A LEGACY OF SACRIFICE: THE ROLE OF NATIVE AMERICANS IN VIETNAM

Insights into Vietnam Uncensored

I want to point out obscure facts about the service of my American Indian brothers during the Vietnam War. The population of the various tribes inhabiting the United States was more than 800,000. Of this number, more than 42,000 served in different military branches. It represented more than five percent of the overall number.

Ten thousand became drafted, and the rest signed up voluntarily. One thousand died, and another 8,000 returned wounded. As with the general population of returning veterans, their wounds extended to the demon of PTSD, negatively affecting their lives and the original communities into which they reintegrated.

It is important to note that American Indians played a significant role in the Vietnam War, both in military service and as part of the broader social context. They represented the highest percentage enlisting than any ethnic group.

Still, some tribes organized anti-war protests to raise awareness of issues facing Native Americans during the era. The returning Native American veterans would energize the movement to bring attention to social injustice issues within their communities.

The Vietnam era came to symbolize a complex period in U.S. history. It would change the face of…