why was the vietnam war memorial so controversial?

As a first step, VVMF retained architect Paul Spreiregen to serve as the Professional Advisor for the competition. But if the challenges seemed insurmountable, no one expressed any fears. Why reinforce the bourgeoisies pathetic illusions? On the off chance that military and political analysts are right, in the next few months we must test the enemys intentions, in case this is indeed his last big gasp before negotiations. Scruggs took two weeks off from his job at the Department of Labor to develop the idea further. The senior staffers were against it. 14. 6 Things You May Not Know About the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 5/1981 - 3/1982. The VC was effectively finished; it would not field more than 25,00040,000 troops at any time for the remainder of the war. By endowing memorials with the ability to accomplish these tasks, we bestow them with an extraordinary amount of power and authority. Just as the American people could be a part of building the Memorial through their contributions and support, they could also have an opportunity to participate in its design. Scruggs added: Make this place look like an airstrike was called in, he instructed. The added component of military security made the location even more attractive, since it would ensure no interference with the designs or the judging. Significant funding cuts to programs that had been instigated in the 1960s under Lyndon Johnsons Great Society domestic agenda followed, in addition to a major attack on union power. To Heal a Nation, a book written by Jan Scruggs and Joel Swerdlow about the creation of the Memorial, provides a vivid sketch of the scene: I have heard your arguments, said General Price. The memorial should be conciliatory, transcending the tragedy of the war.3. Here's how a controversial work of art healed America after Vietnam On the other side were the veterans and their self-appointed spokesmen, politicians such as Webb and James Watt (Secretary of the Interior under Ronald Reagan), and social conservatives such as Pat Buchanan. Cambodia History of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Paul Haagas spouse, Heather Sturt Haaga, soon came forward to lend her experience in fund raising. It consists of a black granite wall with the names of over 58,000 soldiers who were killed or went missing in action inscribed on it. Jan C. Scruggs, a wounded Vietnam War vet, studied what is now called post-traumatic stress disorder upon his return to. Everything has to be thought out and in place before the launch button is pressed.. Based on a program the British had employed successfully against insurgents in Malaya, it didnt work in Vietnam. He cited the growing coalition was a prime example of its not what you know, its who you know. These people, though a small group, were able to reach out to their networks and their extensive contacts to recruit the type of expertise and support required for such a mammoth initiative. ARVN divisions in the north were surrounded and routed. In large part, this was accomplished through a series of conflicts waged at the level of culture. Lin became a design consultant to the architect of record. The ceasefire allowed Nixon to declare peace with honor, but no provisions existed for enforcing the terms of the accords. Initially the (Senators) staff was split, recalled Monica Healy, a long-time Mathias aide, on whether Mathias should take the lead and support the efforts to build the Memorial. In the early 20th century, Vietnamese nationalism began to rise, clashing with the French colonial rulers. Success was measured in body count. It was to be a war of attrition and statistics, a policy that suited Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, who distrusted the military and often bypassed the Joint Chiefs of Staff in issuing directives. Guerrilla warfare (asymmetrical warfare) does not permit such clear-cut data. As soon as the design was chosen,the next step was to consider the all-important details of getting it built. . Compounding the pain was that societys ill treatment of the veterans extended to their families. The 15,000 in uniforms and civvies, walked among floats, bands and baton twirlers. The entire text size and layout Lin saw as an open book. The bronze sculpture, depicting three women caring for an injured soldier, recognized the work of the more than 10,000 women who served in Vietnam. As a senior at Yale University, Lin entered a nationwide competition sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, and her design was selected from the more than 1,400 submissions that were received. Its mere existence would be societal recognition that their sacrifices were honorable rather than dishonorable. The Vietnam Wall Controversy, Round 4, 1982, History on Trial, Lehigh University Digital Library, accessed April 21, 2011, https://digital.lib.lehigh.edu/trial/vietnam/r4/1982/. In the nine months since he'd been in-country, Scruggs had already seen a lot of action and had been wounded in a battle near Xuan Loc. The names of the eight women who died in Vietnam are included on the list of over 58,000 names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Spreiregen wrote, I saw this as a needed opportunity to honor the service and lives of the soldiers we had lost and do so by running a model competition., Arthur Mosley headed the site selection task group and was assisted by John Woods, a structural engineer, who had been permanently disabled in a