why was the vietnam war memorial so controversial

Partially, this happened because the subject of the Vietnam War itself was sensitive and painful for the public. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Omissions? How much do you have to change something to avoid copyright. Why Were Vietnam War Vets Treated Poorly When They Returned? The Vietnam War was the longest in U.S. history until the Afghanistan War (20012021). Waiting meant they would never reach their dedication deadline of November 11, 1982. At the time, well-managed open design competitions were common in Europe, but not in the United States. They were real guys. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. They were unwrapped, number coded, photographed for the record, and prepared for display. As Scruggs analyzed the concept of collective psychological states, he realized that, just as veterans needed psychological healing, so too did the nation. We are all equal in combat. Veterans would stay at the wall for hours making pencil rubbings of names that were important to them. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. They come because of the symbolism surrounding the beautiful monument. Your email address will not be published. The memorial, located near the western end of the Mall, is a black granite V-shaped wall inscribed with the names of the approximately 58,000 men and women who were killed or missing in action. WebIt was built to honor those soldiers who died or were declared missing during ---- Vietnam War (1959-1975) for 16 years The memorial was designed by a --- student of architecture, ----- 21 year old, Maya Ying Lin The memorial shaped liked a V, and it is made of ---- black granite The walls are inscribed with over ---- names of soldiers 58,000 The Remarkable Story of Maya Lins Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I had calculated that it was possible to see all of them in a minimum of 3 1/2 hours. I just kept thinking to myself how quiet it was, and yet there was an immense feeling of community. Why was the Vietnam War Memorial so controversial? Antiwar protests continued across America and in many other countries, but on April 28, 1967, Gen. Westmoreland became the first battlefield commander ever to address a joint session of Congress in wartime, and Time magazine named him Man of the Year. No one wanted the war to happen in the first place, so having a memorial was a constant reminder of the war no one wanted. How do you build a monument to a war that was more tragic than triumphant? Scruggs took a bold step in contacting Virginia Senator John Warner. Having raised the necessary cash, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund next held a design contest. We didnt have any space, but I liked their idea and told them I would volunteer to help with all that I could.. As Vietnamization began in the early 1970s and American involvement tapered off, the wall also tapers off and the flood of names slows to a trickle, then stops. The Tet Offensive shocked Americans at home, who thought the war was nearing victory. Tensions between blacks and whites had been intensifying for years as African Americans sought to change centuries-old racial policies. His reasoning was that a complete mess would make it tough to stop construction. That changed in August 1964. The first fundraising letter was signed by Bob Hope. And Congress had declared a Vietnam Veterans Week for that April to honor those who had returned home. READ MORE: This 21-Year-Old College Student Designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Many people commended Lins winning design, with a former ambassador to South Vietnam calling it a distinguished and fitting mark of respect and The New York Times saying it conveyed the only point about the war on which people may agree: that those who died should be remembered.. Not only was Lin not a trained architect, she didnt even have a bachelors degree in architecture at the time. WebHistAnsweredBot 6 days ago. Mathias had grown increasingly concerned about how veterans had been treated on their return. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. I was dumbfounded that we had succeeded at doing this. Compounding the pain was that societys ill treatment of the veterans extended to their families. Vietnam Veterans Memorial The memorial was completed in late October 1982 and dedicated in November 1982. 915 0 obj <> endobj Photo by William Bill Lecky. Learn More Ho attempted to contact Eisenhower to discuss Vietnam but received no answer. No one wanted the war to happen in the first place, so having a memorial was a constant reminder of the war no one wanted . Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Maya Lin, has gone on to become a respected architect and artist, with a studio in New York City. He was in Vietnam, serving in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. American drawdown continued, with only 43,000 personnel left in-country by mid-August. It was Those memories were fresh in the mind of the daughter of Chinese immigrants senior year when, as part of an assignment in her funereal architecture seminar, she designed a walled monument to veterans of the Vietnam War that was etched with the names of those who gave their lives. Doubek approached Scruggs after the meeting and suggested that he form a nonprofit corporation as a vehicle to build a memorial. But, say those opposed, the men represent the women, the men represent all soldiers . One person even left behind a motorcycle. They needed to secure a plot of land, raise funds and public awareness, design the Memorial, coordinate construction, and organize the dedication ceremonies. On January 21, 1970, Jan Scruggs was having his morning cup of coffee, but he was far from his kitchen table at home. His successor, Lyndon Baines Johnson, inherited the Vietnam situation. Analyzes how the EIN: 52-1149668, Copyright 2023 