A Matter of Honor


 

        During a question and answer session after his testimony, James G. Zumwalt II was asked by Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell if he had spoken to other veterans about the issue of recognizing post-Vietnam service war-related deaths by the placement of a plaque at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial:
      
       "Since becoming involved in actively working for the placement of such a plaque at the Memorial, I have probably spoken to more than a hundred veterans about the issue. The opposition voiced by the National Parks Service to such a plaque is not one I have heard echoed by these veterans. I placed calls to four veterans in particular -- Harvey Barnum, Van Barfoot, Jim Livingston and Ron Rosser. These gentlemen share one thing in common -- all are Medal of Honor recipients. I informed them I was appearing before a Senate Subcommittee to testify on S. 1921 and asked if I could use their names as supporting such a bill. All expressed their full support for the plaque and were appalled to learn there would be any opposition to it. One recipient made the following observation: "Memorials are a present generation's tribute to something it wants a future generation never to forget. If recognition is not given to these veterans, future generations will fail to remember the hidden casualties of the Vietnam war -- a number far in excess of those whose names appear on the Wall."





Return to Vietnam War In Memory Memorial Plaque Project