helicopter crash in Vietnam. Ruling out an invasion of North Vietnam assured that a purely military victory would not be possible, a fact that was at odds with many Americans expectations for the war. With the site approved, VVMF scrambled to address the issues of what the Memorial would look like and who would design it. Private Funding No government funds were used to build the memorial, only public land. And Congress had declared a Vietnam Veterans Week for that April to honor those who had returned home. Many who visit leave behind items in memoriam to those that have served. In an article in the Washington Post, writer Tom Wolfe defined the debate over the inclusion of Harts figurative memorial as a story of art experts and the Vietnam veteransand of how the veterans asked for a war memorial and wound up with an enormous pit they now refer to as a tribute to Jane Fonda. In the end, the quarry in India was selected. ' Continuing, Wolfe sarcastically asked: Shouldnt public sculpture delight the public or inspire the public or at least remind the public of cherished traditions? . President Johnson, watching the broadcast, said, If weve lost Walter Cronkite, weve lost the country. In May, Johnson announced he would not run for reelection. Their military experience meant they had contacts far and wide, at all levels of all professions, within government and the private sector. When they returned home from serving their country, there was no national show of gratitude. As noted above, a number of sources warned U.S. leaders against becoming embroiled in Southeast Asia. The wall is the centerpiece of the memorial and is made up of two black granite walls, each 246 feet in length and 10 feet in height. I remember The Washington Post had pages and pages of stories in the A section. Vietnam veterans were, at long last, receiving the recognition they deserved. 11. Hi, Im Claire. Ultimately, the VVMF Board agreed on a jury of the most experienced and prestigious artists and designers that could be found, since it took a mature eye to envision from two-dimensional renderings how a design would look when built. As the selection of the granite was narrowed down, Lin was keen on preserving the notion that the granite walls be reflective and thin to help express a critical aspectof the design that the memorial was a cut in the earth that had been polished. The controversy over the planned 9/11 memorial at the former site of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, which began nearly a decade ago, harkened back to the debates of the early 1980s and heralds the current resurgence of cultural warfare. Why was Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial initially controversial? 4 (Summer 1996): 685. It also offered a way to exorcise lingering bitterness and anxieties that the war had propagated. By early 1980, contributions started to arrive. Some opponents simply did not like the fact that Lin was a young student, a woman, and of Asian descent; how in the world could she possibly know how to honor the service of the Vietnam veteran? I heard that those present agreed to double their contributions after Taylor completed her remarks, Scruggs said. Many had worked together, some in Washington. [] Over the past two months, art mullahs of every description have begun a holy war against the addition of [Harts] statue.8. Please leave evidence I will report anything other than this 1 See answer Advertisement lheduardomarques Many veterans, politicians, critics, and the general public read its refusal to explicitly glorify the war or frame the listed soldiers sacrifice in recognizably heroic terms as an ideological statement, proof of Linsand the memorialspurported anti-war position. Intellectually and emotionally, America could embrace the idea. Despite the stated wishes of the VVMF, Lins design proved instantaneously divisive. South Vietnam The VC and NVA dragged off as many of their dead and wounded as possible, sometimes impressing villagers into performing this task during battles, so determining their casualties was guesswork based on such things as the number of blood trails. But it is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy, and did the best they could. 12. Doubek approached Scruggs after the meeting and suggested that he form a nonprofit corporation as a vehicle to build a memorial. Maya Lin was practically a kid when her design was selected to become the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Vietnam has a long history of being ruled by foreign powers, and this led many Vietnamese to see the United States involvement in their country as neo-colonialism. Because Warner was from Virginia and Mathias from Maryland, the two had worked together on many regional issues. Ibid. The task groups proved effective, as described by John Woods, who jointed as a key advisor. Among other duties, Healy was the member of Mathias staff who handled memorials and worked as the liaison with the U.S. Department of the Interior. A Space of Loss: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial - JSTOR They serve as testaments to lives lost, as repositories of grief, and to facilitate processes of mourning. This lends a sense of personal intimacy in a public space which helps create a sense of connection to the memorial. But the slogan has proved remarkably effective and points to a deep truth: forever is a very short time in democratic politics, writes Philip Collins. They found that they were very real people who did many of the same things they did, recalled Spreiregen. And if they themselves didnt know how to help, they knew someone who did. Each contestant sealed his or her name in an envelope and taped it to the back of the submission. Some felt that the money to build a memorial could be better spent delivering the many services veterans needed. Maya Lin worked closely with Cooper-Lecky on all aesthetic aspects of the design. The NVA suffered some 120,000 casualties. 