Carl Addison Swanson reminds us that today is National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
Memorializing the date in 1973 when the last American ground troops left Vietnam, it is a day of recognition, remembrance, healing and education.
Swanson – a longtime Westport resident, Staples High School graduate, and author of books about Vietnam — has a special connection to today.
He served there.
About 2.7 million other Americans did as well. 58,000 died there.
And 300,000 of Swanson’s comrades have died since the end of the war, from exposure to Agent Orange.
Vietnam Memorial wall, in Washington.
Swanson says that according to government statistics, on any given night 40,000 veterans are homeless. Half are from the Vietnam era.
49 Westporters served in Vietnam, Swanson notes. One was a woman, Clistie Spearen, who joined the Navy after graduating from Staples in 1966. She ended up an E-9, after 20 years as a “WAVE.”
Meanwhile, a group of local women, calling themselves “Project Hope,” sent care packages to every Westporter in Vietnam each month, for over 5 years.
“Their chocolate chip cookies were legendary,” Swanson says. “It speaks to the compassion of many who chose not to protest, but to do something directly for the military personnel.”
Five Westporters never came home.
A plaque in Veterans Green, opposite Town Hall, honors their service.
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One of those 5 is Timothy Barmmer. In 2012, “06880” honored him, with this story:
The World War I and II memorials across from Town Hall are impressive.
But nearby lies a smaller, less-noticed plaque. This one salutes 5 Westporters killed in Vietnam. Timothy M. Barmmer (Marine Corps), Michael B. Paquin and Stephen A. Shortall (Army) and Frederick M. Rader III and Francis A. Walsh (Air Force) are cited for their “honorable service in Southeast Asia, in the face of uncommon adversity.”
Westport’s Vietnam Memorial, opposite Town Hall.
In January 1968 — more than a year after arriving in Vietman — Tim Barmmer wrote to his parents in Westport:
Listen, I’m sorry I’ve waited so long, but I went to Bangkok for 7 days, and when I got back we were pretty busy.
I guess you’ve heard a lot about Khe Sanh on the news & stuff, but DON’T WORRY! I’ll be honest, we’ve been getting hit with rocket & artillery every day, & they’ve surrounded us, but if you’ve seen the support we get, you’d feel as good as I do.
We have built a bunker so good, NOTHING could get through it — believe me.
Lance Corporal Tim Barmmer
We have jets bombing the area every 15 minutes, gunships, & B52 bombers every day. Feel a little better? I have not been SCRATCHED. The American flag flies atop our hole, unscathed!
We call ourselves the “glorious untouchables” and we’ve been put in for two more medals. How about that?
I’m pretty sure they’ll be pulling us out after all this is over, ’cause we’ve lost about 40 in a month — maybe we’ll go to Okinawa or something!
Bangkok was REALLY GREAT! I’m gonna go back there some day — met some really good people there. Thailand people are really friendly & good to Americans. It was terrific R&R!
I have a lot of work to do. Take care of yourself, and remember – I AM FINE — morale is terrific, and the guys are fighting their hearts out. Keep praying as I am, and we’ll keep fighting for you.
I made TV carrying a wounded News Coresspondent down the street — look for me on CBS! How about that?
Don’t worry, please. Give my love to all, and I’ll see you in 4 1/2 months. Love you all,
Tim.
Two days later — on January 30, 1968 — Lance Corporal Timothy M. Barmmer was killed by enemy fire. He was 20 years old.
Tim Barmmer’s company.
A recon corpsman said, “He died in my arms. He died trying to get someone else in the bunker during incoming… Tim was literally throwing people in (the bunker). Shrapnel got to him.”
Later, Tim’s parents received a letter from a woman named Viola Howes. Her son Roger had often written about Tim — his best friend, and someone who “made this place bearable.”
This time, Roger wrote about his best friend’s death. Viola wanted another mother to read Roger’s words:
Yesterday evening we were sitting in our bunker eating C rations and a rocket came in about 3 feet from it. Huck (Tim’s nickname), Doc, Mac and Zeke were outside heating chow. Huck tried to push them in like the big stupid loveable guy he was and took the blast and was killed instantly. The other 3 are in serious condition and sent back to the States.
