JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Saturday will mark 50 years since the last United States troops left Vietnam, officially ending the war.
It has become known as National Vietnam War Veterans Day as a way to give them recognition many say they never received when they returned home after the war.
On Friday, there was a special ceremony on the USS Orleck to honor those veterans.
The manager of the museum on the warship simply said he wanted this to be an official “Welcome Home” moment for the veterans who attended the ceremony.
Vietnam War veterans were also able to tour the USS Orleck for free.
Greg Allen is a U.S. Navy veteran and the manager of the museum on the Orleck. He said he wanted all Vietnam War veterans to feel appreciated and respected.
“The sacrifice and the fact that when the Vietnam veterans came back from the war, they were not welcomed home at all,” Allen said. “This is an opportunity for us to welcome them home again to the United States after their service.”
One of the people who can attest to what it was like coming home after the war is David Treffinger, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam in 1970 and 1971.
Treffinger said his experience coming back to the states was mild compared to some of his fellow servicemembers.
“We never received a welcome home 50 years ago,” Treffinger said. “We were looked down upon. I was lucky. But I know some of them were spat on when they went through airports. They were accused of being baby killers and all that. But Vietnam veterans did their job.”
More than 9 million Americans served in the Vietnam War over its 20-year period from 1955 to 1975.
More than 58,000 U.S. military members were killed, while more than 1,500 are still missing in action.
At least 300,000 were wounded and injured.
Their service was commemorated on the USS Orleck Friday afternoon with a special ceremony on this Navy Pier, which was set up by volunteers on Thursday, including JROTC students from Clay High School.
Any Vietnam War veterans in attendance can tour the ship free of charge.
There is an area aboard where visitors can watch a three-minute video of a mission the Orleck was involved in during the Vietnam War in 1968.
“I am sure that we will see the pride in their service when they come aboard the ship and the pier during the ceremony,” Allen said. “We will see the pride that they have in how they served the country during the war.”
It is the same pride that Treffinger said he possesses, and he hopes others can respect.
“[My hope is] that we were appreciated,” he said. “We are appreciated now more so than when we were 50 years ago.”
There is some significance to the ceremony happening specifically on the warship.
The USS Orleck also served in the Vietnam War, earning 14 battle stars within a 10-year span.
The Orleck earned two different nicknames during that time:
“The Grey Ghost of the Vietnam Coast” for its ability to blend into its surroundings and support ground forces, and “The Top Gun of the Vietnam War,” as she fired more than 11,000 rounds during combat.
Several local events have happened this week to honor Vietnam War veterans, including what’s scheduled at the Orleck on Friday.
There was an observance ceremony Thursday morning at the Jacksonville National Cemetery.
There is also another option for people looking to attend an event.
At 10 a.m. Saturday in Clay County, there will be the “Welcome Home” Remembrance Ceremony in Green Cove Springs at 915 Walnut St.
