The Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall Visits New Jersey

Americans, and all privileged to call America home must be forever grateful for the sacrifices of our armed forces.  They have been, and are, the defenders of freedom, democracy, and our way of life.

On Sunday, July 10, 2022, my wife Lily and I were able to express our gratitude for their sacrifices.  

This gratitude, particularly for all whom made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War, took place with our visit to a solemn event at The Moving Wall.  

This Wall, is a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., which was on display at the County College of Morris in Randolph, NJ.

About the Moving Wall

The Moving Wall allows individuals across the nation, whom may not have the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., to honor those who lost their lives fighting for freedom 

The overall length of The Moving Wall is 252.83 feet.  It is comprised of 74 separate frames with the etched names of all who lost their lives in Vietnam.

Remember their Sacrifices

The ceremony included an impressive 2 PM service with words by Bill Menzel.  Bill not only served in Vietnam, but he was wounded in action and spent one year recovering in a hospital.

His words seared the hearts of attendees when he said, “for every moment of each day while I recuperated, I felt the sacrifices of my buddies.  I prayed for their safety, and for the day that I could return to help protect them.”

Bill also implored the attendees to “Look at the 58,307 names on that Wall, and feel with your heart the presence of each of their souls looking down upon us from heaven. Express your gratitude to them and never forget their sacrifices. They were never able to return alive to their families, their communities, their country. Many were teenagers who were never able to have their own families. They sacrificed all for us.”

Interesting Veterans Statistics of the Vietnam Memorial Wall

There are 58,307 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010.

·        The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized. It is hard to believe it is 36 years since the last casualties.

·        The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth, MA, listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965.

·         There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall.

·         39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger.

·         8,283 were just 19 years old.

·         The largest age group, 33,103 were 18 years old.

·         12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old.

·         5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old.

·         One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old.

·         997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam.

·         1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam.

·         31 sets of brothers are on the Wall.

·         Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons.

·         54 soldiers attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia.

·         8 Women are on the Wall who were nursing the wounded.

·         244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall.

·         Beallsville, Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons.

·        West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall.

·        The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 - 245 deaths.

·         The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 - 2,415 casualties were incurred. 

      Alan and Paula Le: Sentiments of Gratitude for America

After the ceremony, my wife and I were privileged to speak with Alan, and his wife Paula Le.  Alan escaped Vietnam as one of the “Boat People.”  He shared a moving story of his father who was a high-ranking South Vietnamese military officer who was captured, sent to a concentration camp, and then escaped.  He is now living in America.

The next day, Paula sent me a profound email with her detailed research about the Vietnam War.  This research included the Paris Peace Accord 1973.  

The Accord existed to bring US troops, and prisoners of war (POW’s) home. It stated that “the US troops pulled out of the war due to the Paris Peace Accord agreement, signed by four parties on January 27, 1973. And, 30 days later there was an Act for International Committee (AIC) that was signed by 10 nations (Cambodia and Laos did not sign) on March 2, 1973 to ensure peace in Vietnam.”

READ: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIET-NAM, PROVISIONAL REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH VIET-NAM and REPUBLIC OF VIET-NAM Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Viet-Nam. Signed at Paris on 27 January 1973

Paula, echoing the sentiments of countless other Vietnamese who are forever grateful to America, also shared these heart-warming sentiments:

“Honestly, we feel guilty that those soldiers did not return to their homes. They offered the ultimate sacrifice so that we can experience freedom in America.  Their sacrifices must never be forgotten - over 58,000 families never shared a Christmas together again.

“The Vietnamese Communist Party lost the war on the "Easter Offensive" at Quang Tri in 1972.  I remember that's when my step-father left Vietnam.  He immediately started paperwork to bring us to the United States.  We came by plane a month before Saigon collapsed in 1975.

“I also remember being in America, and experiencing my first snow storm, unlike anything imaginable in the tropical climate of Vietnam.

“It was cold and my Vietnam clothing did not keep me warm.  I was 14-years-old and newly registered in high school in Hopkinsville, KY.

