In 2012, President Barack Obama signed a presidential proclamation, designating March 29 as the annual Vietnam War Veterans Day to ‘thank and honour’ the US Army Vietnam Veterans, including those who were taken prisoners of war or listed as missing in action. This marked the 50th anniversary of the departure of the last American troops from Vietnam— on March 29, 1973, over 13 years. The 13-year commemoration will conclude on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2025.
“The Vietnam War is a story of service members of different backgrounds, colours and creeds who came together to complete a daunting mission. It is a story of Americans from every corner of our nation who left the warmth of family to serve the country they loved. It is a story of patriots who braved the line of fire, who cast themselves into harm’s way to save a friend, who fought hour after hour, day after day to preserve the liberties we hold dear,” the proclamation states.
“Through more than a decade of conflict that tested the fabric of our Nation, the service of our men and women in uniform stood true. Fifty years after that fateful mission, we honour the more than 3 million Americans who served, we pay tribute to those we have laid to rest, and we reaffirm our dedication to showing a generation of veterans the respect and support of a grateful Nation,” proclamation added.
President Trump went a step further and signed into law “The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017” designating every March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. The bill amended the U.S. flag code to include National Vietnam War Veterans Day as a day on which the flag should be flown.
In keeping with the spirit of these declarations, every year billions of Americans come together to commemorate the service and sacrifices made by the nearly 3 million US military personnel who served in Vietnam.
On March 29, 1973, the last batch of United States combat troops withdrew from Vietnam. This marked the end of direct U.S. military involvement in the conflict from 1964 to 1973. The war claimed the lives of 1.5 to 3.5 million Vietnamese, and over 58,000 American troops.
Though the United States had been providing military and economic aid to the French and later to the South Vietnamese government in their fight against communist forces in Vietnam since the early 1950s, the direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War started in August 1964 as a fallout of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which is widely seen as the beginning of the U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War.
The Gulf of Tonkin –controversy
On August 2, 1964, the USS Maddox, a U.S. Navy destroyer, was reportedly engaged in a brief gun battle with three North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin. In the skirmish that followed USS Maddox sustained minor damage, while the two North Vietnamese boats suffered heavy losses and were rendered out of action due to direct hits.
Two days later, the Maddox and the USS Turner Joy, another U.S. Navy destroyer reported that they were attacked by North Vietnamese naval vessels. However, subsequent investigations revealed that the radar signals that had been interpreted as enemy attacks were likely caused by weather conditions and equipment malfunctions.
Despite the lack of evidence, the Johnson administration used this as a pretext to bring in the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave sweeping powers to the U.S. President to use military force in Vietnam.
There is still some controversy regarding what exactly happened in the Gulf of Tonkin in August 1964, but it is generally accepted that the second attack on U.S. Navy ships, which was the main justification for the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, did not occur.
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and events that followed
Although U.S. military advisors had been in South Vietnam since 1955, the proclamation states that Jan. 12, 1962, was the starting point of the war. This is the date when America’s first combat mission, Operation Chopper, was launched.
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed by the United States Congress on August 7, 1964, authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to use military force in Southeast Asia without a formal declaration of war. It is considered to be the legal basis for U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
The accuracy of the two incidents that led to the passage of the resolution including the attack on USS Maddox by on August 2, 1964, and a second attack on USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy on August 4, 1964, continue to be the subject of debate and controversy.
However, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate empowered the president to take any measures he deemed necessary to prevent further aggression and defend U.S. interests in Southeast Asia.
The resolution was later repealed by Congress, following years of public protest and opposition to the war in 1971.
Significantly there were about 16,000 U.S. military personnel serving as advisors to the South Vietnamese military at the time of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. The resolution provided them with the rationale or legal authority to escalate the conflict and deploy large numbers of combat troops in Vietnam for a major military operation.
By the end of 1964, there were approximately 23,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam, and this number continued to grow rapidly over the years reaching a peak of over 500,000 troops in 1968.
U.S. military involvement continued to escalate over the next few years, with the deployment of hundreds of thousands of troops and the conduct of large-scale military operations.
Some of the key features of the resolution include:
Authorization of Military Force: The resolution authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to take any necessary measures, including the use of armed forces, to defend U.S. interests in Southeast Asia.
Broad Powers Granted: The resolution gave the president broad powers to take any measures he deemed necessary, without seeking the approval of Congress, to prevent further aggression in the region.
No Declaration of War: The resolution did not declare war, but it authorized the use of military force, which led to the escalation of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
Limited Debate: The resolution was passed with limited debate and with overwhelming support in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Controversial Circumstances: The resolution was passed in response to alleged attacks on U.S. naval vessels in the Gulf of Tonkin, but the accuracy of these reports has been the subject of much debate and controversy.
The Vietnam War (1955 to 1975) was one of the longest and most divisive wars in modern history. The United States supported South Vietnam, in the fight against North Vietnam, backed by the Soviet Union and China.
The Vietnam War was a significant conflict that had wide-ranging and long-lasting impacts on the United States, Vietnam, and the world. Its legacy continues to be felt even today.
1. It was the first time that the United States had been involved in a major conflict that it did not win.
2. It had a significant impact on international relations, leading to strained relations between the United States and other nations.
3. It was the first time that the U.S. military faced a guerrilla war. Between the beginning of the Kennedy buildup in 1961 and the fall of Saigon in 1975, the Americans incurred an average of 4,000 military deaths a year.
4. The conflict highlighted the limitations of military power and the need for more nuanced and effective strategies.
5. The war also contributed to the rise of anti-American sentiment around the world.
6. Almost 3 million Vietnamese and about 60,000 American soldiers, died in the war
7. The war caused widespread displacement and suffering, with many civilians caught in the crossfire.
8. The War sparked intense turmoil in the United States leading to widespread political and social unrest.
9. The War had a profound economic, social, and political impact on Vietnam.
10. Vietnam was left devastated.
11. The United States military sprayed a number of chemicals including Agent Orange from planes or helicopters to destroy the dense jungles over large areas and make it difficult for enemy troops to hide behind them.
12. Millions of Vietnamese and U.S. soldiers as well as civilians who deliberately or otherwise came in contact with these chemicals are suffering from cancer, and other chronic diseases.
13. According to conservative estimates that up to 1 million people are disabled or suffer health problems due to Agent Orange exposure
14. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, about 2.6 million U.S. military personnel are believed to have been exposed to the chemical
15. The Vietnam War went on to be the first televised war as the percentage of Americans who owned a television skyrocketed from 9 per cent to 93 per cent from 1950 to 1966.
By the early 1970s, U.S. public opinion had turned against the war, and the Nixon administration sought to withdraw U.S. troops while continuing to provide support to the South Vietnamese government. The resolution was later repealed by Congress in 1971, following public protest and opposition to the war. Subsequently, the Paris Peace Accords were signed in January 1973, ending the direct U.S. military involvement in the conflict.
To recognize and thank our Vietnam Veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice during one of America’s longest wars people all over the USA commemorated March 29 as the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
Almost nine million American men and women – more than six million of whom are living today – answered the call of duty and served in the U.S. Armed Forces in Vietnam during the two decades from November 1, 1955, to May 7, 1975.
To commemorate and recognize in 2012 by then-President Barack Obama and the Department of Defense decided that the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration program will continue until 2025.
Other Proclamations
In addition to the presidential proclamation, there are also proclamations observing Vietnam War Veterans Day in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and all five U.S. territories.
Most of these proclamations list March 29 as Vietnam War Veterans Day, but some, like California, observe March 30 instead.
