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  • American Legion Post 135 Commander Tony O’seland, a Navy veteran from the Vietnam era, addresses other such veterans during a recognition ceremony. Josh Newton

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  • Vietnam-era Marine veterans Mark Kinders, left, and Greg Garnatz discuss their time serving the country. Area Vietnam veterans were recognized with a “welcome-home” ceremony Wednesday. Josh Newton

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March 31, 2011

Their tribute, at last

Vietnam-era veterans finally received a “welcome home” from the government decades after returning to criticism and hostility.

By JOSH NEWTON Staff Writer

TAHLEQUAH — Nearly four decades after Vietnam-era veterans returned to the U.S. to criticism and hostility, the government is saying “welcome home.”

But it’s not just a governmental decision, as citizens from all walks of life recognized these soldiers Wednesday, March 30, which was declared “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” by a U.S. Senate resolution. On that day in 1973, all U.S. troops had been withdrawn from Vietnam.

“This is a long-overdue recognition,” said Tony O’seland, commander of the Blackfox-Hartness American Legion Post 135 and a Vietnam-era Navy veteran.

Post 135 hosted a reception Wednesday to honor Vietnam veterans, and other groups around the country held similar events.

“I’d like to see the Post make this an annual recognition,” said O’seland. “Let’s be honest. Vietnam-era veterans were disrespected, treated with dishonor, treated poorly by the government, the other veterans, and by the general public.”

O’seland said he served during the Vietnam War, though he never set foot on dry land. He still received the negative response upon returning to the states.

“It did not make any difference to the general public,” he said. “There should be a constant reminder that there is a cost for what we take for granted. It’s about time [Vietnam-era veterans] have their day.”

Mark Kinders, vice president of university relations at Northeastern State University and a Vietnam-era Marine, originally heard about the call to recognize veterans and started talking to others about holding a local event.

NSU has dozens of veterans on staff, many of whom served during the Vietnam era, said Kinders.

“Many Vietnam-era veterans are committed to vets serving now in Iraq an Afghanistan, making sure they are treated well when they return and are re-patriated back into society,” said Kinders. “They served honorably.”

Greg Garnatz, a Vietnam-era Marine, said Wednesday’s tribute is “absolutely important.”

“I was very unhappy with the American people that we didn’t get the recognition everyone else had,” said Garnatz. “I’m kind of sour about that. I think it’s because of a changing of times in America that we’re finally starting to be recognized.”

Garnatz hopes to see this year’s recognition become a yearly get-together.

“It’ll help get more and more veterans together, and at least they’ll know there are people out there who support them,” said Garnatz.

Tahlequah Mayor Ken Purdy issued a proclamation declaring Wednesday “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.”

“After many years of combat, all U.S. troops were withdrawn from Vietnam under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, and more than 58,000 members of the U.S. armed forces lost their lives and more than 300,000 were wounded ,” said Purdy. “Our soldiers served honorably and bravely in Vietnam, and unfortunately, they arrived home to a country in political turmoil, and never received the recognition they deserved.”

Dr. Don Betz, president of NSU, was overseas Wednesday, but sent a letter detailing his appreciation for the day’s events.

“It is fitting that the observance should coincide with the redeployment of the last American troops from Vietnam in 1973,” said Betz. “These young men and women served their country honorably during the Vietnam era, whether in combat zones or in other posts across our nation and the world, and learned invaluable lessons that continue to guide our nation to this day.”

Betz recalls his time teaching political science at NSU in 1970s.

“Many of my students were veterans, including some who served in combat in Vietnam,” said Betz. “They contributed invaluable insights into our conversations. Their maturity added incalculably to the learning experiences of everyone in my class.”

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