The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display, History of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. To its own surprise, Hanoi found its forces advancing rapidly toward Saigon, realized victory was at hand, and renamed the operation the Ho Chi Minh Offensive. Arguments about a possible Vietnam Memorial in the late 1970s and early 1980s revealed serious social, political and cultural problems. The mission of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is to honor and preserve the legacy of service and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War. Two nights later, Maddox and the destroyer USS Turner Joy were on patrol in the Gulf and reported they were under attack. Mao Zedongs Communist Party had won the Chinese Civil War in 1949, and western governmentsparticularly that of the U.Sfeared communist expansion throughout Southeast Asia. The hope is that the creation of the Memorial will begin a healing process, Doubek wrote. The first American fatality was Air Force Technical Sergeant Richard B. Fitzgibbon, Jr., killed June 8, 1956. General Price, along with Senators Warner and Mathias and future Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, gave moving addresses before the command was given, and 150 shovels entered the ground with enthusiastic veterans enjoying the moment. As the war escalated and increasing numbers of Americans were wounded and killed in combat, the opposition grew. There is considerable debate over whether he was primarily nationalist or communist, but he was not especially anti-Western. Earlier, in March 1968, the Americal Division had been involved in what became known as the My Lai Massacre, in which over 100 men, women and children were killed. A chronological listing would also allow a returning veteran to find his or her time of service on The Wall and those who died together to remain together forever on The Wall. For the first time, MACV worked with South Vietnams government to create annual plans. ", 3: The Political Controversy, Maya Lin was called as a witness to defend her design in front of Congress, and as a compromise measure an American flag and a more conventional bronze statue, The Three Soldiers (sometimes called The Three Servicemen) were added to the Memorial site. When Lin first visited the proposed location for the memorial, she wrote, I imagined taking a knife and cutting into the earth, opening it up, an initial violence and pain that in time would heal. Her memorial proved to be a pilgrimage site for those who served in the war and those who had loved ones who fought in Vietnam. As VVMF focused on fundraising, Sens. And every item that is left behind at the Wall is saved at the National Parks' Museum Resource Center in Maryland. %%EOF Early Protests Vietnamese monk protesting with self How did people react to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial? Updated: February 22, 2019 | Original: November 13, 2012. WebWhy was the Vietnam War Memorial so controversial? When the winning Vietnam Veterans Memorial design was dedicated on November 13, 1982, a storm of controversy followed. By early 1980, contributions started to arrive. On the off chance that military and political analysts are right, in the next few months we must test the enemys intentions, in case this is indeed his last big gasp before negotiations. Then, on March 30, 1972, the North Vietnamese attacked across the 17th parallel with 14 divisions and additional individual regiments. With the jury selected, the next task was to announce and promote the competition. When they returned home from serving their country, there was no national show of gratitude. Together, we can make sure our heroes will get the reverence they deserve and the stories and sacrifices of our heroes will never be forgotten. Her design only earned a B in her class at Yale, so Lin was shocked when competition officials came to her dormitory room in May 1981 and informed the 21-year-old that she had won the design and the $20,000 first prize. They did not like its minimalist design. Their initial timeline was aggressive, with an ultimate goal of dedicating the Memorial on Veterans Day 1982just a little more than 36 months away. Never before or since have journalists been given such complete access to cover a war. It sold the war as a battle between Communism and Western Democracy when it fact, it was a regional conflict rooted in anti-colonial sentiment. Over Lins objection, the federal Commission of Fine Arts bowed to political pressure and approved the addition to the memorial of a 50-foot-high flagpole on which to fly the Stars and Stripes and an eight-foot-high statue of three soldiers sculpted by Frederick Hart, who called Lins design nihilistic. The commission, however, mandated that they not be placed directly adjacent to the wall in order to preserve Lins design intent as much as possible. 921 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<4B264510C64B8043843649F3602A0E3F>]/Index[915 11]/Info 914 0 R/Length 52/Prev 971210/Root 916 0 R/Size 926/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream Rip it apart.. A deep symbolic image for some and a questionable faceless wall for others the Vietnam Veterans Memorial has become controversial since the layout was accepted. I have a Master's degree in military history from King's College, London and my cornucopia of interests include: World War II, World War II, and World War II. Like the war itself, the monument proved controversial. Many people commended Lins winning design, with a former ambassador to South No government funds would be necessary. Opines that the vietnam war memorial was constructed for a noble purpose and is an historic reminder of how many men were lost. By the time he returned home, three months after the explosion, the country was even further divided. It was very hurtful, Cupp recalled. Lin and VVMF eventually selectedthe Cooper-Lecky Partnership as the architect-of-record, with Lin as the projects design consultant. The monument's location, stretching between the Lincoln and Washington monuments, adds to its air of respect, says journalist Laura Palmer, who was a reporter in Saigon in the early 1970s. Discover the story of how an unknown 21-year-old architecture student designed one of the most moving monuments in the nations capital. Nine years later, yet another sculpture was added showing three women caring for an injured soldier. Whenever 18-year-old .