Between 1964 and 1975, nearly 3,500,000 men and women served in the United States armed forces in Southeast Asia. Each of them has a story to tell. Each story is unique.
The vast majority of those who served in Vietnam volunteered. Some did so because they believed the military offered opportunities they could not find elsewhere. Some did so because they knew they were likely to be drafted. Some did so because they believed it was important to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.
They served in Army Special Forces counterinsurgency units deep in the jungle. They served on Navy destroyers providing gunfire support. They served on Marine Corps search and destroy missions. They served in Air Force reconnaissance squadrons. They served on Coast Guard vessels, interdicting enemy supply routes. They served in civilian organizations to provide support to U.S. forces.
58,220 died.
1,602 are still missing and unaccounted for.
None returned home unchanged.
O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
Bates, Katharine L. (1904). America the Beautiful.
Next: 1 First Impressions.
Beyond being drafted or volunteering, the Vietnam experience varied widely depending on a number of factors.
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Public Programs
Atlanta History Center’s annual Veterans Day program honors the sacrifice of the women and men who served in the United States armed forces.
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Projects & Initiatives
The Veterans History Project oral history collection contains video and audio interviews of those who served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, the Global War on Terror, and civilians who supported them.
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Goizueta Gardens
Within steps of the Atlanta History Center Museum, reflect on the men and women who have served—and continue to serve—the United States of America.
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Exhibition
Atlanta History Center records, preserves, and makes accessible the stories of men and women who did serve as well as the civilians who supported them. Their stories allow future generations to hear directly from those who lived through our nation’s conflicts to better appreciate the realities and the sacrifices of war.