The Vietnam War: A Nation Divided
The
Vietnam War, a protracted conflict that spanned from 1955 to
1975, deeply scarred the United States and Vietnam. Rooted in
the Cold War tensions between communism and capitalism, the war
was a complex struggle with far-reaching consequences.
Following the
end of French colonial rule, Vietnam was divided into North and
South, with the former aligned with communism and the latter
supported by the United States. The conflict escalated as the
North Vietnamese, backed by China and the Soviet Union, sought
to unify the country under communist rule. The United States,
fearing the domino effect of communist expansion, became
increasingly involved, sending troops to support the South
Vietnamese government.
Key events that escalated the
conflict include:
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident:
In 1964, alleged attacks on U.S. naval vessels in the Gulf of
Tonkin provided the justification for increased U.S.
involvement.
The Tet Offensive: In 1968, the
North Vietnamese launched a surprise attack on multiple South
Vietnamese cities, exposing the fragility of the South
Vietnamese government and turning American public opinion
against the war.
The My Lai Massacre: In
1968, the killing of unarmed civilians by U.S. troops in the
village of My Lai shocked the world and further eroded public
support for the war.
The Pentagon Papers:
Leaked in 1971, these classified documents revealed that the
U.S. government had misled the public about the war's objectives
and progress.
Marked by guerrilla tactics, jungle warfare
and the psychological toll of combat, the war proved to be a grueling
experience for American soldiers, including those of Clan
Douglas. Many young men with this name answered the call to
duty, some making the ultimate sacrifice. Their loss, like that
of countless others, is a poignant reminder of the human cost of
war. One such person was CPL William Lowell Douglas Jr.
Anti-war protests erupted across the United States, reflecting a
deep divide in public opinion. The use of
controversial tactics, such as Agent Orange, and the draft
system further fueled dissent.
Ultimately, the U.S.
withdrew its troops in 1973, and South Vietnam fell to the North
two years later. The war left a legacy of trauma, both for the
Vietnamese people and American veterans, including those named
Douglas. Millions of lives were lost, and the country was
devastated by the conflict.
The Vietnam War remains a
subject of intense debate and reflection. Its impact on American
society, politics, and foreign policy is still evident today.
The lessons learned from this tumultuous period continue to
shape the nation's understanding of war, diplomacy, and the
complexities of global conflict.
Names recorded on the wall of rememberance,
in Washington, DC.
| How this section works |
|
Click to read more/less
Where I have details of the person
named, the information will appear in this column
|
| Carl Scott Douglas |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: July 14, 1949: From: Sanford, Lee County, North Carolina
Specialist Four, Field Wireman, 1st Aviation Brigade, 10th Aviation Battalion,
12th Aviation Group, 191st Aviation Company
Died March 2, 1969 through
hostile action .. small arms fire in Kien Hoa province
Recipient of the
Purple Heart
|
| Charles Mac Douglas |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: August 5, 1945 From: Bloomington, San Bernardino County, California
Casualty Date March 22, 1967
Staff Sergeant, Light Weapons Infantry, 25th
Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry, A Company
Died of Multiple
Fragmentation Wounds, in Tay Ninh province
Recipient of Bronze Star and
Purple Heart
|
| Delbert Douglas |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: April 22, 1951; From: Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio
Private First
Class, Rifleman, 1st Marine Division, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, K Company
Died September 9, 1969 through hostile action .. small arms fire in South
Vietnam, Quang Nam province
|
|
Donald David Douglas |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: December 2, 1950; From: Seattle, King County, Washington
Sergeant,
Field Artillery Crewman, 5th Infantry Division, 5th Battalion, 4th Artillery,
B Battery
Died June 18, 1970 of Illness or Injury, Vehicle Loss Crash in
Quang Tri province
|
|
Dwight Samuel Douglas |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: February 18, 1950; From: Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia
Specialist Four, 1st Signal Brigade, 43rd Signal Battalion, 21st Signal Group,
C Company
Died February 3, 1970 through non-hostile action .. accidental
homicide in Pleiku province
|
|
Frank Frederick Douglas |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: December 20, 1946; From: Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Private First Class, Infantry Indirect Fire Crewman, 101st Airborne Division,
2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, B Company
Died September 17, 1966 through
hostile action .. small arms fire on Hill 86, Tuy An, Phu Yen province
Recipient of the Purple Heart
|
| Harvey James Douglas |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: July 31, 1946; From: East Sebago, Cumberland County, Maine
Petty
Officer Third Class, Engineman Third Class, RIVDIV 553, TF 116, USNAVFORV
Died of wounds January 18, 1969, Artillery, rocket, or mortar, in Bien Hoa
Province
Recipient of the Purple Heart
|
| James Dale Douglas |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: September 11, 1947; From: Veedersburg, Fountain County, Indiana
Specialist Four, 1st Aviation Brigade, 13th Aviation Battalion, 164th Aviation
Group, 336th Aviation Company
Died through hostile action .. multiple
fragmentation wounds in Vinh Binh province
Recipient of the Purple Heart
|
|
James Thomas Douglas |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: August 13, 1933; From: Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee
Sergeant
First Class, Light Weapons Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, 4th Battalion,
47th Infantry, D Company
Casualty Type Died February 6, 1969 through
