National Vietnam War Veterans Day
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, we encourage all to join us in extending the most heartfelt thank you to the Veterans who served during the period of Nov. 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, and the gold star families who lost loved ones as a result of the war.
March 29, 2023, is National Vietnam War Veterans Day, which marks several important occurrences that signified the end of the war: the disestablishment of the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam; the departing of the last U.S. combat troops from Vietnam; and Hanoi's release of the last of its acknowledged prisoners of war. As of Jan. 24, 2023, there are still 1,553 considered missing in action.
When Servicemembers returned from Vietnam, they weren't met with the cheers, thanks, or parades that our more recent Veterans now receive. Many of them attempted to quietly slip back into the lives they led prior to the war, carrying seen and unseen scars. Today, as a nation, we have come to terms with the lack of gratitude Vietnam War Veterans received, and we continue to make strides in properly acknowledging these Veterans and their families.
One way our nation's citizens thank Vietnam Veterans and their families is by holding Vietnam War commemoration events. During many of these events, Veterans and gold star families are presented commemorative pins. For more information about events near you, the Vietnam War, the 50th anniversary, and Vietnam War Veterans Day, visit the official commemoration website.
For VA, appropriately recognizing Veterans’ service during the Vietnam War means identifying and treating those who were exposed to a variety of environmental and chemical hazards that carried potential health risks. If you or someone you know believes they’ve incurred long-term health problems related to herbicide exposure (including Agent Orange), VA offers eligible Veterans a free Agent Orange Registry health exam. For details about the registry and exam, visit Agent Orange Registry Health Exam for Veterans - Public Health (va.gov).