“It is 47 years later, but I still wanted to search for the truth of the real reason we had to leave our beloved country. I also always feel it a duty to express my lifelong gratitude to the sacrifices of American and South Vietnamese soldiers.  I also wish to forever express gratitude to my stepfather, and a U.S. soldier, who gave me the opportunity to live a life of freedom. 

“I will forever be grateful to my stepfather and his family members, and to America, especially those who gave their lives.   They helped to bring my mother, myself, and my 3 siblings to America, and the American sacrifices gave freedom to countless people of many generations. America is truly the “land of the free and home of the brave.”

Final Reflections

The Moving Vietnam Wall moves the soul to reflect on the values of sacrifice, commitment, and character.  We must eternally remember all who sacrificed for the sake of freedom in Vietnam.

And today, as in generations past, courageous Americans are making great sacrifices to serve our country and preserve our liberty. 

It is important for those who benefit from the valor of American service personnel to always remember and appreciate their dedication to our nation.

The sacrifices of military personnel are intimately shared by their loved ones and especially their children. It is critical to be mindful of their challenges and support the American military and their families in every way possible.

The legacy of America urges a reawakening of patriotism that will transform us once again into a nation destined to be a hope for the world through its commitment to moral leadership, persevering vigilance and generous collaboration.

We are beckoned to participate in this reawakening, through our gratitude, respect, and devotion.

Note Well: Many people are sending me messages, reminding me of something I had forgotten about, that so many of us during this time wore bracelets with the name of a soldier on it serving in Vietnam, especially so we can pray for them, and also the names of POWs on the bracelets.

I wore one for many years, and will never forget those who offered the ultimate sacrifice for freedom  

Related Articles:

America’s Veterans Deserve Honor, Homes, Healthcare

Excerpt:

“America must respond to an inner moral call and rise by igniting an ethical renaissance.

“The principles of character, compassion, and altruism must be the heartbeat of America.

“When America’s heartbeat pulsates with putting the golden rule into action: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” the reawakening of the nation will begin its resuscitation.

“America, let us honor verses from America the Beautiful, ‘O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life.’”

Gold Star Families: Honoring Those Who Make the Ultimate Sacrifice

Excerpt:

"America is the land of freedom, liberty, and opportunity only because of the sacrifices of all who
have served, especially with the ultimate sacrifice. The sacrifices of their families are inseparable from the sacrifices of our fallen military heroes.

"We can only truly honor America when our fallen heroes and their families are treated with the most profound respect. This respect must come from the heartbeat of the nation, and expressed not only in words, but in actions."

Sacred Honor: Police Officer, Soldier, Patriot

Excerpt:

"On Friday July 13, 2007, I was privileged to attend the full military interment ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery of Army Lt. Mark H. Dooley, who was killed in Iraq on September 19, 2005. Mark would have celebrated his 29th birthday on Sunday."

Memorial Day: Respect, Reverence, Reawakening

Excerpt:

"Honoring all who have offered the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom is not only a privilege, but a sacred responsibility.

"There must be a renewal of respect in the heart of America.

"America must eternally heed the words of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt:

“Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.”

With Honor and Leadership the US Army Protects America

Excerpt:

"America is deservingly proclaimed as “the land of the free and home of the brave.”

"This proclamation is possible only because of all who honorably serve the nation in the U.S. Army and all our armed forces.

"Our nation must eternally honor their sacrifices, dedication, and valor.

"These patriots, as exemplified through the mission of the U.S. Army, are the ethical protectors of America’s freedom."

A Memorial Day Prayer

"MERCIFUL GOD, WE HONOR MEMORIAL DAY BY REMEMBERING ALL WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR AMERICA, IN THE SERVICE OF FREEDOM.

"THEY MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE TO DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION, DEMOCRACY AND WAY OF LIFE.

