Fifty years after Vietnam’s bloodiest battles, veterans from throughout the state are being “welcomed home properly” in a simple ceremony conducted by Becker’s-own Roger Bigalke.

 

Bigalke, a member of the American Legion and a Vietnam Vet who served the Navy from 1969 to 1973, has a soft spot in his heart for veterans of the Vietnam War (and all wars) and has a mission to honor each and every veteran he can track down and shake their hand.

 

Bigalke has given his own time and money to travel to cities throughout the state and present vets with a wooden plaque he has created and engraved as a commemoration.

 

Tuesday, Bigalke appeared before the Clear Lake Lions Club in Palmer and met eight men with whom he had the privilege of shaking their hands, giving them a plaque and telling them, “welcome home brother.”

 

Richard Schmitt, Bernie Selix, Bud Stimmler, Tom Grams, Jim Enright, Harold Gohman, Brad Tesmer and Ken Hemmelgarn received the long-overdue welcome home in front of a packed house at Palmer Twp. Hall. Three other plaques were dedicated to vets who were unable to attend including John Hemmelgarn (hospital), Kevin Doering (living in California) and Brad Braun (deceased).

 

 

Bigalke spoke of how the media portrayed the war to people stateside and how so many myths became truths in the minds of those who lived in the mainland.

 

 

“I want to set some records straight.”

 

Bigalke noted that 91% of Vietnam Veterans say they were glad they served. He said 74% said they would serve again, even knowing the outcome. 

 

“Vietnam Veterans are less likely to be in prison,” he said. “Only 1/2 of one percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes. 97% were discharged under honorable conditions, 85% of Vietnam Veterans made a successful transition to civilian life.”

 

Bigalke went on to say,  “2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers.  The average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year thanks to the mobility of the helicopter (as compared to 40 days of combat in four years for WWII soldiers).”

 

He asked the crowd if they all remember the famous photo of the little girl running naked down the streets after her village was bombed?

 

“No American had involvement in this incident near Trang Bang that burned Phan Thi Kim Phuc,” Bigalke said. “The planes doing the bombing near the village were Vietnam Air Force and were being flown by Vietnamese pilots in support of South Vietnamese troops on the ground. The Vietnamese pilot who dropped the napalm in error is currently living in the United States. Even the AP photographer, Nick Ut, who took the picture was Vietnamese.” 

 

Bigalke also pointed out the American military was not defeated in Vietnam. The American military did not lose a battle of any consequence. The U.S. did not lose the war in Vietnam, the South Vietnamese did after the U.S. Congress cut off funding.  The South Vietnamese ran out of fuel, ammunition and other supplies because of a lack of support from Congress while the North Vietnamese were very well supplied by China and the Soviet Union.

 

As part of the myth-busting campaign, Bigalke  said all he wants to do is do his part in bringing honor back to those who have served.

 

Bigalke then made his way from Palmer to Becker to do some more hand shaking and plaque giving.

 

For those interested in helping Roger Bigalke with funding for the plaques or to help in another way, he asks to contact him at 763-261-4190.