NEVER FORGOTTEN
Vietnam War veterans continue quest to keep memories of their fallen comrades alive
KINGSTON, N.Y. » The veterans who served during the Vietnam War must continue to tell the stories and share the pictures of their comrades so that they are never forgotten, Lamont Taylor said during a memorial service.
“We need to continue to tell the stories and share the photos of our comrades from Vietnam,” said Taylor, president of Ulster County Chapter 60 of Vietnam Veterans of America. “They need to know that we do care about them. That it is our responsibility to continue to share their memories, their gallantry and everything else they need to know about their loved one.”
Taylor’s comments were part of a ceremony on Saturday to honor Vietnam veterans. The ceremony took place at the Ulster County Vietnam Veterans Memorial outside the New York National Guard Armory on Kiersted Avenue.
During the ceremony, the names of Ulster County’s fallen Vietnam War veterans were read aloud and a bell was rung in honor of each. A wreath was also laid at the memorial.
“We need to remember that the Vietnam veterans of Amer-
“They need to know that we do care about them.”
— Lamont Taylor, president of Ulster County Chapter 60 of Vietnam Veterans of America
ica are a vital part of this nation,” Taylor added. “That we went to Vietnam for a great cause and that they will never be forgotten.”
During his remarks, Taylor spoke about sharing photos of one of his fellow Marines with the man’s wife. He said the wife did not want to take the photos away from Taylor, but he said he assured her the image of her husband lived in his heart and mind.
Taylor also said, in another instance, he invited the nephew of a fallen Vietnam veteran to attend an annual reunion for the survivors. He said that allowed the nephew to speak first-hand with the men who served with his uncle and were there the day he died.
A corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps, Taylor also spoke about his own experience leading up to his arrival in Vietnam. He said he and his fellow Marines landed in Da Nang in an air-conditioned plane, but once the doors were opened, all the cool air was sucked outside and they found themselves “sitting in sweat.” Taylor said when he was hit with the 150-degree heat, he said to himself, “I know I just died.” Fortunately, he did not and his body adjusted, he added.
The following day, he joined his company in Chu Lai in South Vietnam, Taylor said.
“One of the first things I learned about Vietnam, as we all did, is that either you get killed in the first three months that you’re there because you don’t know enough, or you get killed in the last three months ... of your term because you thought you knew everything and you got careless,” Taylor said.