Holabird Advocate

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Saturday, November 11, 2006

Happy Veteran's Day
Holabird Advocate Salutes The Vietnam Veteran
South Dakota gave their proper respect during our hiatus. All of us here at the Holabird Advocate wish to do the same at this time. Better late than never! Emotions about the Vietnam era in our national history, and our state's history, still run high after all this time. It was a time when future presidents would join the National Guard or go to England to smoke dope to avoid going to Southeast Asia. Of course, the national guard was needed here because those who didn't hot foot it to Canada were rioting in protest of the war. That is all behind us now. Now it is a time for healing. Mistakes were made on both sides.
The Tomb Is Empty
by Jerry Hinkle
Holabird Advocate Publisher
During my 3 week involuntary exile from the internet, there was an event in South Dakota that effected me deeply, The Vietnam War Memorial. I'd be lying if I said I remembered anything about that era in our nations history. Like the hippies, I don't remember the 60s. Of course I was just a baby back then, but I digress. Still history has taught us plenty.
The tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery has a grave for one soldier from every war in the early 20th century. Both World Wars, Korea and Vietnam. I remember seeing on the TV news a report that the family of the soldier who occupied the Vietnam grave was fighting the government for custody of their loved ones remains. Through DNA analysis, they found out that this soldier was indeed who they claimed. Since he was no longer unknown, they claimed he did not belong there. I thought at the time about the progress we've made. Every dead soldier had a name. I thought that should be comforting in a way.

It was at the dedication of South Dakota's Vietnam War Memorial that I discovered some 88,000 American soldiers were Missing In Action (MIA). Isn't that something else? We have the technology to figure out the identity of the dead, but we can't find the missing. In a way it's fitting our Unknown Soldier from Vietnam is MIA as well. That empty grave should remind us of the empty bed at home, the empty chair at the dinner table, or the empty place in a mother's heart for the boy who left home, and the man who disappeared in the jungle. For the husband and father who just vanished from the face of the Earth.

People like to compare Gulf War II to Vietnam. I don't see it! We had a few hundred die there, a few thousand maimed there. We still have 88,000 missing from Vietnam. Don't get me wrong, that is still too many, but always remember it could be worse. I hope it doesn't come to that.

One last thought before we go on the musical part of the day's observance. Every one of those 88,000 who are missing will be found. On the day ofJudgment, I believe that another occupant of an empty grave will find each and every one accounted for. I only wish it wouldn't take so long to find them.

South Dakota Songbook

"8th Of November "

by Big and Rich

He Said goodbye to his momma as he left South Dakota

To fight for the red, white and blue

He was 19 and green with a new M-16

Just doing what he had to do

He was dropped in the jungle where the choppers would rumble

With the smell of napalm in the air

And the sergeant said...Look up ahead

Like a dark evil cloud, 1,200 came down on him and 29 more

They fought for their lives but most of them died in the 173rd Airborne