THE SILENT BLACK WALL

dustoff patch by garawles

by Ben Knisely-DUSTOFF 65 Pilot

"The Silent Black Wall" The Visitors to the Vietnam War Memorial (the most visited memorial in the Nation) come from all corners of the world, at all hours of the day, in all manners of dress, and in all sorts of weather. It is there – on a tranquil knoll just a mile from the busy chambers of Congress, where the Platoon and Company Commanders, the Infantry grunts, the helicopter crewmen, the conscientious objectors, the widows, the carriers of placards and the once carriers of M-16's -- ironically mix in a silent setting of reunion, reconciliation, and yes -- redemption.

Of all the aura that is attributed to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial perhaps it is the overwhelming silence when you stand in front of it that is the most mysterious -- yet ironically speaks to us -- the loudest. For there, amid the names of 58,235 fallen warriors -- treads daily -- the endless and perpetual silent majority of mournful Americans. Over 3 million of them – every year.

It is so silent there that you can barely hear the traffic, or the hustle-bustle of our nation’s capitol city, or even the conversations being conducted a few steps on either side of you. The Vietnam War was a war of noises; the constant "whap whap" of helicopter rotors, of the rat-tat-tat of machine gun fire, and of the thundering bombs that fell from so far above. Of the angry chants of protesters, and of the sounds of draft cards -- and families, and friendships, and even communities -- being ripped apart. But the memorial to the war's dead displays nothing of that. There are the giant slabs of granite, and the names, and the flowers and, of course, the endless memories -- but there is no noise, no noise at all, at least not there on that hallowed property. More than a quarter century after the war has ended -- there is always present, a mournful and mysterious silence. It may well be the quietest place in all of Washington D.C.

If you have never seen the wall -- it is certainly worth the pilgrimage. It is perhaps the most defining symbol of a very troubled decade in our nation's history, yet it is also the vivid and somber signature of an entire generation of prosperous and patriotic Americans. When you first approach the wall, your face will loose all expression, and you, yourself, will stare in silence at the awesome, yet simple and mammoth stretch of polished black stone that traverses for over an eighth of a mile with the endless etching of names, one right after another….

I have visited the memorial more times than I care to admit. Each time always alone -- and each time, I am always moved by the incredible SILENCE that permeates the entire place. I stood one day and ran my fingers over the engraved name of the crew chief that was killed the day my helicopter was shot down. His name was James E. Richardson. It was as though I could communicate with him in some kind of spiritual Braille. I only did that once, for in all subsequent visits I knew that I couldn’t trust my composure to try to do it again. The US Park Service reports that over 100,000 objects and letters have been anonymously left at the Wall -- I'm somehow quite sure that the majority of those items were quietly deposited in tearful and thoughtful SILENCE.

Our country has fought many wars and won most of them, with the end usually manifested in ceremonious surrenders or public treaties. The Vietnam War was unlike other wars, it was different in every way -- which is why it's memorial -- a slash in the ground -- much like the slash the war made in the hearts of Americans, and in America's heart -- is also different in every way.

You see, the Vietnam War never really ended, not the way other wars did, and sadly it's schisms and divisions have continued on, season after season, and year after year. The generations yet to come, will all struggle to try to understand what it was all about. They will ask, "what was it like for those soldiers? What inspired such sacrifice? Why were the folks back home so reluctant to support the battle?”

Ironically, those of us who were there have sought hard to forget, and thus have written very little down in an effort to facilitate those future understandings. The answers to such questions may best be found in the eerie SILENCE that surrounds the wall, and in the quiet souls who speak to us one at a time as we walk upon the grounds. The renowned country hall of fame singer, George Jones has recorded a very moving song called, “50,000 Names Carved in the Wall” …it is very well done – I wish every American would listen to it.

It struck me during one of my visits to the site a few years ago, as I watched the people all around the memorial grounds, that perhaps the war really ended there -- in the city where it was planned, prosecuted and even protested -- right there, at it's own memorial site!

Perhaps more than any political speech or public proclamation -- a simple silent black "Wall" has brought closure to so many -- and has had the effect of joining together an entire nation that was torn apart by it's most wrenching and hard to explain war. I almost became a name on that wall -- a story of which I seldom talk of and try not to even think about today in my autumn age. I wish it was not true, but I (like so many others) have several friends whose names are inscribed on that cold black granite stone. Ironically, when I think of them -- I see their faces only as they were then. For in my memory -- they will never age -- they have kept the one thing that those of us who returned home couldn't hold on too -- they enjoy the privilege (if only in our minds) of remaining forever young.

Clearly, the great black wall is -- without a doubt -- the most hallowed and silent place That I have ever visited -- and,

To all my fellow soldiers who cannot remove the memory of the Vietnam War from their minds, I pray that someday They will quietly be able forget it,

And, To all my fellow countryman who have unfortunately forgotten about the Vietnam War, I hope that every now and then -- they will pause in their busy life, if only for a moment –
Just to remember it.
To my fellow soldiers, Mike Meyer and
Tim Lickness, whose heroic efforts-
Kept my name off that wall
Ben Knisely, Colonel U.S. Army (Ret)
May 1995

I WENT TO THE WALL, ALONE-by Van Doren

Well, I went to The Wall over Veteran's weekend, 2004, alone.
I located the names of Orin Allred, William Esposito, and Gilivado Martinez. It wasn't nearly as hard as I expected, unless someone spoke to me.
A volunteer got a ladder and took the rubbings for me. Looking at the same panel (3E), while I was there were some 1st Cav veterans of Ia Drang.
One talked of being wounded, and said his being there this day was a miracle; I said (to myself) he could thank Dustoff.

Over at the statue of the 3 soldiers was another larger group, made up of veterans from several branches of service and their wives.
I think they were a contingent of a State Veterans' organization. I introduced myself to one
of them, and he grabbed me and introduced me to everyone in the group and asked me to get in a picture with them!
It was a great 'pick-me-up', and came at just the right time!

I was moved by the statue of the nurses tending a wounded GI. The competent, caring expression of the one treating the soldier - and the anguish of the one standing by her shoulder - affected me the most.
Someone had left a card that read

"I'm sorry I don't remember your name, but thank you for saving my life"!

[I'm clouding up now, just relating this anecdote to you.]
On Monday I took my wife to see the Wall, but when I showed her the 3 names she had to leave abruptly - it affected her more than either of us imagined.
She didn't know anyone listed there, but I think she was feeling the emotion I was suppressing. And she was astounded at the huge number of names inscribed there.
It certainly brings the abstract number home when you see them all spelled out like that. I guess the best word I can use to describe my impression from this visit would be "gratified".

No other monument in DC pays such eloquent tribute to the young men and women who gave their lives for us and each other.

I wonder what will be done for those in Iraq today...
Van Doren
Medic, 498th
1965-66

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