"WE, AND COUNTLESS OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ARE FREE BECAUSE OF THEIR SACRIFICES. THE LIGHT OF THE FLAME OF LIBERTY BURNS BECAUSE OF THEM. THEY ARE OUR HEROES, AND OUR NATION IS FOREVER GRATEFUL...."

John H. West Tribute

While solemnly walking along the wall, my wife Lily and I were deeply touched by a wedding photo leaning against the base of the wall with a note.

The note was from a wife to her beloved, John H. West, telling him that he will never be forgotten.  This photo and note, with the name of John H. West etched in the panel just above it lit a fire in our souls.

My wife and I were moved to copy John's name on paper, in the traditionally respected manner of rubbing a black crayon on paper with his name behind it, until his name appeared.

When we arrived home, the connection made with John, and his wife, at the wall continued.  We researched his name and learned he was from North Bergen, and that he was killed in Vietnam just six months after his wedding day, when he was 20-years-old.

His death, and the anguish it caused his wife and family moves the soul to mystically connect, and forever honor all who offered the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom.

John H. West Bio / New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Excerpt:  "John Hayden West was born on November 29, 1948, in Jersey City, NJ, to Elizabeth and James West. His home of record is North Bergen, NJ. He had two brothers and one sister. To his friends and family, he was known as "Jackie". Jackie graduated from North Bergen High School in 1965. He loved all sports, played football for 4 years, and was the victory game ball winner against St. Joseph's High School.”

“Jackie believed that if Americans were to remain free then all Americans had to do their share and he was doing his.”

Reawakening America LLC / About the Founder  

Vincent J. Bove, CPP, is a national speaker and author on issues critical to America with over 300 published works. His most recent books are Reawakening America and Listen To Their Cries. He is recipient of the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award and former confident of the New York Yankees.  Vincent is co-founder of Global Security Resolutions, and served as spokesperson for a coalition of Virginia Tech tragedy families of victims. He has 18 cover stories for The Chief of Police.

For twenty years, Vincent has served as a Board Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Board Certified Crime Prevention Specialist, Certified Police Training Commission Instructor, Crime Prevention Practitioner, and USDOJ Certified Community Anti-Terrorism Instructor Trainer.  He is also a State of New Jersey / Division of State Police SORA Instructor, licensed for ten years.  

Resources: www.vincentbove.com or twitter@vincentjbove

1. The Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall, collage, July 10, 2022.  The top left photo includes Alan and Paula Le. (Reawakening America LLC / Vincent J. Bove)

2. The Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall, July 10, 2022. (Reawakening America LLC / Vincent J. Bove)

3. Vietnam Wall, Washington, D. C., Reflections by Lee Teter, 1988.

4. 35 Vietnamese refugees wait to be taken aboard the amphibious command ship USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC-19). They are being rescued from a 35 foot fishing boat 350 miles northeast of Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, after spending eight days at sea, May 15, 1984. PH@ Phil Eggmann / U.S. Navy / Public Domain)

5. The Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall, July 10, 2022. (Reawakening America LLC / Vincent J. Bove)

6. Funeral Procession, Lt. Mark H. Dooley, Arlington National Cemetery, July 13, 2007. (Reawakening America LLC / Vincent J. Bove.

7. Changing of the Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, May 18, 2019. As published with article Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: Leadership, Honor, America (Article and Photo: Reawakening America LLC / Vincent J. Bove)

8. John H. West, copied from The Moving Wall, July 10, 2022. 

9. John H. West headshot. (Credit: New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial webpage)

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Transforming American Policing: Mass Demonstration Recommendations

Law enforcement professionals protect and serve as ethical guardians of democracy for our communities.

The challenges to their profession is daunting. We continually witness accelerating violence, apathy, distrust, cynicism, and callousness throughout society.

Another challenge is when these numerous issues merge into a mass demonstration.

The preparation and management of demonstrations demands visionary leadership, as well as vigilance and collaboration.

These principles serve the interests of public safety.  They also serve constitutional policing, ensuring that rights are respected, and unchecked emotions do not cause unnecessary havoc to communities.

