VFW Post 3278 with the Ladies & Men’s Auxiliaries observed the signing of the Paris Peace Accord Wednesday night. The accord ended America’s involvement in the Vietnam War on 27 January 1973.
The war officially lasted 11 years becoming America’s longest war. Over 58,000 services members were killed and over 153,000 were wounded with 2,338 still listed as MIA.
The first American causality was OSS LTC Peter Dewey who was killed on 26 September 1945 well before the major involvement of American forces. In the last engagement of the war 12-15 May 1975, 15 servicemen lost their lives though direct enemy contact and 3 others listed as MIA were executed by the Khmer Rouge during the Mayaguez incidence.
3,403,100 personnel served in the South East Asian Theater of operations.
Pictured above, VFW Senior Vice Commander James Masters during the ceremony.