A Matter of Honor
During
a question and answer session after his testimony, James G. Zumwalt
II was asked by Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell if he had spoken
to other veterans about the issue of recognizing post-Vietnam
service war-related deaths by the placement of a plaque at the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial:
"Since becoming
involved in actively working for the placement of such a plaque
at the Memorial, I have probably spoken to more than a hundred
veterans about the issue. The opposition voiced by the National
Parks Service to such a plaque is not one I have heard echoed
by these veterans. I placed calls to four veterans in particular
-- Harvey Barnum, Van Barfoot, Jim Livingston and Ron Rosser.
These gentlemen share one thing in common -- all are Medal of
Honor recipients. I informed them I was appearing before a Senate
Subcommittee to testify on S. 1921 and asked if I could use their
names as supporting such a bill. All expressed their full support
for the plaque and were appalled to learn there would be any
opposition to it. One recipient made the following observation:
"Memorials are a present generation's tribute to something
it wants a future generation never to forget. If recognition
is not given to these veterans, future generations will fail
to remember the hidden casualties of the Vietnam war -- a number
far in excess of those whose names appear on the Wall."