A 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.

Bill: 118-sres-778
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2024-07-30
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia

Conflicts and wars

Congressional tributes

Elementary and secondary education

Military history

Teaching, teachers, curricula

U.S. history

Veterans' organizations and recognition

Vietnam
Latest action: action_date: 2024-07-30
text: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5572-5573; text: CR S5589-5590)

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-07-30
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution recognizes the sacrifice made by veterans of the Vietnam war and commends such veterans and their families. The resolution also expresses support for increased education in schools to better reflect the sacrifice of veterans of the Vietnam war and the lack of support they received in the United States. Additionally, the resolution expresses regret for the mistreatment of veterans and their families during and after the Vietnam war and urges the President to formally acknowledge the widespread mistreatment of such veterans.</p>

action_date: 2024-07-30
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p>This resolution recognizes the sacrifice made by veterans of the Vietnam war and commends such veterans and their families. The resolution also expresses support for increased education in schools to better reflect the sacrifice of veterans of the Vietnam war and the lack of support they received in the United States. Additionally, the resolution expresses regret for the mistreatment of veterans and their families during and after the Vietnam war and urges the President to formally acknowledge the widespread mistreatment of such veterans.</p>

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 778 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

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.