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Maya Lin walked through Yale Universitys Memorial Rotunda, she couldnt resist passing her fingers over the marble walls engraved with the names of those alumni who died in service of their country. Ms Lin arrived at a design solution to note those that were MIA with a symbol()that could be altered if the service member was found. The French suffered a major defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, leading to negotiations that ended with the Geneva Agreements, July 21, 1954. The American Legion, VFW, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), AMVETS, and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) made sure their members knew that veterans were going to be honored and welcomed that week on the National Mall. There were four phases to the design competition spanning almost one year: planning and preparation; the launch; the design phase; the design evaluation and selection; the press conference and public presentation. Some items include letters written to fallen soldiers, or notes explaining the significance of the item. It would be a way to honor the veterans and to help themand the countryheal. The veterans were asking me, What do you think people are going to do when they first come here? Lin recalls. North Vietnamese officers, after the war, said the only thing they feared was an American-led invasion of the north, but the U.S. was not going to risk starting World War III, and at the time that seemed to loom as a distinct possibility. But others lambasted it as an insult. The jury evaluation took place over five days, from April 27 through May 1, 1981. WebWhy was the Vietnam Way Memorial so controversial? After the dedication, Scruggs and Wheeler walked together along the upper side of the Memorial ground, near Constitution Avenue. "The practice that is ubiquitous now of, at the site of some kind of public tragedy, people bringing their teddy bears and their toys and letters and flowers it didn't happen in public places in the United States before Maya Lin's memorial.". 5/1981 - 3/1982. Charles Mac Mathias, a Navy veteran of World War II, had been opposed to the war in Vietnam, but he had always respected those who served in it. Children of men whose names were on the wall met veterans who knew other veterans who had known their fathers, and so on. Many people also blamed the soldier for the war, so 0 Who Are the Rival Generals in the Sudan Conflict. That disparity would decline before the war ended, but the racial tensions at home began to insert themselves into the military in Vietnam, damaging unit morale. It Doesn't Take A Hero. Every 15 minutes, there was a pause for prayer. Check out six facts about this iconic testament to sacrifice and loss. That would have made any negotiation with Ho politically ticklish. Millionaire H. Ross Perot made a sizeable donation. Crowd at the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, 1982. In previous war, progress and setbacks could be shown on maps; large enemy units could be engaged and destroyed. Im sure I looked like a deer in the headlights, I was so nervous, Scruggs recalled. The selected design then had to go through Federal agency approval and development into finished plans. It seemed unconscionable that heor anyone elseshould be allowed to forget. On January 27, 1973, peace accords were signed between North Vietnam and the U.S. What symbolism did Maya Lin achieve by creating this memorial? During the Second World War, Vichy France could do little to protect its colony from Japanese occupation. As a first step, VVMF retained architect Paul Spreiregen to serve as the Professional Advisor for the competition. 170,000220,000 military Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Web1. With the winning design in hand, Spreiregen had less than 24 hours to craft an explanation of the decisionand the designthat would be suitable for presentation to VVMF. An air war was the most that could be done north of the 17th parallel, because the use of ground troops had been ruled out. After 25 years, the way in which visitors have embraced and cherished this work has been a great gift to me, she wrote in the program for the 25th anniversary ceremony. Her only son Robert, an Army draftee, was killed by a land mine on his 21st birthday, June 6, 1968. Each contestant sealed his or her name in an envelope and taped it to the back of the submission. Similarly, casualty totals among the VC and NVA and the number of dead and wounded civilians in North Vietnam cannot be determined exactly. The battle was suddenly over.. He also found that those veterans whose units experienced high casualty rates were experiencing higher divorce rates and a greater frequency of combat-related dreams. It was such a great cause, and they were bound and determined to make it happen.. For Woods, the growing coalition was a prime example of its not what you know, its who you know. These people, though a small group, were able to reach out to their networks and their extensive contacts to recruit the type of expertise and support required for such a mammoth initiative. Scruggs envisioned a Vietnam War memorial that would focus attention on the lives that were lost, thus transcending divisive debates about why the war was fought. To suggest we are on the edge of defeat is to yield to unreasonable pessimism. They were also the most collegial people, who would deliberate intensely but never argue or posture, Spreiregen remembered. The controversy about the wall reflected Americas feelings at that time regarding our involvement in Vietnam. The flag-waving crowds even cheered., Over the four days there were also workshops, parties, events, and reunions. Could a memorial accomplish such an enormous and daunting task? Many people were shocked that of the 1,421 designs submitted by number in a blind competition, the final design had turned out to be the idea of a 21-year-old undergraduate student named Maya Linan Asian-American woman. That afternoon, the winning design was selected, said Spreiregen. The design competition also needed to be able to attract design competitors.. