Garden City Community College - Broncbuster Yearbook (Garden City, KS)

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Veterans, Vietnam and Vindication subjects of WESTMORELA DDRESS General William Westmoreland, United States Army Retired, addressed a capacity crowd in the Fine Arts Auditorium on Friday, March 27. Sponsored by the College Lecture Series, Westmoreland related the political history of the Vietnam War to students, faculty, and interested veterans. Westmoreland, 63, was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army upon graduation in 1936. In 1942, he assumed command of the 34th Field Artillery Battalion in North Africa and later commanded that same unit in combat in Tunisia and Sicily. Following operations in Tunisia, his bat- talion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding combat action. In August 1947, he was named Chief of Staff of the 82nd Airborne Division, serv- ing for several years. During his career, Westmoreland com- manded several combat units. At the age of 42, he became a two star general, mak- ing him the youngest major general in the Army, In january 1964, he reported to duty at the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, and was designated Deputy Commander. Later in the year he was ap- pointed Commander and served four years. Westmoreland became Chief of Staff of the Army in july 1968 and in july 1972 he retired following 36 years of federal ser- vice. Westmoreland's March address revolv-' ed around the American media and its treatment of the war. Television gave America a vivid, first-hand look at the events occuring in Vietnam. Vietnam was a big part in the history of our country and it is important that you students and the country as a whole, see the war in its proper perspective, Westmoreland said. Although the perspective of this war has, up until now, been considerably distorted by the press, I think we can now see this war in its true light, he said. He went on to give a synopsis of the events which led up to America's involve- ment in the war. Westmoreland also cited key events that occured during the war which he thought were dealt with rather shabbi1y by the media. One such incident was the well publicized My Lai Massacre in which 300 to 400 people-most of them women, children and old men-were slain on March 16, 1968. It was because of media reporting on events such as this that our service men were not well received or well treated by society, Westmoreland said. Not only the press, but the college deferments and the lack of a war declara- tion had a lot to do with public sentiment against the war in Vietnam, he explain- ed. Westmoreland went on to condemn the media for making the Vietnam crisis the first television war in the history of the world . Television personalities had more in- fluence on the American people than elected officials did and that is not a good thing. The media must be news tellers-not news makers, Westmoreland said. These events are the reasons that the government lacked passionate public sup- port during the Vietnam conflict. These are the reasons why our soldiers did not receive their hero's welcome home, Westmoreland said. When asked about his view of the 1987 Oscar award winning film, Platoon, Westmoreland told the audience he felt the movie did not give an accurate ac- count of what the soldiers' day to day ex- istence was like in Vietnam. I myself, have not seen the film, but I have received many letters from concern- ed veterans who have seen it and the outlook is not good, Westmoreland said. The incidences of bad conduct depicted in the film were isolated in- stances. I'm sure that some of these things did occur, but in no case did all of those things take place in one platoon. This film in no way typifies the hundreds of platoons in Vietnam, he said. In closing Westmoreland explained his reasons for speaking to college audiences and other groups about the war. It is because of all of these things I've spoken about today that I have made it my number one priority to put the Viet- nam veterans' experience into proper perspective for the American people, Westmoreland said. Following his retirement from the Ar- my, Westmoreland traveled to various states and countries and spoke about his experiences. He and his wife Katherine resided in Charleston, S.C. Campus LifefVVestmoreland 5 1

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Let me tell you something -General Westmoreland sets Head Football Coach Brian McNeely straight on the quality of Army football. The Vietnam Experience-After his address in the fine arts auditorium, General William Westmoreland autographs a published photo of himself for Brenda Schiltz, sophomore. 1 is my 50 WestmorelandlCampus Life

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Mark johnson, Universe City, MO Susan johnson, johnson Arnold jones, Lakin Dawn jones, Ingalls Gena jones, Ulysses Timothy jones, Garden City Robin Kammack, Garden City John Kanelakos, Arkansas City Lance Kemp, Guymon, OK Sondra Kendall, Garden City Terrance Kendall, Wichita David Kennedy, Ingalls Karen Kidd, Garden City Steve Kirkbride, Abilene Jamie Kitch, Scott City Patrick Knepley, Russiaville, IN john Kocab, Russell Curtis Kohl, Marienthal Steven Krehbiel, Scott City Laura Kreie, Ulysses Denise Kruesi, Garden City jill Kueker, Holcomb julie Kusel, Cedar Traci Lammey, Lebanon Cherlyn Lane, Valley Center Marnie Laramore, Garden City Tien Le, Garden City Tuan Le, Garden City Greg LeBlanc, Garden City Nancy Lederer, Garden City Clark Legg, Kalvesta Michael Lemke, Deerfield Kenton Lenertz, Coldwater Stacy Lenertz, Coldwater Dora Leon, Garden City Michael Little, Greensburg Lisa Long, Ellsworth Rosetta Longoria, Lakin Allin Lopez, Deerfield Damon Lopez, Bronx, NY Mikel Lovin, Stockton Jeanne Lundgren, Garden City Dora Lynch, Lakin joel Lytle, Tribune Anne Madden, Garden City Eric Magana, Garden City Stacy Marley, Coldwater Eric Martin, Garden City Barbara Martinez, Garden City David Martinez, Garden City Peggy Matkin, Lakin Marc Mayfield, Garden City Susan Mayo, Garden City Cynthia McBride, Garden City Lori McCartney, Lebanbn Brian McClure, Lyons 52 Handicap AwarenesslStudents ,x it A