DuckSouth.com

Recieved this release yesterday, if you ain't seen the wall in person it's a
moving experience (no pun intended)


A half-sized replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall will arrive in Oxford on April 21, thanks to the hard work of John McKendree, president of Rolling Thunder, Inc., Chapter One Mississippi.

Like the original Wall in Washington, D. C., the Moving Wall contains the names of the 58,228 men and women who lost their lives in Vietnam or remain missing in action. It is a solemn and dignified memorial that reminds us that the cost of freedom is never free.

The Wall will be at The Oxford Conference Center, located on Ed Perry Boulevard at the intersection of Highway 7 and Sisk Avenue. It will be available for viewing 24 hours a day beginning at 9 a.m. on April 23 and ending on April 30 at 4 p.m.

For additional information call Lila Goolsby at 662.832.0938 or John McKendree at 662.234.1084

You are so right its a very moving experience when you first see it come into view. I recommend anyone thats never seen it to go and look and you'll understand the sacrifce. 56thousand plus names has to do something to you even if you were to young to remember the times. If you were part of it and you see it for the first time it helps in my opinion.


May They all rest in peace, they deserve it.

Do me a favor: look for my buddies' names Doug Cunningham from Louisville and Pete Smith from Yazoo City. Find their names and tell them "Well done!" Both were great guys who gave everything they had.

crow wrote:Do me a favor: look for my buddies' names Doug Cunningham from Louisville and Pete Smith from Yazoo City. Find their names and tell them "Well done!" Both were great guys who gave everything they had.

Will do by chance do you remember the date they died...I'll visit with them for a while for you.


Ken

Guys I've seen the real wall in Washington, it's a humbling thing. You see people there looking for their sons/husbands/fathers. It will touch you...

I took a picture of a guy's name and brought it to is mother...

Go see this replica if you can.

I saw the wall a few years ago when it was set up at Itawamba CC. Very humbling experience.

I have seen the original one in DC. I thought this was going to be a post about a Pink Floyd tribute band.

Tunica, Doug would be about '66, and Pete would be in '68. I don't remember Pete's first name (Peter was his middle), so he could be tough to locate (lots of Smith's).

Doug was an all-state running back in high school for Louisville and went to Ole Miss and played. He was in ROTC and went active duty from Ole Miss. He was killed from small arms fire in an ambush down south in that other delta.

Pete was just a good ole boy who answered the call out of high school and was killed in his second tour. I remember he came home between tours and decided to go back. He told me, "Well, I guess it beats working for the highway department." He and I worked summers for the highway dept doing grunt work all through high school. He was killed in the central highlands around the Phu Bai Marine air base.

The wall is not about politics or esoteric ideals like democracy, it's about people...people who had a story, a life, a family. And whether the volunteered or were drafted, they answered a call to duty. Whether they were good people, white trash, colored from across the track, college boys, or just someone's son, husband, or friend, they deserve respect and honor because they chose to answer that call to duty.

crow wrote:Tunica, Doug would be about '66, and Pete would be in '68. I don't remember Pete's first name (Peter was his middle), so he could be tough to locate (lots of Smith's).

Doug was an all-state running back in high school for Louisville and went to Ole Miss and played. He was in ROTC and went active duty from Ole Miss. He was killed from small arms fire in an ambush down south in that other delta.

Pete was just a good ole boy who answered the call out of high school and was killed in his second tour. I remember he came home between tours and decided to go back. He told me, "Well, I guess it beats working for the highway department." He and I worked summers for the highway dept doing grunt work all through high school. He was killed in the central highlands around the Phu Bai Marine air base.

The wall is not about politics or esoteric ideals like democracy, it's about people...people who had a story, a life, a family. And whether the volunteered or were drafted, they answered a call to duty. Whether they were good people, white trash, colored from across the track, college boys, or just someone's son, husband, or friend, they deserve respect and honor because they chose to answer that call to duty.

Your so right about it not being about politics. If they have the books there I can find him if you know his hometown. I cant remember but I think it also list's their date of birth and Record of Death. So if ya can I can reference the books to find the panel. It aint nothing but a moment and I would be honored to say hi to your old pals for you.

I am going to try and head up to Wildrose on Friday morning, grab a bite to eat then swing by the Wall, and after that go to the Rebel/Bulldog baseball game. Plan on staying all weekend for the Double Decker Festival.

I would like to take my dad but I don't think he'll go. My brother gave him a painting of the wall for Christmas one year and it was all he could take.

Amazing how something that lasted 1 year of their life affects those vets their entire lifetime.

Dad was in "that other Delta" 68-69.

Wingman wrote:I would like to take my dad but I don't think he'll go. My brother gave him a painting of the wall for Christmas one year and it was all he could take.

Amazing how something that lasted 1 year of their life affects those vets their entire lifetime.

Dad was in "that other Delta" 68-69.

Wingman, it is hard it took Me along time to take the walk on the mall to see it. I understand his reluctance but it is a healing experience, and he's not alone when and if you can get him to see it. His brothers will be there to hold him.

Some never came Home but those that did had been changed forever.

There are lot's of Mississippi men on that wall. I was told that per capita there are more KIA from Ms. than any other state, not sure if this is true.
My Father (from Brookhaven) was ROTC at Ms. State and did three tours in Viet Nam, '65, '68, '70 (he was a lifer, 23 yrs in the Army). I have tried to get him to go but no dice. He says he remembers them in his own way.
I am sure that it is a touching experience and will go the next time I get a chance.