13. It will be a better memorial if its not entirely understood at first. Color should mean nothing now., Sideys piece continued: At the end of five hours and much shouting, General Mike Davison, retired, who led the Cambodian incursion in 1970, proposed a compromise: add the figure of a soldier in front of the long granite walls that will bear the 57,709 names of those who died or are missing and the tribute to all who served. ), For three solid months, Spreiregen, Mosley, Woods, and Doubek planned the competition. The act of dark tourism is somewhat controversial, with some viewing it as an act of respect and others as unethical practice. The war became the central rallying point of a burgeoning youth counterculture, and the coming years would see many such demonstrations, dividing generations and families.. On Christmas Eve, in Saigon, a VC set off an explosive at the American officers billet in the old Brink Hotel, killing two Americans and 51 South Vietnamese. It would have power for individual veterans, but collectively, they would have even greater power to show the enormity of the sacrifices that were made.. Not only was Harts statue included at the memorial site, but a flagpole was added as well. In July 1959, North Vietnams leaders passed an ordinance called for continued socialist revolution in the north and a simultaneous revolution in South Vietnam. He also said there would be a pause in the air attacks on North Vietnam as the first step to de-escalate and promised America would substantially reduce the present level of hostilities.. The division was supposed to be temporary: elections were to be held in both sections in 1956 to determine the countrys future. The reputation of the jurors was important to attract the best designers and to minimize second guessing by the Federal approval bodies. Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. https://digital.lib.lehigh.edu/trial/vietnam/r3/october/, https://digital.lib.lehigh.edu/trial/vietnam/r4/1982/, https://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches/detail/3407, Extending Beyond Craftsmanship, into Inquiry and Exploration, Horror, Contemporary Art, and Film: In Conversation with Dan Herschlein and Chad Laird. With such an overwhelming response to the competition, logistics became an issue. As Scruggs analyzed the concept of collective psychological states, he realized that, just as veterans needed psychological healing, so too did the nation. Such images pack tremendous emotional punch but often lack context. It seemed every time they contacted someone, they were greeted with enthusiasm for the idea. By years end, 23,000 American military personnel would be in South Vietnam. By years end, 2,573 individuals and teams had registered almost 3,800 people in total. Though a congressional investigative committee the previous year had warned that America could find itself slipping into in a morass that would require more and more military participation in Vietnam, Johnson began a steady escalation of the war, hoping to bring it to a quick conclusion. Shortly after the dedication of the land for the memorial, the VVMF announced an open competition for designs for the memorial itself. To say that we are mired in stalemate seems the only realistic, yet unsatisfactory, conclusion. By the time the compromise statue is dedicated, a move for the addition of a women's memorial is already underway. Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories from master historians. The fact that such nongovernmental entities as the New York Times, CNN, and the Max Protetch Gallery took it upon themselves to solicit designs for both the new World Trade Center buildings and for suitable memorials to the attacks indicates the extent to which the American public writ large was attuned to the sites future. United States: 540,000 Inscribed on the black granite walls are the names of more than 58,000 men and women who gave their lives or remain missing. Wheeler recruited others to help, starting with a group of professional men, all Vietnam or Vietnam-era veterans: George Sandy Mayo, Arthur Mosley, John Morrison, Paul Haaga, Bill Marr, John Woods and certified public accountant Bob Frank, who agreed to become VVMFs treasurer. The following week, Kurt Anderson recapped the festivities for TIME magazine: Saturdays three-hour parade down Constitution Avenue, led by [Gen. William] Westmoreland, was the vets own show. Earlier, in March 1968, the Americal Division had been involved in what became known as the My Lai Massacre, in which over 100 men, women and children were killed. They were also the most collegial people, who would deliberate intensely but never argue or posture, Spreiregen remembered. The selected design then had to go through Federal agency approval and development into finished plans. They were feeling alienated from the nations leaders, and they had low self-esteem. Earlier, Wild Bill Donovan, head of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the World War II forerunner of the CIA, had also advised that the U.S. had nothing to gain and much