```

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 778 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 778

Acknowledging the courage and sacrifice of veterans of the Vietnam war 
 and expressing regret for the mistreatment of veterans returning home 
                             from the war.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 30, 2024

 Mr. Sullivan submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
                             and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Acknowledging the courage and sacrifice of veterans of the Vietnam war 
 and expressing regret for the mistreatment of veterans returning home 
                             from the war.

Whereas members of the Armed Forces of the United States began serving in an 
        advisory role to the Republic of Vietnam in 1955;
Whereas, in 1965, ground combat units of the Armed Forces of the United States 
        arrived in the Republic of Vietnam to join approximately 23,000 
        personnel of the Armed Forces who were already present there;
Whereas, by 1969, the number of such troops reached a peak of over 537,000, 
        including members of the Armed Forces in the region who were supporting 
        the combat operations;
Whereas, on January 27, 1973, the Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring 
        Peace in Vietnam (commonly known as the ``Paris Peace Accords'') was 
        signed, which required the release of all prisoners of war of the United 
        States held in North Vietnam and the withdrawal of all Armed Forces of 
        the United States from South Vietnam;
Whereas, on March 29, 1973, the Armed Forces of the United States completed the 
        withdrawal of combat units and combat support units from South Vietnam;
Whereas, on April 30, 1975, North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon, the capital 
        of South Vietnam, effectively placing South Vietnam under Communist 
        control;
Whereas more than 58,000 members of the Armed Forces of the United States lost 
        their lives in the Vietnam war, and more than 153,000 members of the 
        Armed Forces of the United States were wounded in Vietnam;
Whereas many thousands of veterans of the Vietnam war were exposed to Agent 
        Orange and other harmful herbicides during the course of their service, 
        carrying home delayed wounds of toxic exposure at the highest rate of 
        any generation of veterans before;
Whereas the Vietnam war was an extremely divisive issue in the United States, as 
        a result of certain biased and shameful attacks from some in media and 
        academia, politicians, and many others;
Whereas some opponents of the war did not limit their opposition to normal 
        political discourse, but engaged in violent protests, including the 
        targeting of Reserve Officers' Training Corps facilities and recruiting 
        stations, and the bombing of the Army Mathematics Research Center at the 
        University of Wisconsin-Madison;
Whereas members of the Armed Forces who served bravely and faithfully for the 
        United States during the Vietnam war were repeatedly targeted with 
        shameful personal attacks for their service as the result of decisions 
        that were beyond their control; and
Whereas Vietnam Veterans Day is observed each year on March 29, marking the 
        anniversary of the withdrawal of combat troops from Vietnam: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the extraordinary sacrifice of veterans of 
        the Vietnam war and commends them, and their families, for 
        their unwavering and courageous sacrifice to the United States;
            (2) expresses urgent support for increased education in the 
        schools of the United States to better reflect the courage and 
        sacrifice of veterans of the Vietnam war and the lack of 
        support back home;
            (3) urges the President to formally acknowledge the 
        widespread mistreatment of many veterans of the Vietnam war as 
        part of the ongoing Vietnam War Commemoration; and
            (4) expresses regret for the mistreatment of veterans and 
        their families during and after the war.
                                 <all>
```