non-hostile action in Dinh Tuong province
|
|
Johnnie Lamar Douglas |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: January 29, 1944; From: Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida
Sergeant, Light Weapons Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 28th
Infantry, B Company
Died June 14, 1968 through hostile action .. small arms
fire in Bien Hoa province
Recipient of the Purple Heart
|
|
Johnnie Lee Douglas
|
|
Click to read more/less
Born: October 13, 1945; From: San Francisco, San Francisco County, California
Private First Class, Light Weapons Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry, D Company
Died February 4, 1968 through hostile action .. multiple fragmentation wounds, in Long An province
Recipient of the Purple Heart
|
| Larry Wayne Douglas |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: June 9, 1951; From Jackson, Jackson County, Michigan
Lance Corporal, Bulk Fuel Specialist, Force Logistical Command, 3rd Military Police Battalion, 1st Force Service Rgt, A Company
Died April 8, 1970 through non-hostile action .. accidental homicide in Quang Nam province
Recipient of National Defense Service Medal
|
| Leslie Forrest Douglas, Jr |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: July 7, 1945; From: Verona, Lee County, Mississippi
First
Lieutenant, Rotary Wing Aviator, 1st Cavalry Division, 227th Assault
Helicopter Battalion, B Company
Died June 30, 1970 through hostile action
.. air crash on land in Phuoc Long province
Recipient of the Purple Heart
|
|
Paul Melvyn Douglas |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: February 21, 1968; From: Hattiesburg, Forrest County,
Mississippi
Staff Sergeant, Light Weapons Infantry, Special Forces, 5th
Special Forces Group, Ccn FOB 3 RT Hawaii
Died February 21, 1968 through
hostile action .. artillery rocket mortar in Quang Tri province
Recipient
of the Purple Heart
|
|
Robert Edward Douglas, Jr |
|
Click to read more/less
Born July 11, 1947; From: Waverly, Tioga County, New York
Corporal,
Light Weapons Infantry, Group 199th Light Infantry Brigade, 3rd Battalion, 7th
Infantry, E Company
Died November 14, 1967 through hostile action .. small
arms fire in Long An province
Recipient of the Purple Heart
|
| Terry Lee Douglas |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: August 26, 1947; From: Sparta, Randolph County, Illinois
Private,
Light Vehicle Driver, 21st Sup Service Company Ds
Died July 28, 1968
through non-hostile action .. accidental homicide
Recipient of the National
Defense Service Medal
|
| William Lowell Douglas, Jr |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: November 20, 1946: From: Canal Fulton, Stark County, Ohio
Rifleman, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, K Company
Died
July 15, 1966 through hostile action .. small arms fire in the Battle of
Helicopter Valley Song Ngan Valley, Quang Tri province
Recipient of the Silver Star and the Purple Heart
|
| Gerald Tyler Douglass, Jr |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: December 24, 1946; From: San Francisco, California
Specialist
Four, Light Weapons Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion, 22nd
Infantry, D Company
Died February 25, 1968 through hostile action ..
multiple fragmentation wounds in Gia Dinh province
Recipient of the Purple
Heart
|
Title hereClick to read more/less Please note that this should be replaced with content
Title hereClick to read more/less Please note that this should be replaced with content
Title hereClick to read more/less Please note that this should be replaced with content
Title hereClick to read more/less Please note that this should be replaced with content
Title here Click to read more/less Please note that this should be replaced with content
Title here Click to read more/less Please note that this should be replaced with content
Title hereClick to read more/less Please note that this should be replaced with content
Title hereClick to read more/less Please note that this should be replaced with content
Title here Click to read more/less Please note that this should be replaced with content
Title here Click to read more/less Please note that this should be replaced with content
Others:
| Clark Robert Douglas |
|
Click to read more/less
Born June 26, 1948; From Corning, Steuben County, New York
Specialist
Four, Medical Specialist, 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, C
Company
Died November 11, 1969 through hostile action .. multiple
fragmentation wounds
in Phuoc Long province
Recipient of the Purple
Heart
|
| Thomas Evan Douglas |
|
Click to read more/less
Born: November 8, 1938; From: Northwest Warren, Mahoning County, Ohio
Staff Sergeant, III Marine Amphibious Force, 1st MAW, Marine Aircraft Group
36, HMM
Died November 22, 1965 while missing in action .. air crash on land
.. body not recovered in Quang Tin province
Recipient of the Purple Heart
|
 |
CPL William Lowell Douglas Jr was the son of Betty L. Hessedence of Canal Fulton, Ohio,
USA and William L. Douglas Sr., and the brother of Larry D. Douglas of Munising Minnespta,
USA. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps on July 29 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio and served in Vietnam with Company K, 3d Battalion, 4th Marines, 3d MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
On July 15 during Operation HASTINGS searching the Song Ngan Valley in the Cam Lo District of Quang Tri Province the Marines of Company K were taken under enemy fire and a brief fire fight ensued. The enemy quickly broke contact withdrawing into the thick undergrowth with the Marines suffering two men killed and two wounded. One of the casualties was Cpl Douglas who was killed in the action as a result of a gunshot wound to his head from hostile rifle fire.
Cpl William L. Douglas Jr. was presented with the SILVER STAR Medal posthumously "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action… on 15 Jul 1966 ...."
Other awards included: ★ Purple Heart, ★ Combat Action
Ribbon ★ Marksmanship Badge, ational Defense Service
Medal, ★ Vietnam Campaign Medal, ★ Vietnam Service
Medal, ★ Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation, ★
Vietnam Gallantry Cross
|
|
