[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 11715-11717]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING VIETNAM VETERANS AND NORTH DAKOTA'S SOLDIERS WHO LOST THEIR 
                            LIVES IN VIETNAM

  Ms. HEITKAMP. Mr. President, today, as I do most Thursdays in this 
Senate, I rise to speak about the young men from my State of North 
Dakota who went to Vietnam and certainly those who died while serving 
in the Vietnam war. As I have said before, the families of each of 
these 198 fallen North Dakotans deserve to have America pause to honor 
and remember each of them.
  Before I speak about some of the North Dakotans who are missing or 
who died during the Vietnam war, I wish to thank Author ``Tom'' Mandan, 
a Vietnam veteran from New Town, ND, who is an inspiration to our State 
and to our country.
  In 1966, Tom chose to enlist in the Army. He was stationed in Vietnam 
as a medic. He volunteered to extend his time in Vietnam twice and 
spent a total of 3 years there. The Army awarded him with a Purple 
Heart and Bronze Star with the V device to denote his heroism involving 
conflict with the armed enemy.
  Tom comes from a family who is also an example of service to our 
country. Tom and his four brothers all served in Vietnam, each one 
after the other. Previously, their father, Victor Mandan, served our 
country in World War II.
  When Tom returned to the United States from Vietnam, he raised his 
family and became a teacher. He enjoyed teaching fourth graders in 
Mandari and teaching the Hidatsa language to elementary and middle 
school

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students. Tom retired from teaching and now serves the Mandan Hidatsa 
Arikara Nation, working full time as tribal liaison for elders and 
veterans.
  Tom is a proud father and proud grandfather, but he is humbled about 
his important contributions to his tribe, to his State, and to his 
country.
  Tom's first cousin, Myron Johnson, who was like a brother to Tom, 
also served in Vietnam and was killed in action there. I now would like 
to talk about Myron and four other young men who didn't come home from 
the war.


                     Myron ``Chief's High'' Johnson

  Myron ``Chief's High'' Johnson was born September 26, 1948. He was 
from Mandaree and was an enrolled member of the Mandan Hidatsa Arikara 
Nation. He served in the Army's 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry, Americal 
Division. Myron died March 28, 1971. He was 22 years old.
  He was the sixth of nine children born to Melvin Johnson and Eloise 
Mandan Johnson. His siblings said that Myron had a magnetic personality 
and was kind and sincere to everyone who met him. When people reminisce 
about Myron, they always talk about how much they loved him.
  Myron enjoyed riding bucking horses and was a top contender in the 
American Indian Rodeo Association. He was also a good hunter and a 
great shot.
  In Vietnam, Myron's best friend Richard Boehm and 32 other American 
soldiers were killed in action when Firebase Mary Ann was attacked. 
Myron received many medals for his honorable and distinguished service 
in Vietnam.
  Diane Johnson is Myron's sister and my great friend. Diane said that 
after Myron's death, he was escorted by his first cousin, John 
Morsette, who, in the Indian way, was Myron's brother. John Morsette 
served two tours in Vietnam and also was highly decorated. John told 
Diane that taking Myron home was the hardest thing he ever did. The 
trail of cars accompanying Myron from the Minot Airport back to his 
home in Mandaree was miles long.
  In addition to his parents and siblings, Myron left his wife Sharol 
and daughter Melanie. Myron's family said that his death left a 
permanent scarred hole that can never be filled. They will continue to 
honor veterans and honor Myron for giving his life for his country.
  The Mandaree American Legion Post 271 is named after Myron and 
Myron's nephew, Nathan Good Iron, who was killed in Afghanistan in 
2006.
  The Mandaree American Legion Post honors me consistently by allowing 
me to enter with their shawl at American pow-wows and honors me by 
allowing me to walk with Nathan's mother Harriet as we honor her as a 
Gold Star Mother.
  For over 30 years, Myron's mother, despite her limited resources, 
honored Myron by giving away star quilts and shawls she made in Myron's 
name. These giveaways were held throughout the years at various flag 
raisings, various pow-wows, and Memorial Day and Veterans Day services.
  On Myron's mother's death bed, she looked up and smiled and said in 
her native language, ``Oh my son, you're here. You've finally come to 
see me.''


                            Francis Dowling

  Francis Dowling was from Cooperstown, and he was born July 13, 1929. 
He served as a sergeant major in the Army's First Infantry Division. 
Francis was 38 years old when he died on October 17, 1967.
  Francis was one of eight children. His two brothers also served in 
the Vietnam war--George in the Air Force and Forrest in the Marines. We 
were unable to reach any of Francis's family members, but according to 
a remembrance written by Jim Shelton, who served with him, Francis was 
a brave and a loyal soldier. Jim described Francis as ``tall, handsome, 
and professional,'' with a strong sense of humor.
  Michael Meyers also served with Francis, and he recalls that Francis 
was easily 6 feet 6 inches tall and was very muscular. Michael said, 
``He was so big people thought he was mean, but 97 percent of the time 
he had a big smile on his face.''
  Francis died during an ambush when he was trying to shield his 
wounded commanding officer from further fire. Francis is buried in 
Arlington National Cemetery.


