November 1 is the anniversary of the beginning of the Vietnam War for the U. S. The Vietnam War was between North and South Vietnam, with the U. S. and others backing the South and the Soviet Union, North Korea, and China backing the North. The French had previously supported South Vietnam and when the French withdrew in 1955, the U. S. assumed that role. The dates of the war span November 1, 1955 to April 30, 1975 when the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, was captured by the North. U. S. troops had left Vietnam by March 29, 1973, the date the Vietnam war was over for the U. S.
About 2.7 million U. S. service members served in the Vietnam War. The U. S. lost 58,220 service members in the Vietnam War (National Archives); 304,000 were wounded (Wounded Warrior Project). One hundred fifty Panhandle service members lost their lives in the Vietnam War; their names are inscribed on the Vietnam Monuments at the Texas Panhandle War Memorial. Many Vietnam veterans are still suffering today from exposure to Agent Orange and the trauma of battle. Please thank these veterans for their service to our country.
Come and visit our museum of military artifacts, displays, and photographs from WWI to Afghanistan. The War Memorial has the only Military Chapel in the Panhandle, available for weddings and funerals. Our high-tech Education Center features five interactive computer kiosks, each with information on 11 U. S. wars. We also have oral histories of the Vietnam War and World War II. Visit our gift shop for military tee shirts, ball caps, and military memorabilia.
We invite you to visit our Museum Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Our telephone number is 806-350-8387. Follow us on Facebook and visit our website www.TexasPanhandleWarMemorial.com
Be sure and attend our Veterans Day ceremony Thursday November 11, at 11 a.m. held at the Texas Panhandle War Memorial, 4111 S. Georgia. Remote parking and a shuttle will be in place to allow more people to attend.
