IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 138 

Expressing support for designation of a ‘‘Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans 

Day’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 21, 2013 

Ms. LINDA T. SA ́NCHEZ of California (for herself, Mr. PETERS of California, 

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. 

BORDALLO, Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. COHEN, and Mr. 

TAKANO) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for designation of a ‘‘Welcome Home 

Vietnam Veterans Day’’. 

Whereas the Vietnam War was fought in Vietnam from 1961 

to 1975, and involved North Vietnam and the Viet Cong 

in conflict with the United States Armed Forces and 

South Vietnam; 

Whereas the United States became involved in Vietnam because policymakers in the United States believed that if 

South Vietnam fell to a Communist government then 

Communism would spread throughout the rest of Southeast Asia; 

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•HRES 138 IH 

Whereas members of the United States Armed Forces began 

serving in an advisory role to the South Vietnamese in 

1961; 

Whereas as a result of the Gulf of Tonkin incidents on August 2, 1964, and August 4, 1964, Congress overwhelmingly passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, on August 7, 

1964, which effectively handed over war-making powers 

to President Johnson until such time as ‘‘peace and security’’ had returned to Vietnam; 

Whereas in 1965, United States Armed Forces ground combat units arrived in Vietnam; 

Whereas by the end of 1965, there were 80,000 United 

States troops in Vietnam, and by 1969 a peak of approximately 543,000 troops was reached; 

Whereas on January 27, 1973, the Treaty of Paris was 

signed, which required the release of all United States 

prisoners-of-war held in North Vietnam and the withdrawal of all United States Armed Forces from South 

Vietnam; 

Whereas on March 30, 1973, the United States Armed 

Forces completed the withdrawal of combat troops from 

Vietnam; 

Whereas more than 58,000 members of the United States 

Armed Forces lost their lives in Vietnam and more than 

300,000 members of the Armed Forces were wounded; 

Whereas in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in the District of Columbia to commemorate those 

members of the United States Armed Forces who died or 

were declared missing-in-action in Vietnam; 

Whereas the Vietnam War was an extremely divisive issue 

among the people of the United States; 

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•HRES 138 IH 

Whereas members of the United States Armed Forces who 

served bravely and faithfully for the United States during 

the Vietnam War were caught upon their return home in 

the crossfire of public debate about the involvement of 

the United States in the Vietnam War; 

Whereas the establishment of a ‘‘Welcome Home Vietnam 

Veterans Day’’ would be an appropriate way to honor 

those members of the United States Armed Forces who 

served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War; and 

Whereas March 30, 2013, would be an appropriate day to establish as ‘‘Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day’’: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘Welcome 

3 Home Vietnam Veterans Day’’; 

4 (2) honors and recognizes the contributions of 

5 veterans of the Armed Forces who served in Viet6 nam; and 

7 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

8 to observe ‘‘Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day’’ 

9 with appropriate ceremonies and activities that pro10 mote awareness of the contributions of veterans who 

11 served in Vietnam and the importance of helping 

12 Vietnam era veterans re-adjust to civilian life. 

Æ 

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