Vietnam Veterans of America Southwest Montana

Helping Veterans, Communities, & Those Serving In Harm's Way 

 

Facebook

  • HOMEClick to open the HOME menu
    • Federal Charter
    • VVA 788 Charter
    • National VVA
    • Montana VVA
    • Our Legacy
    • Veteran's Creed
    • Application For Membership
    • 20th VVA National Convention
  • ABOUT USClick to open the ABOUT US menu
    • Welcome Home
    • Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America
    • VVA 788 Honor Guard
    • VVA Photos/Stories
    • Chapter Website of the Year
  • CALENDAR
  • THE SPRINGS ANNUAL CAR SHOW
  • VETERANS OUTREACH GOLF TOURNAMENT
  • NEWSROOMClick to open the NEWSROOM menu
    • Millions of Vets Sickened by Burn Pits, Toxins Closer to Care as Bill Moves
    • 22nd Annual Memorial Day Parad
    • Service dogs play vital role helping veterans, others in need
  • 40th Anniversary of The WallClick to open the 40th Anniversary of The Wall menu
    • Letter to a fallen son
    • The Names of All My Heroes
    • With Respect
    • Vietnam War Memorial Bozeman, MT
    • 6th Grade Student
    • Remembering Military Dogs
  • The VVA VETERAN ONLINEClick to open the The VVA VETERAN ONLINE menu
    • Speak Out! Am I A Real Vietnam Veteran?
    • Veterans Agains Drugs
  • COMMUNITY OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIPSClick to open the COMMUNITY OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIPS menu
    • Still Serving
    • 2021 Red Kettle Campaign
    • Letter of Support for Missouri River Drug Task Force
    • 2021 Dec 31 Letter to the Editor
    • 2021 Hope & The Holidays
    • 2021 Bell Ringing
    • 5TH Annual Veterans Outreach Golf Tournament
    • HRDC Warming Center
    • Partnerships
    • Southwest Montana Veterans' Home
  • Flag Retirement Service
  • VETERANS ALLIANCE OF SOUTHWEST MONTANAClick to open the VETERANS ALLIANCE OF SOUTHWEST MONTANA menu
    • Southwest Montana Veterans Cemetery
  • WHAT HEROES DOClick to open the WHAT HEROES DO menu
    • In The LIne of Duty...
  • FEDERAL AND STATE BENEFITS FOR VETERANSClick to open the FEDERAL AND STATE BENEFITS FOR VETERANS menu
    • Montana VA Health Care System
    • TRAVIS W. ATKINS VA CLINIC
    • Agent Orange
    • Gallatin County Veteran Benefit
    • National Cemetery Administration
    • NDAA
    • VA MISSION ACT
    • VA Urgent Care
    • VA Travel Pay Reimbursement
    • Veteran Affairs Liaison
  • Chaplain's RoomClick to open the Chaplain's Room menu
    • 2022 Honoring & Remembering Ronn Gjestson
    • 2022 Military Service for Harry Armstrong
    • 2021 Honoring Our Own
    • Chaplains In The Vietnam War
  • Mental HealthClick to open the Mental Health menu
    • DOG TAG BUDDIES
    • OVERWATCH PROJECT +
    • VA Mobile Apps For Mental Health
    • Reboot Recovery
    • Writing to Heal
  • V.E.T.S. CourtClick to open the V.E.T.S. Court menu
    • V.E.T.S. Court Graduation
  • VETERAN HOMELESSNESSClick to open the VETERAN HOMELESSNESS menu
    • HRDC Warming Center
  • VETERAN OWNED BUSINESSES
  • 50th AnniversaryClick to open the 50th Anniversary menu
    • A Vietnam Novel
    • Ghosts of Vietnam
    • Good Morning Vietnam!
    • Grace Of The Montagnards
    • Long Daze at Long Binh
    • Poor Man's War
    • Second-Place Hero
    • The Three Servicemen
    • Vietnam Voices
    • Vietnam War
    • Vietnam War Photos
    • "Wisconsin War Stories: Vietnam"
    • What It Was Like to Be Drafted
  • POW/MIAClick to open the POW/MIA menu
    • Welcome Home Sergeant First Class, Harold P. Haugland
    • In Loving Tribute
  • VIETNAM WOMEN'S MEMORIALClick to open the VIETNAM WOMEN'S MEMORIAL menu
    • VVA Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2020..2022 ArchivesClick to open the 2020..2022 Archives menu
    • 2022 Gold Star Families Memorial Dedication
    • 2022 Memorial Day Parade
    • 2020 Memorial Day
    • 2020 Ringing The Bell
    • 2020 Wreaths Across America
    • 2021 Memorial Day
    • 2021 A Summer Night
  • Resource CenterClick to open the Resource Center menu
    • Certificate Of Honor Program
    • Healing Waters
    • Heroes & Horses
    • Hire A Vet
    • Veteran Tuition Waiver
    • Warriors & Quiet Waters
  • Donations to VVA 788Click to open the Donations to VVA 788 menu
    • Donations to Gold Star Familiess Memorial Monument
  • Contact Us

With Respect

 

The Wall

My name, not his, on that Wall.
Not for me to see, but for all.
In my place in harm’s way he was sent. 

Someone else’s son to live in a tent. 
A calendar was formed to choose who would go, 

Some spared, some to fight the foe.
While I ate three and found comfortable sleep
He lay in mud and foxholes deep.
The turn of events kept me from the fire. 
I slept in beds while he slept near pyre.
My name to trade on that wall.
Not for him to trace, but for all.
 
A brother, a husband, a father, a mother’s son.
Humble, caring, gifted, filled with love and compassion.
Thankful and cursed, who died in my place?
His name is somewhere on that wall properly spaced. 
This soldier’s name now makes history
Written on the wall for all to see. 
He, not I, was chosen to go.
Oh, how his mother loved him so.
 
He paid the ultimate price in my place that day,
But I pay too with every memorial May.

Remembering the sacrifice he made for me on that battlefield,
How can I ever repay him, his fate forever sealed. 
My name, not his, should be on that wall.
Not a tear for me, but for all.
 
Granite slabs with names we have left to remember
And a numbered calendar from January to December.
I know not the name of the soldier who took my place.
His name is on the wall. His name with no face.

We both answered our country’s call. 
Their names in silence are a memory of all
Who died in sacrifice so that others may live
And ponder the guilt to someday forgive.

Capital ground and sacred mall  
I wish I could replace my name with his on the wall.
 
William R O'Donnell 
Navy Anti Sub Warfare Tech, Petty Officer  Second Class
1969-1973



 

A Tribute to Vietnam Veterans

 

 

 

 



Facebook