Rethinking the Police Response to Mass Demonstrations

In February 2022, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) released a compelling document titled Rethinking the Police Response to Mass Demonstrations: 9 Recommendations.

The report spotlights numerous issues critical to policing, especially with the thousands of demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd.

The document deserves to be studied in its entirety and the link is provided here for easy access: 

Yet, for the purpose of this article, and particularly because this report compliments many years of my published works for The Chief of Police, the 55 page PERF will be summarized into a quick tip style format.

The two pillars of the report are based on these principles, seeking to bring police and community engagements to a new level:

1.     “Police should invite community leaders to participate in police meetings and training sessions about planning the police response to demonstrations. These meetings should discuss the police response to demonstrations as a general matter, as well as planning for particular demonstrations.

2.     “Police should build trust during demonstrations by inviting community leaders who have strong credibility among the general public to serve as observers and partners on the streets.” [i]

The report continues with nine recommendations as follows:

RECOMMENDATION 1:

“Rethink the role of community representatives before and during protests.”

“1A. Engage your community in discussions about all aspects of the police response to demonstrations, including key issues such as use of force, less-lethal force options, and how police make decisions in complex situations.”

“1B. Invite community members to observe and participate in training courses and tabletop exercises on the police response to demonstrations, and to provide input on policies.”

“1C. Train community leaders to be mediators and co-responders.”

“1D. Maintain daily incident reports, and share them with the public.”

“1E. Involve community representatives in after-action reviews after demonstrations have concluded.”

RECOMMENDATION 2:

“Ensure that internal communications can flow promptly and clearly, up and down the policing chain of command.”

“2A. Begin by highlighting that police should see their role as facilitating First Amendment rights, while ensuring public safety.”

“2B. Provide officers with clear guidelines for acceptable and unacceptable responses to protest behavior.”

“2C. Reinforce key messages during daily briefings and other recurring events.”

“2D. Ensure that officers on the ground are able to share information to inform high level decision-making as protests unfold.”

RECOMMENDATION 3:

“Train officers and supervisors adequately.”

“3A. Provide commanders with the necessary knowledge to coordinate a proportionate, effective police response to mass demonstrations.”

“3B. Train officers in crowd management strategies that facilitate peaceful protest.”

“3C. Train officers on how to handle demonstrations where violent offenders are intermixed with peaceful demonstrators.”

“3D. Emphasize de-escalation.”

“3E. Write clear, specific policies on the use of “less-lethal” tools, and provide training for officers, supervisors and commanders on how to implement the policies.

RECOMMENDATION 4:

“Re-engineering the guidelines for use of less-lethal weapons.”

“4A. Establish clear guidelines for when various types of less-lethal force are warranted or are prohibited, with details about their capabilities and limitations.”

“4B. The National Institute of Justice, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, and academic experts should assist the policing profession by conducting a wide range of new research on less-lethal tools. NIJ and academics should aim to provide concrete information about the capabilities and limitations of each tool, as well as recommendations about whether and how each type of tool should be used in various circumstances.”

 “4C. State in policy who is authorized to make the decision to use each type of less-lethal force.”

“4E. Require the use of body-worn cameras when deploying less-lethal force.”

“4F. Discuss the use of less-lethal tools with your community.”

RECOMMENDATION 5:

“Warn demonstrators before deploying any less-lethal force, and provide clear instructions for the demonstrators’ response.”

“5A. Establish clear scripts ahead of time.”

“5B. Try to ensure that all warnings are audible to all demonstrators.”

“5C. Give demonstrators clear, reasonable instructions, and provide adequate time to react.”

“5D. Play warnings in multiple languages.”

RECOMMENDATION 6:

“Minimize the use of mass arrests.”

“6A. Avoid the use of mass arrests whenever possible.”

“6B. Plan adequately for mass arrests in case they become unavoidable.”

RECOMMENDATION 7:

“Prepare and activate mutual aid agreements.”

“7A. Ensure that mutual aid agreements are specific and clear.”

“7B. Have ongoing discussions with mutual aid agencies about response protocols.”