to lose by becoming involved in what was then French Indochina. Karal Ann Marling and Robert Silberman, The Statue Near the Wall: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Art of Remembering, Smithsonian Studies in American Art 1, no. Movies were dealing more realistically with their issues. By 1979, the country was beginning to have more positive feelings toward Vietnam veterans. Mathias had grown increasingly concerned about how veterans had been treated on their return. You had to live through that period to really understand it. He also wanted to find a way to help them heal and suggested that the country build a national memorial as a symbol that the country cared about them. It was one of the most resounding defeats in all of military historyuntil it became a victory. Vietnam Veterans Memorial - U.S. Department of Defense The idea for a memorial seemed like a natural extension of his work and his growing desire to find a way to help veterans. Ronald Reagans election in November 1980 ushered in the Reagan Revolution, and the first few years of Reagans presidency saw the largest tax cuts in American history. In accordance with the strict competition guidelines, anonymity of all designs was carefully observed. As the commentaries of Wolfe, the New Republic, and the National Review demonstrate, the media was happy to add fuel to the fire of the veterans indignation through editorial contributions and obsessive coverage of the debate. The Vietnam Women's Memorial was established to honor the women who risked their lives to serve their country. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. As VVMF focused on fundraising, Sens. About Vietnam Veterans Memorial. One needs no artistic education to see this design for what it is, a black trench that scars the Mall. He was an excellent partner and fundraiser. Mathias knew the legislative process. This development was shaped by the theories of economic neoliberals on the one hand and by the values of their socially conservative allies on the other. On September 30, 1964, the first large-scale antiwar demonstration took place in America, on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley. We are all equal in combat. On that January day, There was a big explosion, Scruggs recalled. Antiwar protests continued across America and in many other countries, but on April 28, 1967, Gen. Westmoreland became the first battlefield commander ever to address a joint session of Congress in wartime, and Time magazine named him Man of the Year. Although publicly the war in the south was described as a civil war within South Vietnam, it was guided, equipped and reinforced by the communist leadership in Hanoi. That same month, Kennedy himself was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. When Scruggs went to see the movie in early 1979, it wasnt the graphic war scenes that haunted him. The VC were often supplemented by units of the Peoples Army of Vietnam (PAVN), more often called simply the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) by those fighting against it. 18. Usually it refers to the period when the United States and other members of the SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) joined the forces with the Republic of South Vietnam to contest communist forces, comprised of South Vietnamese guerrillas and regular-force units, generally known as Viet Cong (VC), and the North Vietnamese Army (NVA). The photo of the South Vietnamese police chief, for example, cannot by itself explain he had just seen the dead body of a close friend minutes before; even Eddie Adams, the photojournalist who snapped the photo felt it unfairly maligned Lt. Col. Loan. (His son, Marine Corps lance corporal Richard Fitzgibbon III would be killed in action in Vietnam September 7, 1965. On March 5, 1975, the NVA invaded again. Tour Washington D.C.'s Arlington National Cemetery, Tomb of the Unknowns, and Vietnam Veterans Memorial, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vietnam-Veterans-Memorial, How Stuff Works - History - Vietnam Veterans Memorial, National Park Service - Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Then, on March 30, 1972, the North Vietnamese attacked across the 17th parallel with 14 divisions and additional individual regiments. Lacking sufficient services to assist their recovery, some of these unassimilated veterans turned to alcohol and other drugs, their addictions only sending them further to the margins of society. Daniel Libeskind. Others questioned the intent of the Memorial. The vision of VVMF is to ensure a society in which all who have served and sacrificed in our nation's Armed Forces are properly honored and receive the recognition they justly deserve. Instead, the memorial became a dividing line between factions both real and imagined. Sturken, 322. They set their sights in support of the clear, simple vision Scruggs outlined:to honor the warrior and not the war. How were Vietnam veterans treated when they returned from the war? They were unwrapped, number coded, photographed for the record, and prepared for display. Ibid. North and South Vietnam were combined into the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). It was a direct result of the First Indochina War (1946-1954) between France, which claimed Vietnam as a colony, and the communist forces then known as Viet Minh. To created credibility for the fledgling effort, they formed the National Sponsoring Committee, which included then-first lady Rosalynn Carter, former President Gerald Ford, Bob Hope, future first lady Nancy Reagan, Gen. William C. Westmoreland, USA, Vietnam veteran author James Webb, and Adm. James J. Stockdale, USN. Yet, this seemingly god-given shrine wears political feet of clay, and behind it lies a fierce controversy that re-opened the wounds of the war the memorial was designed to heal. The memorial itself, was a . Because the U.S. failed to achieve a military victory and the Republic of South Vietnam was ultimately taken over by North Vietnam, the Vietnam experience became known as the only war America ever lost. It remains a very controversial topic that continues to affect political and military decisions today. 