BEGINS CODE / NAMED JEFFERSON GLEN. SOUTH VIETNAMESE / AIR FORCE STARTS TAKING OVER RESPONSIBILITY / FOR U.S AIR BASES IN VIETNAM. U.S./SVN / TROOPS WITHDRAW FROM CAMBODIA. VIETCONG / TERRORISM IS GROWING THROUGHOUT SOUTH / VIETNAM. U.S. FORCES RAID SON TAY PRISONER / OF WAR CAMP IN NORTH VIETNAM IN HOPE OF / FREEING POWS. WAR ESCALATES IN U MINH / FOREST. AMERICA’S ROLE IN THE WAR DECREASING / AS U.S. TROOP STRENGTH DROPS TO 280,000.
___PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON___
Panel 24: 1971 / CONGRESS FORBIDS AMERICAN GROUND TROOPS FROM / GOING INTO LAOS OR CAMBODIA. ONE- / HUNDREDTH SESSION OF PARIS PEACE TALKS / CONCLUDES WITHOUT ANY SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS. / PRESIDENT NIXON REPORTS THAT / “VIETNAMIZATION” HAS SUCCEEDED. NEW YORK / TIMES STARTS PUBLISHING THE PENTAGON / PAPERS. WILLIAM PORTER APPOINTED NEW CHIEF / U.S. NEGOTIATOR IN PARIS. NVA FORCES / INCREASE ATTACKS IN THE SOUTH. HEAVY U.S. / AIR STRIKES CONTINUE IN LAOS, CAMBODIA AND / NORTH VIETNAM. PARIS PEACE TALKS ENTER 4TH / YEAR. U.S. TROOP STRENGTH DOWN TO 159,000.
___PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON___
Panel 25: 1972 / NORTH VIETNAM LAUNCHES NEW OFFENSIVE ACROSS / DMZ. PRESIDENT NIXON AUTHORIZES BOMBING / OF HANOI AND HAIPHONG. U.S. NAVY BEGINS / MINING OF HAIPHONG HARBOR. GENERAL / FREDRICK C. WEYLAND REPLACES GENERAL / ABRAMS AS COMMANDER OF U.S. FORCES. LE DOC / THO AND HENRY KISSINGER STATE PEACE IS AT / HAND. HANOI RELEASES THREE PRISONERS OF WAR. / LAST U.S GROUND FORCES LEAVE SOUTH VIETNAM. / U.S. AIRCRAFT CONTINUE HEAVY BOMBING IN / NORTH VIETNAM. COMMUNISTS AGREE TO RESUME / TALKS WHEN BOMBING STOPS. INTERNATIONAL / PROTESTING OF BOMBING CONTINUES. PEACE TALKS / BREAK DOWN. PRESIDENT NIXON
ORDERS MORE / BOMBING OF THE NORTH. 14 B-52’S LOST IN ONE / WEEK. U.S TROOP STRENGTH DOWN TO 24,000.
___PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON___
Panel 26: 1973 / CEASE FIRE AGREEMENT FORMALLY SIGNED IN PARIS / ON JANUARY 23. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MELVIN / LAIRD STATES THE MILITARY DRAFT HAS ENDED. / GRAHAM MARTIN NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO / VIETNAM. NORTH VIETNAM GOVERNMENT BEGINS / THE RELEASE OF 587 U.S PRISONERS OF WAR. THE / LAST U.S. BOMBING MISSION ENDS AFTER 12 YEARS. / CONGRESS OVERRIDES PRESIDENT NIXON’S VETO OF / WAR POWERS ACT. U.S NAVAL FORCES CLEAR / HAIPHONG HARBOR OF MINES. CANADA ENDS / PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS AND IS REPLACED BY IRAN. VIETCONG GIVE ORDER TO FIGHT THE SAIGON / GOVERNMENT. THE U.S IS NOW OUT OF THE WAR.
___PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON___*
Panel 27: 1974 / PRESIDENT THIEU DECLARES WAR HAS BEGUN AGAIN. / NORTH VIETNAM PLANNING GENERAL OFFENSIVE TO / RECAPTURE THE SOUTH. NVA CAPTURE ALL TERRITORY / IN THE MEKONG DELTA. COMMUNISTS FORCES / CAPTURE TOWNS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH. SOUTH / VIETNAM GOVERNMENT ASKS FOR U.S. ASSISTANCE. / NORTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS FLOODING ACROSS THE DMZ. / WATERGATE SCANDAL FORCES PRESIDENT NIXON TO / RESIGN. GERALD FORD BECOMES NEW PRESIDENT. / U.S. GOVERNMENT CONCLUDES THAT THE SAIGON / GOVERNMENT IS DOOMED. HANOI RECEIVES MORE / AID FROM SOVIET UNION. LE DOC THO PRESSES U.S. / FOR MONEY FOR WAR WOUNDS. U.S WARNS NORTH / VIETNAM ABOUT THEIR VIOLATIONS OF PEACE / AGREEMENT. SOUTH VIETNAM SUFFERS HIGHEST WAR / CASUALTIES OF ANY YEAR.