“7C. Conduct tabletop exercises or other training with mutual aid partners.”

RECOMMENDATION 8:

“Prioritize officer safety, health, and wellness.”

“8A. Don’t neglect the basics, such as providing officers with access to food and water.”

“8B. Issue adequate personal protection equipment.”

“8C. Keep riot gear out of sight.”

“8D. Plan for adequate rest time and incorporate mental health considerations into risk assessments before mass demonstrations.”

“8E. Teach officers techniques for protecting their own emotional well-being.”

“8F. Provide access to wellness support programs after mass demonstrations have concluded.”

RECOMMENDATION 9:

“Ensure ongoing, robust review of policing practices.” 

“9A. Debrief notable events at the end of shifts.”

“9B. Conduct timely internal reviews of body-worn camera footage, use-of force reports, and other materials to understand what went well and what can be improved.”

“9C. Invite community representatives to discuss their perspectives with police leaders after demonstrations have concluded.” [ii]

Final Reflections

In my cover story for The Chief of Police, Summer 2015, titled Principles of American Policing, I stressed these first three of nine principles to build bridges of trust between the police and community.

They are being noted here because of their complimentary character with the PERF document:

1. Being pro-police and pro-community is inseparable, indefatigable, and preeminent. Police must at all times remain fully committed to protecting and serving the public through character, ethics, and leadership that is total and whole-hearted. Police must be guided by a moral compass that honors the community, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.

2. Respect must be the heart of the police and it must be unwavering for the profession, colleagues, and community. Respect can only be earned through integrity, accountability, and transparency. These qualities build trust, legitimacy, and collaboration.

3. Police deserve that every level of government provide the resources necessary for proper police staffing, training, and community service.

Law enforcement will rise to the occasion with the moral courage to find the way to continually enhance their profession during these challenging times.

Our police deserve an iron-clad collaboration from all privileged to call America home. 

We must continually work together to find new ways to build bridges of trust to better safeguard our communities, as failure is not an option.

About the Author

Vincent J. Bove, CPP, is a national speaker and author on issues critical to America with over 300 published works. His most recent books are Reawakening America and Listen To Their Cries. Bove is recipient of the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award and former confident of the New York Yankees.  He is co-founder of Global Security Resolutions, and served as spokesperson for a coalition of Virginia Tech tragedy families of victims.  He has authored 18 cover stories for The Chief of Police.

For twenty years, Vincent has served as a Board Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Board Certified Crime Prevention Specialist, Certified Police Training Commission Instructor, Crime Prevention Practitioner, and USDOJ Certified Community Anti-Terrorism Instructor Trainer.  He is also a licensed State of New Jersey / Division of State Police SORA Instructor. 

Resources: www.vincentbove.com or twitter@vincentjbove

Photos:

1. The Chief of Police, cover story, Spring 2022, Volume XL.

2. Killing of George Floyd protest, Pittsburg, PA, May 30, 2020. (Universal Public Domain Dedication)

3. George Floyd Killing protest, June 1, 2020, Philadelphia, PA (Creative Commons Public Domain)

4. George Floyd protest, June 2, 2020, Philadelphia, PA. (Creative Commons Public Domain)

5. Black Lives Matter protest, Brooklyn Bridge, NYC, June 9, 2020. (Creative Commons Public Domain)

6. Captain Zsakhiem James of the Camden County PD joining a group of Camden residents who came together to honor George Floyd, circa 2020.  (Credit Camden County PD, NJ)

7. Vincent J. Bove Newest Book Reawakening America, with photos from PHAMA, Champion, PA, Oct. 20, 2017, presentation America's Drug Crisis: Issues and Response. (Courtesy Reawakening America LLC, Photo by Lily Bove)

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[i] Rethinking the Police Response to Mass Demonstrations: 9 Recommendations (PERF), pgs.5-6.

[ii] Rethinking the Police Response to Mass Demonstrations: 9 Recommendations (PERF), pgs. 19-50.