The old saying, “Better late than never,” certainly applies to the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which officially opened in June. Located in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, the finished product is stunning.
According to the Omaha World-Herald story on the memorial’s June 6 dedication, Nebraska became the last state to recognize its Vietnam veterans. I stopped by a couple of weeks later to check it out. It’s an absolutely amazing tribute to the 396 Nebraskans killed in action in Vietnam and four others who died in a training accident before being deployed.
There were just a few other visitors the day I made my initial trip. I’m sure when there are many others touring the memorial site, voices will be lowered as you would expect at such a hallowed site.
The top attraction, in my opinion at least, is the actual UH-1 Huey helicopter, which was used in the war and later restored by veterans and students from (Council Bluffs) Iowa Western Community College’s aviation maintenance program.
At the base of the helicopter are statues of soldiers rescuing an injured comrade. Pressing a button near the statues starts the sound of the Huey, which depicts two more soldiers armed to provide cover for the rescue of the wounded.
The memorial means more to veterans, especially those who were in harm’s way. It recognizes soldiers who gave their all during the war, and hopefully gives some healing closure to those who made it back alive.
Visiting the site caused me to think back to my military service (1972-1974). When discussing my 35 months in the Army, I tell people how I feel somewhat guilty that I never left the States. I completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and spent the next eight weeks of advance training at Fort Sill, Okla.
From there, I spent the remaining 31 months of active duty at Fort Carson, Colo. While stationed in Colorado Springs, our post was a clearinghouse for soldiers coming back post-Vietnam. I couldn’t imagine what some of them went through and the emotional trauma they had to carry with them.
If you find yourself in the Omaha area, take time to visit the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial. You’ll gain a new appreciation for the sacrifices many young men made for the country. The saying, “All gave some, some gave all" certainly applies to all of us veterans.