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! CHECK OUT: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Infographic. In November 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated before a crowd of thousands of people. Most importantly, they needed to navigate the channels of government authorizations and approvals. There were so many people helping to get the legislation [passed], remembered Healy. North and South Vietnam were combined into the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976. This lends a sense of personal intimacy in a public space which helps create a sense of connection to the memorial. The Memorials walls point to the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, thus bringing the Memorial into the historical context of our country. Like all stereotypes, this one was unfair. In fact, he would spend a lifetime trying to honor their memory. William Jayne, who had been wounded in Vietnam, volunteered to head up public relations activities. By early 1982, VVMF asked Warner to bring together both sides for a closed-door session to hammer out the issues. From the registration forms, it was apparent that architects, artists, designers, as well as veterans and students of all ages and all levels of experience were planning to participate. The priorities were to launch fund raising and achieve passage of the authorizing legislation. He has written that he was prepared for a 25-year war; he realized he did not have to achieve military victory; he only had to avoid losing. With permit in hand, Doubek instructedto commence construction immediately. The location secured, the seemingly uncontroversial process of articulating goals for a memorial and staging a competition draws over 1100 entries then the largest such design competition in the United States and the winner is Maya Lin's "Wall. Not even three years after the memorial opened, the New York Times reported it was something of a surprise is how quickly America has overcome the divisions caused by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.. Like the war itself, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial seemed destined to be a site of controversy and division. Every major engagement between U.S. forces and VC or NVA was an American victory, and the casualty (body count) ratio always showed significantly larger casualties for the communist forces than for the Americans. . The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) advised that was not the caseAmerica had a strong military presence in the Pacific that would serve as a deterrent. He organized the advisors and volunteers into task groups: public relations, financial management, fund raising, legislation, site selection, and design/construction. The names of the eight women who died in Vietnam are included on the list of over 58,000 names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. What are the five major reasons humans create art? If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The following February a strategic hamlet program began; it forcibly relocated South Vietnamese peasants to fortified strategic hamlets. Based on a program the British had employed successfully against insurgents in Malaya, it didnt work in Vietnam. During President Dwight Eisenhowers administration (19531961), financial aid was given to pay South Vietnams military forces and American advisors were sent to help train them. Marinesnear Van Truong, from the VC point of view. The construction process hits a snag when relentless and powerful critics, led by Tom Carhart, find an unsavory political message in the supposedly apolitical winning design -- ultimately forcing a compromise, the addition of a flag and a statue with three soldiers to the Wall. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. Opines that the vietnam war memorial was constructed for a noble purpose and is an historic reminder of how many men were lost. She greeted each visitor in a regal fashion, wearing a dressing gown, perfect makeup, and beautiful shoes that curled up at the toes. On November 8, 1979, VVMF held a press conference in which Mathias, Warner, and several others announced the introduction of legislation to grant two acres of land near the Lincoln Memorial for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. No one wanted the war to happen in the first place, so having a memorial was a constant reminder of the war no one wanted . It seemed every time they contacted someone, they were greeted with enthusiasm for the idea. Watt followed on March 11, 1982, by granting permission for the construction permits. The Vietnam Womens Memorial was established to honor the women who risked their lives to serve their country. An author, teacher, and lecturer, Spreiregen had written the authoritative book on design competitions. More than 1,400 submissions for the project were judged anonymously by a panel of eight artists and designers. