Vietnam Veterans: An Example of Leadership and Healing

Today, 29 March, marks National Vietnam War Veterans Day. On this day in 1973 the last combat troops left Vietnam. The day became official in 2017 with the passage of the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017, a law which encourages the display of the flag of the United States on National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

Growing up in my home, every day was Vietnam War Veterans Day. My dad, John Fales Jr. was a Vietnam veteran; a proud Marine who lost his sight in the war. While he lost his sight, he never lost his vision. While he was a proud Marine, he was even more proud to be an American. While he could no longer see, he knew he had an obligation to continue to serve his country and his fellow veterans and their families. In addition to his work at the Corporation for National and Community Service – John’s passion was to fight for the underdog. He did this through a column titled “Sgt. Shaft” and through the Blinded American Veterans Foundation, a non-profit he established with two other blinded veterans, Don Garner (USN, Korean War) and Dennis Wyant (USN, Vietnam War) to assist blinded and sensory-disabled veterans in attaining their full potential through research, rehabilitation, and re-employment. 

Growing up in our home was a bit like living on The Island of Misfit Toys – a widowed immigrant from India with five children, who married a blind Marine. A Marine who came along with a band of brothers who were either blind, missing part of their body, or some combination of the above.

There is Dennis Wyant, who brought John to DC after his rehabilitation and completion of his master’s degree to work at the Blinded Veteran Association. Dennis – a Naval aviator who lost his sight, was retired as an Ensign, and who is convinced he’s the Bull Ensign of the Navy. Dr. Dennis Wyant, to be correct, earned his Ed.D., served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment, as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs' National Director of the GI Bill program and Director of vocational rehabilitation and counseling services. Dennis is also a championship water skier and golfer.

There is Jim Mayer – known to many post-9/11 wounded warriors who did their recovery at Walter Reed as The Milkshake Man. Jim lost both his legs in Vietnam. Jim retired from the Veterans Administration after 33 years of service in numerous leadership roles including leading the VA’s executive development program and where he was a charter member of the Senior Executive Service. In 1991, he began volunteering at Walter Reed as an amputee peer visitor and trainer.

Johnnie Collins, who served two tours in Vietnam, was always in the mix (and often provided John with a ride to the track to place a few bets on the ponies). After 21 years in the Army, and after having lost sight in one eye because of his first tour in Vietnam, Johnnie retired from the Army with the rank of Sergeant First Class. Johnnie also served as AMVETS National First Vice Commander for Membership and continues to serve AMVETS through a post named after him.

And there is Ron Drach, who lost a leg in Vietnam and retired from the Army in 1967. Ron has spent the balance of his life supporting disabled veterans through the VA and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the first Vietnam veteran to become a Director at the DAV. Ron served four years as a member of DOD’s Recovering Warrior Task Force and served on the Board of the Wounded Warrior Project for ten years, including four as President of the Board.

And there were many others – Max Cleland, Tom Ridge, Tom Pauken …

Each of these men advocated for veterans, particularly Vietnam era veterans.

An advocate is one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group.

As we think about the legacy of their work, on this day – National Vietnam War Veterans Day – I think the synonyms of advocate are a better way to understand these men: backer, booster, champion, gospeler, herald, protagonist … and my favorite – tub-thumper.

The truth is that none would describe themselves that way – they would just like to be known as “Marine” or “Soldier” or “Veteran” or “Brother”. None of them let the injuries they suffered define them – rather, the injuries they suffered and the rehabilitation and growth that ensued gave them a perspective and a platform to not only advocate for those who served and sacrificed, but to lift up those men and women based on their own personal experience.

At a time when many are calling for veterans to help heal our national divides – for example, The Veterans and Citizens Initiative and With Honor, initiatives that I wholeheartedly support – we don’t need to look too far back to a time when there was a seemingly endless war, civil and political discord, and social injustice to find veterans who provided an example of leadership and healing.

Raise the flag and raise a toast to Vietnam War Veterans.