When we were all students at Fort Devens those many years ago, we joked about the ASA shoulder patch and its colors. The poem went, “Black is for the night we fear; Blue’s the water we won’t go near; White is for the flag we fly; Yellow is the reason why. Red is for the blood we shed, but as you see, there is no red.”
The year 2020 marked the 45th anniversary of the ending of the Vietnam war. The Vietnam Memorial, more commonly referred to as ‘The Wall,’ includes the names of 58,220 Americans who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. Thirty-six of the soldiers listed were in the Army Security Agency. So, in reality, we did shed some blood.
Following Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, when returning soldiers were treated with great fanfare, the American public came to recognize the shabby treatment Vietnam veterans had received on their return. This situation has improved since that point. Some who thank us for our service, particularly young people, seem to be sincere. Some will actually chase us down in a store to do so. Whether or not they know anything about the Vietnam War, and even if they cannot find Vietnam on a map, their expressions of thanks are appreciated.
Colonel Lewis Millett, the highly respected Medal of Honor winner mentioned earlier, lost his youngest son to a plane crash following peacekeeping service in the Middle East in 1985. After his loss, he penned this tribute.
An Old Soldier's Prayer
I have fought when many feared to serve. I have gone where others failed to go.
I have lost friends in war and strife who valued duty more than love of life.
Now I understand the meaning of our lives,
the loss of comrades not so very long ago.
So to you who answered duty's siren call, may God bless you, my son.
May God bless you all.
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