Rep. Dusty Johnson honors Vietnam veterans

Congressman Dusty Johnson stopped off in Pierre to present local Vietnam veterans with special lapel pins, part of an ongoing effort to recognize and express belated gratitude to those servicemen.

“When you’re a great country like we are and you’ve made mistakes like we have, it’s best to own up to them,” Johnson said. “That's really what this ceremony is about. These are going on all over the country.”

Well over a dozen veterans were honored, as well as family members of vets who had died before this honor could be bestowed. Johnson gave two keepsakes to the veterans present – a challenge coin that his office had printed, bearing the seal of the US House of Representatives and a lapel pin. The pin, which bears key iconography like an eagle and laurels, has a message on the back that Johnson highlighted.

“A grateful nation thanks and honors you for your service. That’s really the central message today, of today’s ceremony.”

Johnson individually thanked and shook every hand of every veteran who came up for a pin, and stood with them for individual photos as well.

The Vietnam conflict lasted 20 years, from 1955 to 1975, of which time the United States was engaged for 11+ years, from 1965 to 1973. At its peak the US had deployed over 500,000 soldiers to Vietnam; over 58,000 American soldiers and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died in the war. According to casualty reports, it is estimated that over 1 million soldiers and civilians died across the whole conflict.