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, also referred to as The Wall, is a memorial dedicated to the memory of the men and women who lost their lives during the Vietnam War. Many people also blamed the soldier for the war, so Initially the (Senators) staff was split, recalled Monica Healy, a long-time Mathias aide, on whether Mathias should take the lead and support the efforts to build the Memorial. His political party, the Democrats, had been blamed for China falling to communism; withdrawing from Vietnam could hurt them in the 1964 elections. But the meeting gave Scruggs his first ally: former Air Force intelligence officer and attorney Robert Doubek, who thought a memorial was a good idea. But the war news was hopeful. The stage was now set for the battle under the new Union commander, Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker. The truth was, veterans were no more likely to be addicted to drugs than those who did not serve. When the time came, however, Diem resisted the elections; the more populous north would certainly win. In March of 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson sent the first U.S. combat troops into South Vietnam to fight the spread of Communism from North. The National Park Service archives most of the nonperishable items left at The Wall. It was a war fought between the communist Viet Cong from North Vietnam, and the After three-and-a-half years of nonstop effort and work, with all that you have to do to accomplish what we did, it was beautiful. Which Secretary of the Interior James Watt then threatens to scuttle! North Vietnam HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. WebThe construction process hits a snag when relentless and powerful critics, led by Tom Carhart, find an unsavory political message in the supposedly apolitical winning design -- Black walls, the universal color of shame and sorrow and degradation.. Yet, she believes that it succeeds in glorifying the human lives lost in battle. In the fall of 1980, VVMF announced the national design competition open to any U.S. citizen, who was over 18 years old. On April 30, their tanks entered Saigon. We had to build credibility among the design community, but also build credibility with the veterans, said Woods. They set their sights in support of the clear, simple vision Scruggs outlined:to honor the warrior and not the war. On February 7, 1965, the U.S. Air Force began bombing selected sites in North Vietnam. However, polls consistently showed the majority of Americans supported the war. Meanwhile, a few survivors have had their names erroneously chiseled into the wall. Associated Press correspondent Malcolm Mal Browne photographed him sitting quietly in the lotus position as the flames consumed him. Intellectually and emotionally, America could embrace the idea. Granite was chosen since it could withstand the tests at the time. In 1973 a third Vietnam war begana continuation, actuallybetween North and South Vietnam but without significant U.S. involvement. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. When VVMF announced the selection of Lins design, the initial public reaction was generally positive. The veterans even faced controversy over their own memorial. My background was relatively modest, he said. President Johnson, watching the broadcast, said, If weve lost Walter Cronkite, weve lost the country. In May, Johnson announced he would not run for reelection. Because of this, Mathias appointed her to manage the details and to work with Scruggs, Doubek, and Wheeler on the legislation for the memorial. He, in turn, called the Buddhists VC sympathizers. The controversy overshadowed the mission and what we were doing, until the Salute brought it all together. (Some in the North Vietnamese government thought the course of war in the south was unwise, but they were overruled.) You had to live through that period to really understand it. I remind all of you of Martin Luther King Jr., who fought for justice for all Americans. Spreiregen wrote, I saw this as a needed opportunity to honor the service and lives of the soldiers we had lost and do so by running a model competition., Arthur Mosley headed the site selection task group and was assisted by John Woods, a structural engineer, who had been permanently disabled in a helicopter crash in Vietnam. Because he possessed great knowledge of history, he understood the extensive healing process required after war. He was an excellent partner and fundraiser. Mathias knew the legislative process. Though a congressional investigative committee the previous year had warned that America could find itself slipping into in a morass that would require more and more military participation in Vietnam, Johnson began a steady escalation of the war, hoping to bring it to a quick conclusion. They were also keenly aware that the legislation made the Memorials design subject to the approval of the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), and the Secretary of the Interior. He closed by saying: To say that we are closer to victory today is to believe, in the face of the evidence, the optimists who have been wrong in the past. But instead of enthusiasm, he received skepticism. On January 30, 1968, during Vietnams celebration of Tet, the lunar new year, VC and NVA units launched a massive attack in every province of South Vietnam. The crowd at the 1982 dedication of the memorial. Similar, even larger, atrocities were conducted by VC and NVA unitssuch as an NVA attack on a Buddhist orphanage at An Hoa in September 1970 or the execution of 5,000 people at Hue during the Tet Offensivebut the concept of American soldiers killing civilians in cold blood was more than many Americans could bear. We had been friends for a long time, Mathias said. From the very beginning I often wondered, if it had not been an anonymous entry 1026 but rather an entry by Maya Lin, would I have been selected? she would later write. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial has been an issue of debate since its beginning, a debate that is far from worthwhile.

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