Welcome Remarks for "Remembering Vietnam: The 50th Anniversary of the U.S. Marines鈥� Victory at the Battle of Dai Do"
Good afternoon, and welcome to the William G. McGowan Theater at the 威尼斯人娱乐场. I鈥檓 David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, and I鈥檓 pleased you could with us today, whether you are here in the theater or joining us through YouTube.
We are honored to welcome our special guests鈥攙eterans of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, who are meeting in Quantico, Virginia, this week to commemorate the Dai Do anniversary. We are pleased that you have made the 威尼斯人娱乐场 part of your agenda鈥攁nd have had an opportunity to tour our exhibit, 鈥淩emembering Vietnam.鈥� Special thanks to Rose Marie Wilcox for her invaluable assistance with the arrangements.
Today鈥檚 discussion on the Battle of Dai Do is one of several programs related to our 鈥淩emembering Vietnam鈥� exhibit, which you can see upstairs in the Lawrence F. O鈥橞rien Gallery. 鈥淩emembering Vietnam鈥� draws on 威尼斯人娱乐场 records to explore the Vietnam War in 12 critical episodes and features interviews with American and Vietnamese veterans and civilians as well as historic analysis.
Before we get started with today鈥檚 program, I鈥檇 like to encourage you to return later this week for two other events in this theater.
At noon tomorrow, historian David Weinstein will discuss his latest book, The Eddie Cantor Story: A Jewish Life in Performance and Politics. This program is presented in celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month.
Then on Thursday, May 3, at noon, Colin G. Calloway will discuss his book, The Indian World of George Washington: The First President, the First Americans, and the Birth of a Nation.
Book signings will follow both of those programs.
To learn more about these and all of our public programs and exhibits, consult our monthly Calendar of Events online at Archives.gov. Check our website or sign up at the table outside the theater to get email updates. You鈥檒l also find information about other 威尼斯人娱乐场 programs and activities.
Another way to get more involved with the 威尼斯人娱乐场 is to become a member of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Foundation. The Foundation supports the work of the agency, especially its education and outreach programs. Pick up your application for membership in the lobby or become a member online at .
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Now I ask all Vietnam veterans or any United States veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the period of November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, to stand and be recognized.
Veterans, as you exit the McGowan Theater after tonight鈥檚 program, 威尼斯人娱乐场 staff and volunteers will present each of you with the Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin. On the back of the pin is embossed:
鈥淎 Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors You.鈥�
The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration is a national initiative, and the lapel pin is the nation鈥檚 lasting memento of thanks.
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One of the most powerful features of the 鈥淩emembering Vietnam鈥� exhibit is hearing the voices of veterans, giving the visitor a first-hand account of their experiences during the war. Since the exhibit opened last November, we have heard from many veterans here, sharing their own stories on this stage and even from the audience.
Anniversaries are always a time of reflection, and as we mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, we remember, share, and reexamine the events and experiences of those years.
We are fortunate today to have several veterans of the Battle of Dai Do with us. Published accounts and archival documents bring us close to distant events, but there is no substitute for hearing directly from history鈥檚 eyewitnesses.
To get our discussion started, I鈥檇 like to now welcome our moderator to the stage.
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Retired Brigadier General William 鈥淲ild Bill鈥� Weise, a native of Philadelphia, served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from 1951 to 1982. He went to boot camp as a private at Parris Island, South Carolina, in 1951, during the height of the Korean War. He retired from active duty at Parris Island as a brigadier general in 1982. In Vietnam he commanded the 鈥淢agnificent Bastards鈥� of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, during some of the heaviest fighting of that conflict in 1967 and 1968.
His combat decorations include the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, three Purple Hearts for wounds received in combat, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Palm). In addition, his battalion received the Navy Unit Commendation 鈥淔or outstanding heroism in action against insurgent communist forces in the northern I Corps Area, Republic of Vietnam, from 5 March to 31 May 1968.鈥� Currently he is a director of American Heroes First Foundation, which supports wounded veterans and their families. For five years he co-chaired the Marine Corps Heritage Center Committee, which supported the founding of the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Brigadier General William Weise.