Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Remembering Vietnam

 More than 2.7 million US military service members served in Vietnam between 1964 and 1973. More than 58,000 didn't make home.

Until the end of 2017, the Northside Military Museum will be honoring Magic Valley veterans who served during the Vietnam Era.



Our exhibit includes a Wall of Honor for Magic Valley Era veterans. This wall includes photos of local veterans who served their nation between 1961-1975. Most served in Vietnam, some in Germany, or at other US bases.

We decided to include all veterans from this era for two reasons:

1. Just about any man or woman who put on a uniform in service of this nation during this time could have been sent to Vietnam. Service members knew this was a possibility and still served.

2. Protesters at the time did not take the time to ask service members where they had served. Because of the politics of the time, our men and women in the service were indiscriminately treated poorly. We at the museum believe these men and women deserve far better than they received and should be given respect and acknowledgement for their service.


 To help tell the story of what it was like in Vietnam, we have plenty of interpretive information and two dioramas built by our veteran volunteers who served in Vietnam.

One diorama focuses on the Brown Water Navy - the sailors who patroled the shallow rivers and canals of Vietnam.

The other illustrates Phu Cat Air Base as remembered by a former Air Force jet mechanic.

In addition to honoring our surviving Magic Valley veterans, we also pay tribute the Magic Valley veterans who didn't make it home and to the Idaho Missing 8.

If you served during the Vietnam Era, we would like to hear from you - we would like to honor your service by adding your picture to our Honor Wall and you can add a pin to our map of Vietnam to show where you served.

We will be featuring this exhibit until January 1, 2018.