U.S. and Vietnam now

It has been 50 years since U.S. ground forces were involved in the heaviest combat with the most casualties of the Vietnam War. For many Vietnam veterans the memories and emotions they brought home from Vietnam are still as painful as when they returned. It was years before the VA began treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Veterans who are still suffering from the effects of PTSD can learn more about current treatments at any VA Medical Center or outpatient clinic or at ptsd.va.gov.

One issue veterans with PTSD must learn to deal with is triggers, that can activate the memories and related anxiety. The VA has a crisis phone line to provide assistance to veterans (1-800-273-8255). I am covering this information because a current news report may make some veterans with PTSD uncomfortable as memories resurface.

There has been some increase in relations between the U.S. and Vietnam as time has passed since the end of the war, but right now a major event is taking place. Although some U.S. ships have made stops in Vietnam, the first aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is making a port call to Da Nang, Vietnam. This peaceful reintroduction of the U.S. military to Vietnam is a major diplomatic event, and ironically, it has been 53 years this month since U.S. Marines landed at Da Nang as the first U.S. troops to enter the war. Although other U.S. ships have visited Vietnam, the Carl Vinson with its 5,000 man crew, is the largest since the war.

In 2016 President Obama lifted the U.S. arms embargo with Vietnam, and President Trump has declared that Vietnam should buy more U.S. arms to balance the trade imbalance with Vietnam. The U.S. and Vietnam are joining together to support free navigation and to oppose China building islands and military bases in the South China Sea. Hopefully this will be a step toward a complete normalization of relations between the U.S. and Vietnam. The majority of the population of Vietnam was born after the war, and reportedly they are open to better relations with the U.S.

Jack Dragoni attended Boston College and served in the U.S. Army in Berlin and Vietnam. He lives in Chaffee, Missouri.