Page 11 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2025 - Online Magazine

HONORING VETERANS
themselves on commercial planes.
No “welcome home” greeted them
when they landed. Most were
ignored or even shunned. Many
endured name-calling and cursing.
No one should return from the
battlefield and be treated as an
enemy by the citizens they are
sworn to protect. Thankfully, today,
most Americans regard Vietnam
veterans with a newfound respect.
I was recently made aware of a
documentary called “Truths and
Myths of the Vietnam War.” I
would highly recommend viewing
it. According to the Vietnam Vets
who produced the documentary,
most people’s perception of Nam is
neither accurate nor complete.
Some facts of the Vietnam War:
• 2.7 million military personnel
served during the war.
• More than 265,000 American
women served in the military
(11,000 women served in Vietnam,
with 90% working as volunteer
nurses).
• 300,000 combatants were reach pre-war levels. According
wounded; over 58,000 killed. to the federal government, over
300,000 (and rising) veterans have
• Over 4000 aircraft and 5,600 died from the effects of Agent
helicopters were lost during the Orange.
war.
Leonard Mantooth, Jr. was one of
• During one 10-month period, my friends at Butler High School in
the 54th Evac Medical Detachment Louisville, KY. We both went into
evacuated 2,435 troops, 8,904 the service right out of high school
civilians and 531 enemy soldiers. in May 1970. I’ll never forget what
• From 1964 to 1970, the 5th Leonard wrote in my high school
Special Forces built 300 schools, yearbook. His ambition was “to
308 medical clinics, 1900 kilometers grant Uncle Sam the use of my body
of roads, 670 bridges, and 129 for a few years if I am guaranteed
churches and drilled 6,436 water the use of it for the rest of my life.”
wells. On 11 January 1972, he was on the
crew as Gunner of the US Army
• More humanitarian acts were helicopter UH-1C #65-09543 when
performed by our military than in they were shot down near Ca Mau.
any war in our history. All four crew members perished
in the crash. Len was 21 years old.
The suffering did not end for many Sergeant Mantooth’s name is forever
Vietnam veterans. During the war, enshrined on the Vietnam Wall on
the U.S. military used a variety of Panel W2, Line 96.
so-called “rainbow” herbicides used
to destroy forests that provided Every single Vietnam War Veteran
cover for enemy forces. Agent granted Uncle Sam “the use of their
Orange, a chemical dust, caused body,” whether they came home or
leaves to fall off. Unfortunately, it not. And many who did come home
led to a variety of serious health suffered the collateral damage of
issues including cancer, diabetes, the war in their bodies and souls for
Parkinson’s disease, and heart the rest of their lives. Every one of
disease. The U.S. military sprayed them deserve our grateful respect.
Agent Orange over 4.5 million acres
of land in Cambodia, Laos, and
Vietnam. Over five decades later,
the forests in Vietnam still do not
Larry Williams is a longtime contributor to Lubbock
Senior Link. We appreciate his insightful awareness
regarding veterans. His attention to detail is invaluable,
and he is often responsible for suggesting the focus and
theme for our veteran editions. He continues his service
as board member and Outreach and Veterans Liaison
Co-Chair for the Texas South Plains Honor Flight.
Lubbock Senior Link 11