Asian Americans in the US Military fighting in Vietnam

by David O. Chung
(Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation)

The epitome of American mainstream were Asian Americans who were drafted or volunteered to go to Vietnam has been also misunderstood. Media has always ignored this topic because "living with the face of the enemy" creates a problem with who they either depict as the enemy, or who are the real Americans fighting this war?

They can't possibly show off or write their stories about Asian Americans that are the topic of being "Baby Killers"! It just wouldn't sell!

As I was transporting the Vietnam Women's Memorial across the country to Washington, DC, I was confronted by media who were shocked to see an Asian running the operations. I was even more shocked when I was asked why I would even think about doing this when Americans had killed my people. I explained to the reporter that I was from Chicago, and that I was a Vietnam Veteran, not Vietnamese. She then said, "it's not the story her agency was looking for", and walked away. I realized she was looking for a White, Black or Hispanic that would have more suited her report on who was actually bringing the Women's Memorial to Washington,DC for Dedication on Veterans Day, 1993. In other words, she was looking for what she thought Vietnam Veterans are supposed to look like.

My wife also served in Vietnam as a Nurse. They too were misunderstood.

I saw this web site, and thought I would like to comment on it. I would hope someday, someone would take the time, and tell our interesting story of "Americans Living With the Face of the Enemy".

Regards,

David O. Chung
Director

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Ed. note: Thank you, David, for taking the time to share that story, and your perspective, with us. If you would like to take the time to write your story of "Americans Living With the Face of the Enemy," we would be proud to publish it here, with our Vietnam veterans stories.