                              Glenn Maier

  Glenn Maier was from Bismarck and was born December 31, 1949. He 
served in the Navy and was trained as a fireman. Glenn died July 11, 
1970, when he was 20 years old.
  This Senator has the pleasure of knowing Glenn's family. His parents, 
Vi and Chuck Tracy, lived just two doors down from my house where I 
raised my family in Mandan.
  Glenn's father, Ervin Maier, served our country in the military and 
died when Glenn was very young. Vi later married Chuck Tracy, and they 
raised Glenn together. Vi and Chuck also gave Glenn a brother, Bob, and 
a sister, Sue. Bob and Sue said that Glenn was a happy-go-lucky guy. 
They remember him riding his Vespa scooter and enjoying time with his 
friends and especially playing a lot of pinochle.
  Glenn's sister Sue chuckles when she thinks about growing up and 
Glenn not knowing how to swim. Even though Sue was younger by 6 years, 
she tried to teach him how to swim in the small swimming holes on the 
sandbars of the Missouri River. When Glenn decided to enlist in the 
Navy, she joked with him that he was foolish, but he assured her that 
the Navy would make sure he could swim.
  Glenn's brother Bob is grateful for meeting other men who served with 
Glenn in the Navy. They told Bob stories about Glenn's service, like 
how despite being trained in the Navy as a firefighter, Glenn served on 
a swift boat in brown waters running machine guns. They said they 
always requested Glenn for missions because he was so good with .50-
caliber machine guns. The month he was killed, he was scheduled to 
leave Vietnam to train in the United States as a Navy SEAL.


                               John Tague

  John Tague was from Burlington. He was born December 2, 1945. John 
served in the Army's 1st Infantry Division. He was 22 years old when he 
died on June 16, 1968.
  He was the oldest child in his family, and he had three sisters: 
Alice, Georgia, and Jody. Alice and Georgia said that John loved to 
hunt and fish and did so at every opportunity. His golden retriever 
followed him everywhere, especially when he went hunting.
  After high school, John joined the Job Corps, where he helped teach 
others about life and taking care of themselves. The Wahpeton Job Corps 
honored John for his outstanding work by naming a building after him. 
When that facility closed, Job Corps gave John's family the building 
sign with John's name.
  John's sisters appreciate that their former Des Lacs Burlington High 
School classmates are planning to honor John in a parade float this 
summer.
  In Vietnam, John served as a field communications electronics 
equipment mechanic. John was about 6 months into his tour of duty when 
he was severely burned. Shortly thereafter, he was flown to Japan, 
where he died of his injuries. He was laid to rest in Rose Hill 
Memorial Park in Minot.


                            Lowell Einarson

  Lowell Einarson was from Bantry and was born March 18, 1938. He 
served in the Navy as a shipfitter. Lowell was 28 years old when he 
died on September 1, 1966.
  Lowell and his sister Marilyn were the children of immigrants from 
Iceland, Joe and Sophie Einarson. They grew up on a small farm outside 
of Bantry.
  Lowell's niece Vonda remembers hearing her mother Marilyn telling 
stories about how she and Lowell traveled to school in the winter by 
cross-country skiing. Marilyn told Vonda that Lowell was a strong young 
man who watched over her and took care of her, taking care of the many 
chores, especially after Marilyn was diagnosed with polio at age 7.
  Shortly after completing high school, Lowell enlisted in the Navy. He 
served for 10 years until he died of a heart attack during the early 
part of the Vietnam war.
  Marilyn cherished the three sets of china Lowell brought home for 
her, their mother, and for himself. Sadly,

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Marilyn lost her belongings, including Lowell's china, when her home 
burned down in the 1970s.
  Lowell's niece Sue keeps a rubbing of Lowell's name etched on the 
Vietnam Memorial Wall, and shared that several family members have said 
that Lowell's nephew Mitch resembles Lowell.
  I continue to speak here on the floor of the U.S. Senate about the 
lives and deaths of North Dakotans who died while serving in the war 
because these men remain in our hearts, and they certainly remain in 
the hearts of the wonderful families we have had an opportunity to get 
to know during our work on this project.
  The 2012 Presidential Proclamation on the Commemoration of the 50th 
Anniversary of the Vietnam War states:

       In the reflection of The Wall, we see the military family 
     members and veterans who carry a pain that may never fade. 
     May they find peace in knowing their loved ones endure, not 
     only in medals and memories, but in the hearts of all 
     Americans, who are forever grateful for their service, valor, 
     and sacrifice.

