Bombtrack
06-17-2004, 01:21 PM
A current thread in the General Forum made me think of this.
But while Canada as a nation was not involved, Canadians themselves formed the largest foreign contingent in the U.S. military during the Vietnam era. Some estimate that their numbers far suppressed the more than 30,000 Americans draft dodgers who fled to Canada to avoid military service during the war. While exact numbers are impossible to obtain, from my work as a military historian with the Canadian War Museum, I estimate that of the many thousands who served in the U.S. Vietnam-era military, some 12,00 Canadians actually served in Vietnam itself. Source (http://www.vwam.com/vets/canadians.html)
http://www.vwam.com/vets/robby6.jpg
http://www.vwam.com/vets/canadian.jpg
http://home.cogeco.ca/~dscarlino/War/KheSahnFlag.JPG
http://www.historytelevision.ca/images/archives/vietnam/canadians_vietnam_war.jpg
Press photo for "Canada and the Vietnam War: Controversy and Conflict" By Nick Crowe
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/fourth_dimension/2004/jan04/28/history2MED.jpg
Hi-res (http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/fourth_dimension/2004/jan04/28/history2.jpg)
Xuan Loc, South Vietnam; late winter 1973: Capt Ian Patten and Capt Fletcher Thomson (with the ICC) investigate an alleged ceasefire violation. The man on the ground is a dead Viet Cong soldier, and the man at right is Canadian Press correspondent Kevin Doyle.
WO A.E. Scott
http://www.usmcfew.com/0311/Reunions/reui99/groupreuion.jpg
The "North Wall," a memorial to the dead and missing Canadians of the Vietnam War, located in Windsor, Ontario.
http://www.quietcity.org/img/pix/mem_canada_roses.jpg
Roses at Vietnam Memorial - The Wall - April 21, 2001
http://home.cogeco.ca/~dscarlino/War/Johnb.jpg
John W. Blake, Canadian Vietnam Veteran whom the Canadian Government will not allow to be laid to rest in a Field of Honor.
http://grunt.space.swri.edu/mural-1.jpg
painted by Dan Lessard to honour Canadian Vietnam Veterans
http://www.homeofheroes.com/photos/7_rvn/lemon_a.jpg
Peter Lemon is the only Canadian to receive
the Medal of Honour in the Vietnam War.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Lemon (then Sp4c.), Company E, distinguished himself while serving as an assistant machine gunner during the defense of Fire Support Base Illingworth. When the base came under heavy enemy attack, Sgt. Lemon engaged a numerically superior enemy with machine gun and rifle fire from his defensive position until both weapons malfunctioned. He then used hand grenades to fend off the intensified enemy attack launched in his direction. After eliminating all but 1 of the enemy soldiers in the immediate vicinity, he pursued and disposed of the remaining soldier in hand-to-hand combat. Despite fragment wounds from an exploding grenade, Sgt. Lemon regained his position, carried a more seriously wounded comrade to an aid station, and, as he returned, was wounded a second time by enemy fire. Disregarding his personal injuries, he moved to his position through a hail of small arms and grenade fire. Sgt. Lemon immediately realized that the defensive sector was in danger of being overrun by the enemy and unhesitatingly assaulted the enemy soldiers by throwing hand grenades and engaging in hand-to-hand combat. He was wounded yet a third time, but his determined efforts successfully drove the enemy from the position. Securing an operable machine gun, Sgt. Lemon stood atop an embankment fully exposed to enemy fire, and placed effective fire upon the enemy until he collapsed from his multiple wounds and exhaustion. After regaining consciousness at the aid station, he refused medical evacuation until his more seriously wounded comrades had been evacuated. Sgt. Lemon's gallantry and extraordinary heroism, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
But while Canada as a nation was not involved, Canadians themselves formed the largest foreign contingent in the U.S. military during the Vietnam era. Some estimate that their numbers far suppressed the more than 30,000 Americans draft dodgers who fled to Canada to avoid military service during the war. While exact numbers are impossible to obtain, from my work as a military historian with the Canadian War Museum, I estimate that of the many thousands who served in the U.S. Vietnam-era military, some 12,00 Canadians actually served in Vietnam itself. Source (http://www.vwam.com/vets/canadians.html)
http://www.vwam.com/vets/robby6.jpg
http://www.vwam.com/vets/canadian.jpg
http://home.cogeco.ca/~dscarlino/War/KheSahnFlag.JPG
http://www.historytelevision.ca/images/archives/vietnam/canadians_vietnam_war.jpg
Press photo for "Canada and the Vietnam War: Controversy and Conflict" By Nick Crowe
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/fourth_dimension/2004/jan04/28/history2MED.jpg
Hi-res (http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/fourth_dimension/2004/jan04/28/history2.jpg)
Xuan Loc, South Vietnam; late winter 1973: Capt Ian Patten and Capt Fletcher Thomson (with the ICC) investigate an alleged ceasefire violation. The man on the ground is a dead Viet Cong soldier, and the man at right is Canadian Press correspondent Kevin Doyle.
WO A.E. Scott
http://www.usmcfew.com/0311/Reunions/reui99/groupreuion.jpg
The "North Wall," a memorial to the dead and missing Canadians of the Vietnam War, located in Windsor, Ontario.
http://www.quietcity.org/img/pix/mem_canada_roses.jpg
Roses at Vietnam Memorial - The Wall - April 21, 2001
http://home.cogeco.ca/~dscarlino/War/Johnb.jpg
John W. Blake, Canadian Vietnam Veteran whom the Canadian Government will not allow to be laid to rest in a Field of Honor.
http://grunt.space.swri.edu/mural-1.jpg
painted by Dan Lessard to honour Canadian Vietnam Veterans
http://www.homeofheroes.com/photos/7_rvn/lemon_a.jpg
Peter Lemon is the only Canadian to receive
the Medal of Honour in the Vietnam War.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Lemon (then Sp4c.), Company E, distinguished himself while serving as an assistant machine gunner during the defense of Fire Support Base Illingworth. When the base came under heavy enemy attack, Sgt. Lemon engaged a numerically superior enemy with machine gun and rifle fire from his defensive position until both weapons malfunctioned. He then used hand grenades to fend off the intensified enemy attack launched in his direction. After eliminating all but 1 of the enemy soldiers in the immediate vicinity, he pursued and disposed of the remaining soldier in hand-to-hand combat. Despite fragment wounds from an exploding grenade, Sgt. Lemon regained his position, carried a more seriously wounded comrade to an aid station, and, as he returned, was wounded a second time by enemy fire. Disregarding his personal injuries, he moved to his position through a hail of small arms and grenade fire. Sgt. Lemon immediately realized that the defensive sector was in danger of being overrun by the enemy and unhesitatingly assaulted the enemy soldiers by throwing hand grenades and engaging in hand-to-hand combat. He was wounded yet a third time, but his determined efforts successfully drove the enemy from the position. Securing an operable machine gun, Sgt. Lemon stood atop an embankment fully exposed to enemy fire, and placed effective fire upon the enemy until he collapsed from his multiple wounds and exhaustion. After regaining consciousness at the aid station, he refused medical evacuation until his more seriously wounded comrades had been evacuated. Sgt. Lemon's gallantry and extraordinary heroism, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.