*___PRESIDENT GERALD R. FORD___
Panel 28: 1974 / COMMUNISTS INVADE SOUTH VIETNAM ON ALL / FRONTS. PRESIDENT THIEU ORDERS COMMANDERS TO / ABANDON ALL AREAS IN THE NORTH. HANOI ORDERS / PUSH TO SAIGON IN THE HO CHI MINH CAMPAIGN. / PRESIDENT FORD CALLS THE WAR FINISHED. PRESIDENT / THIEU LEAVES VIETNAM SUCCEEDED BY GENERAL / MINH. PRESIDENT FORD ORDERS OPERATION / FREQUENT WIND, THE FINAL EVACUATION OF ALL U.S / PERSONAL FROM VIETNAM. APRIL 29 U.S. / AMBASSADOR MARTIN LEAVES. APRIL 30 GENERAL / MINH SURRENDERS THE SOUTH TO COLONEL BUI / TIN. GENERAL MINH STATES “YOU HAVE NOTHING TO / FEAR. BETWEEN VIETNAMESE THERE ARE NO VICTORS / AND NO VANQUISHED. THE WAR IS OVER FOR OUR / COUNTRY.” MORE THAN 58,000 AMERICAN MEN / AND WOMEN DIED IN THE LONGEST WAR OUR NATION / HAS FOUGHT.
___PRESIDENT GERALD R. FORD___
Panel 29: 1965 / IN MEMORY OF THE SERVICEMEN FROM / MECKLENBURG COUNTY WHO GAVE THEIR / LIVES DURING THE VIETNAM WAR
THOMAS EDWARD MCMAHAN JR / HARRY WILLIAM LOVE JR / EDWARD DEAN BROWN JR / TROY MILLER THOMPSON JR / REGINALD ALVIN WATKINS
Panel 30: 1966 / RUSSELL WILFORD KISTLER / JAMES BAKER WOOD III / GERRALD AUNDRE STANSELL / FREDDIE WALLACE GREEN / JOHNSON FRANCIS FRANK / LOOMIS OGLESBY III / ROBERT LEWIS DIAL / LARRY EDWARD GRANFORD / RICHARD S. HOWIE / CHARLES ROGER FLEMING / RONALD MARTIN SUTTON / CHARLES MICHAEL MARTIN / WILLIAM ALLEN JOHNSON / NATHANIEL BROWN / JOHN MAYO / WALTER HOLT JONES II
Panel 31: 1967 / RAYMOND SAMUEL ORR / EDWARD HARDING BALLARD / ROBERT HAROLD PETTIT / ROYD STEVE KERLY JR / JOHN DUDLEY WILEY / RONALD EDWARD NILES / MICHAEL RAY SMITH / WHILTON ANTHONY MCCARTHY / BICKETT ORLANDO WADE JR / DOUGLAS LLOYD / RANDY ALTON HARRILL / HARRY ALLEN KELLY / BARRON ALLEN FRAZIER / EMERY CAPERS
SULLIVAN III / ARCHIE MONROE CARLYLE / CHARLES J. HUNEYCUTT JR / DARYL LEE DAVIS / CLARENCE WALTER SCOTT / BENNIE ALSTON / JAMES RANDALL WILLIAMS
Panel 32: 1968 / FRED MELVIN WRENN / TED WILLIS EDWARDS / HOWARD DUNCAN BENNETT / MICHAEL STEPHEN LANE / WILLIAM WILSON NORMAN / ROBERT EDWARD CALDWELL / EDWARD LEE HOOVER / DONALD RAY CHAMBLIN JR / BILLY DON KENNINGTON / DAVID CULP JR / JOHN LEE COLEMAN / RONALD DEVONE GRIFFIN / ARTHUR LAVELLE DAVIS / CHARLES RUSSELL MENTON JR / WILLIAM JOSHUA MOSES / JOHN WESTLY BOWDEN / STEPHEN ARCHIE WALKER
Panel 33: 1968 / RALPH MILTON HAVNAER / ROBERT JAMES ROSS / DONALD MICHAEL FURR / WILLIAM GLENN BREWER / WILLIAM SAMUEL IRBY / TERRY ALAN HODGES / LEWIS NANCE / MARSHALL EUGENE CALLAHAN / MARVIN VINCENT BELL / JAMES MACK LAWING / GEORGE MICHAEL PRICE / WOODROW WILSON BRADLEY JR / DAVID ALLEN KNOX / DONALD LARRY KEETER / WARREN GEORGE HAUGEN JR / BILLY CHARLES HUNTER / DWIGHT CUTLER SARJEANT / AARON ANDRE BARNES JR
Panel 34: 1969 / ERIC STUART GOLD / JOHNNY SAMUEL HOLT / ROBERT MERRILL CAMPBELL / GEORGE LEWIS DAVIS JR / JOHN MARVIN GREENE / WILEY BARRY MOSS / DAVID BRENNAN SCHACHNER / KEITH NEWTON STARNES JR / GARRY MCCOLLOUGH / WILLIAM DAVID HEGWOOD / ABBIE EUGENE LEAZER / JACK CRAVEN JOHNSTON JR / FRED ANDREW GRIFFIN JR / GLEN RICHARD COOK
Panel 35: 1970 / CHARLES RANDOLPH WILLARD JR / WILLIAM HENRY SMITH JR / ROBERT LANE FALLOWS / SIDNEY E PLATTENBURGER / PAUL WAYNE ANTHONY / WILSON LEWIS WEBB JR / ANSEL WENDELL MORSE