  It is so important that we never forget the sacrifice of those who 
served in Vietnam or the sacrifice of those who serve today, and that 
is why I consider it such a privilege to tell the stories of those who 
did not make it home and listen to the stories of those who did.
  I want to share with you a song that was sung at the recent Vietnam 
Memorial Exhibit at the Fargo Air Museum in May. I was really moved by 
a local poet and local performing artist, Shaun Schipper, who was able 
to sing this song to honor those who served, and I would like to read 
the lyrics of his song, which is called ``Nineteen Years Old.'' I am 
not going to sing it, and all of you should be very excited that I am 
not singing it. I couldn't do justice to the words he wrote.
  He wrote:

      nineteen years old six months from prom
     out in a jungle in Vietnam
     so scared don't wanna die
     thinking bout home, tears in my eyes

     what are we fighting for, I'm so sick of war
     I bet the guys on the other side
     wanna go home like I do
     miss your mom and dad, the life I had
     I pray to God I'll get back home again
     to be with you

     search and destroy, kill or be killed
     mayhem out here in the battlefield
     adrenaline flowing another sleepless night
     holding my M16, ready for a fight

     here in the trenches fear everywhere
     death and destruction smoke in the air
     mortars grenades deafening sounds
     shrapnel and bullets flying all around
     praying to God calling for mom's
     another buddy dies in Vietnam
     another buddy dies in Vietnam
     and it goes on and on and on and on

     what are we fighting for, I am so sick of war
     I bet the guys on the other side
     Wanna go home like I do

  I want to thank him, and I know he was greatly moved by and inspired 
to write this song by encountering a Vietnam vet. I think all of us who 
have had those experiences meeting veterans and people who serve can't 
help but be moved by the quality of their continued devotion to their 
brothers-in-arms but also the quality of their service.


                       Connect With Veterans Act

  So I was moved to doing something for veterans, making sure that our 
veterans have an opportunity when they return home to basically 
reconnect with their families. So while each week I come to the Senate 
floor to honor the persons who gave their lives in the Vietnam war, to 
truly honor them and our current servicemembers and veterans, we have 
to make real changes to better support them.
  Today I am proud to reintroduce a bipartisan bill with Senators 
Moran, King, and Boozman that would better connect our Nation's new 
veterans with the services, resources, and benefits that are available 
right at home in their communities. My Connect With Veterans Act, S. 
1797, aims to help servicemembers transitioning to civilian life after 
they separate from the military and begin to settle into their 
communities.
  Organizations, such as the Association of Defense Communities, have 
stated that the most important part of the transition from 
servicemember to civilian comes in the short period of time after that 
servicemember leaves the military. We need to make sure it is effective 
and successful, and there is more we could do to accomplish that goal.
  Too often, these veterans do not have access to the basic information 
on local services, and many communities have few ways to connect with 
them. I have traveled across North Dakota and listened to our veterans. 
I hear time and time again about the need for veterans to have more 
information on services and opportunities available to them at the 
local level.
  My Connect With Veterans Act would provide these veterans with better 
access to that information by making it easier for cities, counties, 
and tribes to interact directly with them. It is a simple but 
commonsense bill. Participation, No. 1, is completely voluntary. 
Transitioning servicemembers will be given the option to share their 
contact information with communities in which they intend to live after 
completing military service.
  Interested cities, counties, and tribes will be able to request that 
contact information from a secure directory maintained by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs so they can provide the information. 
Integrating back into civilian life may be particularly difficult for 
those living in rural communities, like so many of the communities in 
my home State of North Dakota, as they often have fewer resources and 
access to less services.
  As a study from 2014 shows, half of the veterans polled from the wars 
in Iraq and Afghanistan said they are having difficulty adjusting to 
civilian life. This reasonable solution would help change that by 
allowing local communities to connect with new veterans at the earliest 
possible point in the transition process. With 550 servicemembers 
transitioning daily--I want to repeat that--550 servicemembers 
transitioning daily nationwide out of the military and with nearly 
250,000 service men and women expected to leave military service over 
the next 5 years, we have to prepare.
  We have to say thank you by making sure they get the services they 
have earned and that we can connect them with communities where they 
can continue to participate and serve their country and their 
communities. I know from talking to North Dakotans that this bill will 
especially benefit communities in my State that have unmet employment 
needs.
  As you can imagine, over 20,000 jobs go unfilled, and we have all of 
these trained servicemembers who are coming out of the military who 
would be just excellent additions to our North Dakota community. So 
whether it is employment or health care or family support services, we 
have to do better. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about this. We 
have to have a plan for our servicemembers. I think connecting them 
with their community is a great plan.

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