1. American intelligence knew an attack was coming, though the Army had downplayed a New York Times report of large communist troop movements heading south. He has written that he was prepared for a 25-year war; he realized he did not have to achieve military victory; he only had to avoid losing. He was in Vietnam, serving in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. Climbing Hamburger Hill 50 years after the Vietnam War's The Battle of Hamburger Hill was fought May 10-20, 1969, during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). Some of the juror comments included: They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. . Its army lacked reserves, while the NVA was growing. Vietnam veteran Joseph Zengerle, then an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, volunteered the use of an aircraft hangar at Andrews Air Force Base. The In Memory plaque, dedicated in 2004, is near The Three Servicemen and honors the men and women who died as a result of their service in Vietnam. The love and acceptance that the American people gave to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial have continued unabated for over 25 years. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was built without government funds. Security was improving even as American forces were in the process of withdrawing. 1) it commemorated an unpopular war. Better armed than ever before, thanks to increased aid from the Soviet Union, they employed tanks for the first time. Lin knew it was critical to maintain the simplicity of the design throughout the design development and construction process. The effects of U.S. involvement, the impact of an individual's participation, political decisions and the politics of decision-making are still felt. In the Shadow of the Washington Monument. The first fundraising letter was signed by Bob Hope. For years, American society as a whole, regardless of political affiliation, had studiously ignored Vietnam veterans, their presence a painful reminder of the wars moral ambiguity. The military dog tags, flowers, war medals, photographs, and even favorite toys left behind aid the healing process. Why was the memorial so controversial? For the millions of people who visit each year, Maya Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall sends a chilling message about war, heroism, and sacrifice. It was becoming apparent that we had been able to be instruments to something far greater than anything we had ever imagined.. To treat the Vietnam dead like the victims of some monstrous traffic accident is more than a disservice to history; it is a disservice to the memory of the 57,000.5. EIN: 52-1149668, Copyright 2023 The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display, History of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Remembering Vietnam: The Story Behind 'The Wall' The series of events began on Wednesday, November 10, 1982, and culminated with a service at the National Cathedral on Sunday, November14. By June 1977, Scruggs was attending graduate school at American University in Washington, D.C. and had embarked on a research study exploring the social and psychological consequences of Vietnam military duties. Here are four facts about the provocative memorial. Republican Richard Nixon won the presidency in the fall elections. On June 11, 1963, an elderly Buddhist monk named Thich Quang Duc sat down in the street in front of a pagoda in Saigon to protest Diems policies. On January 21, 1970, Jan Scruggs was having his morning cup of coffee, but he was far from his kitchen table at home. However, polls consistently showed the majority of Americans supported the war. Black walls, the universal color of shame and sorrow and degradation.. The whole week was extremely emotional, Becky Scruggs remembered. On January 27, 1973, peace accords were signed between North Vietnam and the U.S. In the nine months since hed been in-country, Scruggs had already seen a lot of action and had been wounded in a battle near Xuan Loc. Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Wikipedia They treated the moms the same as they treated the vets. This grew into the operation known as Rolling Thunder that began on March 2, 1965, and continued to November 2, 1968. Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Washington DC Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Location, History & FAQs VVMF met the prospective jurors and scrutinized their credentials. Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington D.C. Like many veterans, Carhart read Lins design through the lens of his own experience: encountering an America that was at best indifferent and at worst outright hostile towards soldiers returning from Vietnam. (Some in the North Vietnamese government thought the course of war in the south was unwise, but they were overruled.)