Panel 36: 1971 / STEPHEN LEE WHISENANT / ROBERT MARSHALL GRIBBLE / JOHNNY SAXON / MARION TRACY GRIFFIN / WILLIAM CARROLL HINES / OSCAR BURDETT WILLIAMS
1972 / RICHARD BRYAN LINEBERRY
Panel 37: SO MANY YEARS HAVE PASSED / BUT STILL I REMEMBER / THAT DISTANT PLACE…HOT, SUNWASHED, VERDANT… / MEMORIES SWARM, HORDES / OF THEM, CROWING, TANGLING… / MONSOONS, DAMP WINDS, DRONING / EARTHSHAKING RAIN, MUD AND ROT… / ARTILLERY THUNDERING, MINIGUNS / BELCHING, SPEWING, STREAKING THE NIGHT / WITH TRACERS… / HELICOPTERS CLATTERING OVERHEAD, CONVOYS / RUMBLING BY, TROOPS MOVING ABOUT… / AND THE LUSH GREEN COUNTRYSIDE, / THATCH-ROOFED HUTS, SHADOWED DOORWAYS / FRAMING NARROW DARKEYED FACES, HAUNTING / FACES THAT LINGER IN DREAMS… / YES. I REMEMBER / VIVIDLY, THE INTENSITY, THE FEAR, / THE HORROR, THE STRANGENESS, THE FASCINATION
Panel 38: ENDURE, NEVER RELENTING, ALWAYS REMINDING, / RECALLING THAT MOMENTOUS YEAR… / I CANNOT CEASE REMEMBERING / LONG HEAT-BLURRED DAYS / AND HUGE STAR FILLED NIGHTS / LOVELY JUNGLE-THICK DISTANCES / HIDEOUS WITH DANGER / RECOLLECTIONS CONTINUOUSLY SURFACE / HIGH, WHITE SUN / QUIET, ANCIENT VILLAGES / WIDE, GREEN PATTERNS / OF PADDIES AND DIKES / AND WEAPONRY REVERBERATING / RATTLING, RAGING / ALWAYS I’LL REMEMBER /
FROM THE POEMS “VIETNAM” AND “INDOCHINA” / BY LOCHLIN WALKER, VIETNAM VETERAN AND / MECKLENBURG COUNTY RESIDENT / BORN AUGUST 4, 1943 / DIED OCTOBER 1, 1987
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
November 11, 1989
35.216740 , -80.833770
View in Geobrowse
"Mecklenburg County:Vietnam War Casualties, Indexing by Ron Yates, 2011," NCGenWeb/USGenWeb Project, ncgenweb.us, (accessed January 25, 2017) Link
Loveluck, Katie Evans. “I cannot cease remembering: A look at the Mecklenburg County Vietnam Veterans Memorial,” CharlotteAgenda.com, (accessed January 15, 2017) Link
Perlmutt, David. “Vietnam Veterans Memorial ‘Still a Special, Powerful Place’ After 25 Years,” The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, NC), November 11, 2014, (accessed January 15, 2017) Link
“Mecklenburg County Vietnam Veterans Memorial,” charlottevietnammemorial.org, (accessed January 15, 2017) Link
Yes
Granite panels from Elberton, Georgia attached to concrete
The Mecklenburg County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee
$356,000
The memorial was unveiled by Vietnam veterans and project supporters with hundreds in attendance. Music was supplied by the Charlotte Oratorio Singers along with instrumental selections and bagpipe players. Local officials, veterans and family members of some men listed on the memorial made comments. Also in attendance was General William C. Westmoreland, commander of American forces in Vietnam from 1964 to 1968.
Workers broke ground for the memorial on Memorial Day 1989 and during the five months of construction workers would find burned candles along the walkway and flags stuck in the ground or joints of the granite panels. Weeping mothers were said to work their way through the construction site to see their son’s name.
The memorial is located at Thompson Park, 1129 East 3rd Street in Charlotte, NC.
The park is a 3-acre green space with lawns and shade trees and a gazebo.
Veterans Day services are held each year at the memorial.
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