Vietnam Legacy Speaks the Truth

Re “Caught in a Fantasy Amid Subterfuge,” Commentary, June 29: Clancy Sigal, in reference to recent revelations about professor Joseph Ellis’ misleading statements about his service in Vietnam, asks and answers, “Why not lie about Vietnam? Everybody does it.” I have a better answer. Everybody else doesn’t and everybody else didn’t.

The 47,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who gave their lives in combat, the nearly 11,000 who died from noncombat causes and the 153,000 wounded in action did not lie to evade service. And no amount of skepticism can desecrate their noble sacrifice.

The hundreds of thousands of Americans who served their country in Southeast Asia during the war have no need to lie. Their honorable service speaks volumes of truth about our nation and the young people who answer her call to arms.

There was plenty of shame associated with our involvement in Vietnam. There is, however, no need to compound the shame by suggesting that everybody lies about Vietnam. Those who served with honor don’t lie because they don’t need to.

William J. Moran

Irvine