Wall honors Americans who died in Vietnam War

REDLANDS - Reflections of valor and courage, memories of young Americans who never grew old, thoughts of buddies killed in Vietnam, grief for families shattered, lives lost too young.

Visitors who came to Sylvan Park in Redlands on Thursday to see the Moving Wall monument sought out names cut into the 72 aluminum panels that resemble the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

Some left flags, others red poppies. But, mostly, they just came to ponder.

"The sacrifices of the past have made us the country we are," Dan Crow, 51, a fire captain in Redlands, said as he looked at the names of the 58,253 war dead and missing inscribed on the Moving Wall. "We are all diminished by their loss."

Crow said he came to remember Phillip Stafford, a crew member on a U.S. Army helicopter who died when the chopper came under enemy fire. Stafford would be 57 now. Crow had played football with Stafford and the other kids growing up in Monrovia in the 1960s.

"When a guy from two houses down the block dies, that really hits home," Crow said.

Project founder John Devitt, 59, said the Moving Wall resonates with veterans and visitors because the names make it personal. He created the traveling monument after attending the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1982.

"It's not about numbers," said Devitt, who first exhibited the Moving Wall in 1984. "I thought I knew how many troops we lost until I saw the names. It's not about the Vietnam War. It's about service, sacrifice."

By late morning, more than 200 visitors had strolled past the Moving Wall memorial, which is half the size of the one in Washington. Hundreds are expected at a ceremony Saturday highlighted by the appearance of Medal of Honor recipient Jon Cavaiani, who received the nation's highest military honor for his gallantry at Khe Sanh in 1971.

Thousands are expected to see the wall before it comes down Monday for a move to San Jacinto, where it will be on view Thursday through June 10.

Redlands resident Bill Harden served as an adviser to South Vietnamese Rangers, leading the troops on long-range reconnaissance patrols, teaching them to use weapons and making sure they got the supplies to complete their missions. Harden, 69, served in Vietnam in 1968, 1970 and 1971.

He said he saw the Moving Wall during a visit to Southern California several years ago, approached Redlands officials about bringing it to the city and found the response overwhelming.

"This is a time for reflection," said Harden, who served in the Army for 31 years. "People who come here have family members, buddies, pals who on the wall."

Devitt, the project founder, said he was thinking about Steven Babuljak, a platoon leader he served with in the 1st Cavalry Division. Babuljak was killed in action. Devitt served 18 months in Vietnam as a crew chief and door gunner on a Huey helicopter, completing 400 missions from 1967 to 1969.

After the Moving Wall debuted, he received so much interest that he left his job in the building trades to travel full time with the monument. It has been to every state in the United States as well as to Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam and Saipan, Devitt said.

Volunteers from Southern Cal Vets, a group that helps homeless veterans, were among those who helped put up the wall. Ted Alford, 50, who helped evacuate the last Americans from Vietnam in 1975, said he spotted the name of a buddy, Ron Petty, on a panel he helped install. He said he broke down in tears.

"These are the guys you hung out with, got drunk with, went into combat with," Alford said. "You know your friends are on this wall. You're glad you're not. It's part of our history, part of our lives."

The Press Enterprise

Home / Programs / Photo Album / About Us / Board Members / FAQ

Our Homes / Wish List / Donations / News Stories / Contact Us

Search the web with GoodSearch and each time you do a search,
GoodSearch will donate a penny to our cause!

Please contact our Webmaster with questions or comments.
This site powered by YOW! Hosting
© 2007 Southern California Veterans All rights reserved
Home Office 909-747-2791