My God, what a dear friend we’ve lost, Huck was big and big hearted, he could be gruff yet gentle. We loved him like a brother and he left an impression that could never be forgotten. Everyone in our company could not help but like him. He was first to help a new guy coming in. He was the first one to welcome me here. This place can never be the same without him.
God has some purpose in it I know, but Oh God, we will miss him. Could you do me a very great favor and have a Mass said for Huck. His name is Timothy Barmmer. Thanks Mom, so much.”
Timothy Barmmer’s name is engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. It’s panel 35E, Row 65.
His name lives forever, too, in the much smaller — but no less significant — Vietnam veterans’ plaque opposite Town Hall, right here in Tim Barmmer’s hometown.
My father flew combat missions during Vietnam and I can still hear his screams in the middle of the night from his constant nightmares upon his return. It should be also remembered that many Vietnam Veterans did not return to a welcoming public. Perhaps this day, enacted by President Trump in 2017, will change that mindset? Fly a flag in their honor, perhaps?
Beautiful
A friend and I were on the same plane to Vietnam. We each got handed envelopes with orders. He went North toward violence. I went South to the Mekong Delta. He got Agent Orange and died a tortuous death. There was no logic.🙏🇺🇸
Wonderful Tribute, thank you for sharing Dan
Great tribute, Dan. Thanks for sharing. I know a Westport Marine who went to Vietnam and a bullet passed through the top of his helmet in that tiny area between the inner and outer helmet. The bullet passed through the helmet, but didn’t touch his head. When I taught History in high school, and we learned about the Vietnam War, he visited my classroom with his helmet and passed it around so the students could stick their fingers into the bullet entry hole and touch where the bullet made its exit. Needless to say the experience made an immense impact on the students!
Never forget their sacrifice!
Thanks so much for posting this Dan and reminding us of the real perils of war and the men & women who so proudly reported for duty, Remember, this was a war with a draft – changing the complexities of service and how our nation reacted to the war. So timely here because today we hold a memorial service for my brother who recently passed away from an illness he endured for years related to his exposure to agent orange in Viet Nam, a war in which he proudly served. Bittersweet for sure.
God Bless America
My cousin served in Viet Nam. His tour was long and dangerous, as were they all. Thankfully, he survived although deeply changed in so many ways, and never the same as before. As with most war veterans, he did not talk about it, harboring those tragedies within. He died several years ago. Among his effects was the Bronze Star he was awarded.
I missed Vietnam. I had relatives/friends that went. None of them survived unscathed. One died recently from Agent Orange induced Parkinson’s disease. The consensus of opinion from anyone I knew who served there was that Vietnam was the outcome you can expect when you allow politicians to run a war. Whether or not to fight is a political decision, how best to win has to be left to the people who are charged with the fighting.
Those were troubling times. I returned in February of ‘65. We were few in number then, and we were “advisors”. It was long ago, and it was still good to be home.
Senator Richard Russell of GA told LBJ in 1964: “You can not win this war!” The response from the President: “If I get out now, the GOP will impeach me.” Nixon did much the same thing in ’69. Eric is right, wars should not be run by politicians but of course, they always are.
Thanks Scooter but LBJ should have been impeached for his role in the Gulf of Tonkin incident that put the war into hyperdrive.
Buck: The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed on August 10, 1964. The Democrats had a substantial majority in both Houses. No way an impeachment would have occurred or been successful. LBJ blowing smoke.
I got that part. But, please explain what actually happened at the Gulf of Tonkin. The Maddox and Turner Joy versus the Vietnamese patrol boats. Also, I think Steve Earle’s song about poor boys fighting rich men’s wars has some relevance here. I don’t know if anyone remembers how LBJ “won” his Silver Star in WWII. Message me privately and I’ll give you the details. You can’t make this stuff up.
It was alleged that a Vietnamese patrol boat shot at a destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin. No damage but 11 years more of war. I don’t bemoan anybody from dodging the draft but they do not have my respect either.
And don’t forget who got a deferral thanks to bone spurs.
I didn’t forget Bobbie (no age onset dementia with this Westporter). It was Trump. Same general approach Biden took to fighting the Vietnam War from the comfort of his dorm room.
