On Monday a well attended ceremony to honor Vietnam veterans was held in the Arch Street Teen Center. About 90 veterans and their families attended and many shared their personal stories.
The event was part of what Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz described as her journey to recognize veterans across the state, which she started when she was Secretary of the State, traveling to 139 towns to hold WWII veteran recognition ceremonies. She continued by honoring Korean War veterans across the state, and now, as Lt Governor, she has so far visited more than 70 towns to honor Vietnam veterans.
First Selectman Fred Camillo noted that more than 550,000 Americans traveled overseas for the Vietnam War and there were over 58,220 American casualties, with 24 from Greenwich.
Dean Gamanos, Ed Vick and Greenwich American Legion Commander Peter LeBeau at the Teen Center. May 15, 2023 Photo: Leslie Yager
“It was a 20 year conflict, and for America it was over a decade,” he said. “We want to remember that unlike most wars, when these patriots came home in 1973, and before that, they weren’t always welcomed. The last five decades we’ve been trying to make up for that.”
“Fifty years ago the last troops in Vietnam were brought home,” Bysiewicz said. “And sadly, when you came home, you were not given the accolades, the celebration and the thanks that the veterans of World War II received. When they came home there were parades, celebrations and dancing in the streets.”
Bysiewicz said because the war itself was unpopular and the country was divided, Vietnam veterans had a very difficult time returning home.
“To make it even more difficult, especially if you served in Vietnam had to endure some conditions that were some of the worse our servicemen and woman ever faced, with pounding monsoon rains, enduring stifling jungle heat, exposure to toxic chemicals like Agent Orange, and very intense urban combat.”
Bysiewicz said it was important to try, even in a small way, try to redress some of the terrible things service men and women endured when they returned from war, including being advised not to wear their uniforms or having to be confronted by protesters at airports.
“Not being treated with the dignity and respect that you earned by serving our country,” she said. “To the person, you have some incredible qualities: you are resilient, very humble – rarely never speaking about your service. After you served in the war and despite how you were treated, you came back to this beautiful community and contributed, whether by serving in a veterans organization, running for office, service the community and volunteering in so many ways to make this town and our great state even better.”
Bysiewicz introduced Joe Danao the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, who said, “The Dept of Veteran Affairs is dedicated to your service. We honor it. We do everything we can for you. Our Veterans Services officers in Fairfield in Milford stand ready.”
State Senator Ryan Fazio (R-36) said, “At best, the Vietnam veterans homecoming was cold amidst the backdrop of a controversial war. The insufficient moral and material support received by our Vietnam veterans must never be repeated in our nation. Opposition to the decisions of elected officials should never be conflated with the dutifulness of our armed service members obeying their oath to our country.”
Fazio said it was urgent to pass along the lessons of history to the next generation.
“If we pass along the knowledge of our past, the sacrifice of these great veterans and the love of the nation that they sacrifice for then we will stand a chance of making our nation more perfect.”
State Rep Meskers (D-150) said, “I’m here today in a heartfelt appreciation for the sacrifice all of you made and to thank you all for your service, and to encourage you to tell your stories because we will listen, some will be touched, and you will have an impact.”
State Rep Rachel Khanna (D-149) said this year marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
She noted that on March 29, 1973 the last combat troops left South Vietnam.
“Many veterans live with the wounds they suffered while serving our nation in a time of conflict. And many families live with the loss of loved ones who never returned from the war,” Khanna said. “As we reflect on this anniversary, we remember the lessons of this war and how it forever changed our nation’s consciousness about war, and our responsibility to those who served.”
“We remember the importance of unity, sacrifice and perseverance in the face of adversity , and remember the bravery and courage of those we pay tribute to today. We also are reminded of the power of peace, and recognize that there is still much work to be done.”
State Rep Hector Arzeno (D-151) said he was of the generation of Vietnam veterans, but was not living in the US.
“Many times, being of your age and your generation, I put myself in your shoes. How would I feel to be in Vietnam fighting and trying to understand what I was fighting for. I did not have an answer. My admiration goes to you for what you did, your service to give to this beautiful nation we have.”
After the elected officials spoke, Lt Governor Bysiewicz invited veterans to share their stories, and many did.
One was Michael Ambrosino who served in Vietnam in 1968 recalled arriving in Cam Ranh Bay during the Tet Offensive. He said three weeks later his unit moved to Denang via ship.
He said the two most emotional days of my life took place going to Vietnam and coming home from Vietnam. He got after he received notice to report to Ft Lewis in Seattle, he his father, mother and brother drove him to JFK.
“Everyone in that car knew this might be the last time we see each other. Nobody said a work. Deathly quiet. We get to the airport and then they announced the gate I had to leave from. The tears started flowing. The hugs got tighter. My dad looked at me and said, ‘Son just take care of yourself.’ And I did.”
Ambrosino returned on Jan 27, 1969, landing again in Seattle. “You have to understand there is jubilation all over the place. We spent a year in 100° temperature and maybe 98° humidity. If you’ve ever been in Seattle, it rains, it snows, it sleets all on the same day. Here we are on the tarmac and we had a snowball fight.”
Joe Kantorski talked about his service during the Vietnam War as a registered conscientious objector in 1968. He trained at Ft Sanderson, Texas where he trained as a field medic and was also trained to work in surgery as an operating room technician. He was sent to the 31st surgical hospital in Frankfurt, Germany.
“I have a very simple message. The idea of America needs all of us to support in any way you can. I believed that by serving in the military I understood what a beautiful idea America is.”
Michael Fitzsimons, who served 1958-1961, noted that the war extended farther back than people realized.
“We never declared war on Vietnam,” he said. “It was a military action that went back to about 1955, and by 1958-1959 we were flying recon over the Bering Strait where airplanes were shot down, but it couldn’t be printed in the news because it was the cold war. We also flew over Vietnam and did a lot of aerial research then.”