Sleepy Joe was in law school at Syracuse, married and suffered from asthma which were all legitimate deferments at the time. Graduating in 1968, he was elected to the Senate in ’72 and lost his wife and kids in the accident the same year. I would say that is enough to give him a free pass on any “draft dodging” argument. No President served in Vietnam.
At the height of the war, with a call of 50000 a month AFEES would not have rejected for bone spurs ! My guess daddy’s money talked, little Donnie walked !
I was in the same military draft as the wife cheating draft dodger. My number was 24 in the draft! A few days later I volunteered and the rest is history! By the way, if you haven’t noticed, things aren’t going well. Stock market is down 7 trillion.
Trump graduated Wharton in the spring of ’68 and his Daddy got him a 4-F deferment. That said, he would later tell the story that he “got lucky in the draft lottery” of which was not implemented until January 1st, 1969. Of course, later, he would tell Cohen that anybody who went to Vietnam was “stupid.” Same ole Donnie Boy.
Jack, thank you for your service, my number was 22. I had available deferments for being a “sole surviving son” and a chronic allergy to yellow jackets but the USMC granted me waivers on those. Off to Quantico in ‘72 but by then the Marines were home. Nancy calls this a buying opportunity.
Eric, Not many would have ignored those waivers and join! If says a lot about you as a person!I If I was in your position in 1969, I don’t think I would have joined. It really does point to your character! I applaud the other people who were in the service during Vietnam! As a side note, I’m trying to get a new discharge document from 1975 because they have my Social Security number wrong. I hit a $1,000 dollar Maryland lottery last year and my discharge document had my wrong Social Security number, so I couldn’t use it to get my winnings.I just noticed that after 50 years!
Don’t know why it’s so hard to stay on topic and avoid the political stuff. Isn’t that a banned topic here, as it is on so many other sites, Dan?
Hard to ban political comments on a story with as many political ramifications as this one, Rod. Vietnam has affected our nation from the 1960s through today. I don’t consider these comments off-topic.
And Rod, as any Staples grad will tell you (I’m Class of ‘70, but just barely), 06880 is Dan’s blog. Others have tried to do it themselves and come up as cold as a Saturday AM “hate has no home here” (except when it’s an anti Trump rally) demonstration in January on the RSC memorial bridge. But, maybe it’s time for another generation to step up. After all, it’s tax-deductible (501C3 as CAS likes to say). If you want Westporters to get involved in ANYTHING make it free or tax deductible.
Why would you want to ban any discussion on politics when our democracy presently stands at peril? We need to talk more instead of just listening to the bobble heads.
With all due respect to my role model and mentor I think we should talk less and listen to the Bobble heads more. That’s why Dan keeps feeding us tidbits from Alison C and the gang.
I disagree. The media is “subjective truth” depending on what channel you listen to. Get involved, volunteer. The ground troops know what is going on. Lord, Hannity couldn’t even get through college and he is preaching on what is good for America? As Fitzgerald once said: “America needs to listen slower.”
I’m surprised no one commented on my helmet story because a few of you know him. I don’t want to mention his name though without his permission.
Jack, I probably know him but I’m not sure I believe the story. If it were true Dan would have featured it a long time ago. Dan is pretty much on top of everything interesting that goes on in Westport.
Is he a Y’S men by any chance? I feel like I MIGHT know.
Not a Y’s man and doesn’t live in town anymore.
Eric, The story is true. I wouldn’t make that up, but knowing him, I am 99% sure he wouldn’t cooperate for a story! If Scooter wants to e-mail me, I’ll tell him the name! I’m 100% sure he knows the person I’m talking about!
Scooter knew/knows everybody. And everybody knows him. If he vouches for this helmet story I’ll accept it. LBJ once accused Gerald Ford of playing football (at Michigan) without a helmet. Now that’s a helmet story I don’t believe. It took Gerald Ford to put the country back together after Nixon screwed it up and if it weren’t for LBJ we wouldn’t have gotten stuck with Nixon.
Have a great week guys this has been fun. I’ve got to get to work. I came out of retirement. Have to pay my taxes. I’m a professional taxpayer. Somebody has to cover for Hunter Biden.
Dennis Parise, Staples 1966 ,took the bullet that went right through his helmet. I contacted him and he said I could identify him!
Dennis was my class but did not interact in Vietnam with him. Tommy Allen, who knows everybody and remembers, can be the judge.