As someone born in 1956, I remember the Vietnam War as portrayed on network TV news every night (Walter Cronkite, et al). But I had never seen the riverboat troops that had to go deep into jungles in pursuit of the Viet Cong until I saw the movie "Apocalypse Now" which portrayed those missions, seemingly very accurately. Wow, was that intense for those servicemen who had the unenviable job of carrying out those missions. I have nothing but respect for Doug Bomarito and all his comrades. My own father, Donald McMorris, who passed away last October at 93, was a young Army Lieutenant who graduated at Oregon State in 1952. He had joined ROTC as a freshman and was a top officer candidate. My dad was assigned to an artillery group and trained in Ft Lewis and at the artillery ranges in Ft Sill in Oklahoma with the top performance of any artillery officer in his class. By the end of 1952 he was sent to Korea to fight in the war. My dad was great with a slide rule and able to calculate the proper trajectory of the big guns on the fly and later under fire in North Korea when he was involved in several campaigns, including Triangle Hill, which was the peak event (in terms of violence) of that war. My dad obviously survived Korea, but many of his friends there didn't. I had the good fortune to sponsor my dad on a trip to Washington DC on an Oregon (Mid-Valley) Honor Flight. Anyone who has a relative who served should take advantage and do the same. It is life altering both for the serviceman/woman and for the sponsor.
Brian, my Dad served in the Navy on the USS Frank Knox, a destroyer in Korea (and then later with the occupation force in Japan). He died last June 14, also at the age of 93. He served from 1950 to 1954.
I served during the Vietnam era but was never sent so from my perspective it wasn’t just poor military leadership in some cases but mostly governmental interference. Stupid ROE and changing policy from month to month. I didn’t realize that at the time but as the years have gone by there are more facts being revealed. Our government let us down.
Thank you for sharing these comments, Dennis. Even more important thank you for your service as well as for putting your life on the line. I am fortunate to live in a country that has committed citizens and patriots like yourself!!!!
If our Nation determines to fight a war, we must win it, period. President Johnson abrogated his command responsibilities WRT winning in Vietnam. Look at Korea: we are still working under an armistice, and the North Koreans violate those terms weekly. In that time period, both Presidents Truman and Eisenhower let their nation down. VR, J. Horvath
Memorial Day was started after the Civil War as a means to appreciate the sacrifice of those killed in the war, but also a moment to reconcile the differences between both sides, Union and Confederate, by honoring the graves regardless of which side they fought on.
As a prior combat vet, I think this best explains the emotions I have during this day. It is more than remembrance, but also reconciliation of the heart and soul that is damaged by the ugliness of combat.
May your Memorial Day be spent with family. Give each other a heartfelt hug, because many no longer can.
John, nice job! It’s a good reminder that Memorial Day isn’t about the beginning of summer barbecues, it’s about the men and women who made sacrifices so that we can enjoy our freedom.
Remembering and recognizing the men and women who served/serve our country is important to the fabric of our history. The sacrifices they made, and continue to make, should never be forgotten. Thank you Mr. Bomarito, and all military service members, for risking your lives selflessly for the sake of the USA and other countries. And thank you John for shining the light on our unsung heroes.
Heartfelt and moving article on this Memorial Day. Thank you, John, for reminding us of these heroic men and women who have lived and died for our country. And thank you, Doug Bomarito, for your continuous work at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington Park. I fear many do not even know this sacred area even exists.
Come down to Veterans Memorial Park in Beaverton (7th & Watson) at 11am today. I’ve attended this Memorial Day service for many years and walk away feeling united to my fellow citizens.
Thanks John. Reflecting on others’ service is a form of worship. I appreciate your often providing with reflections, experiences and opportunity to be be grateful. Terry Kneisler
My time in the Air Force was during the Vietnam War and included the Cuban Missile Crisis and too many assassinations. I was in SAC. Years later when I was living in Malaysia I toured Thailand and Cambodia and was told of the destruction caused by those SAC planes. Of being the most bombed country in the world. For 15 years I lived and worked in SE Asia up through China and to this day I don’t understand why I was treated so kindly wherever I went after the destruction caused. Each day during the war and beyond I pray for the safety of all soldiers in every country. Each of them are following the orders of their individual misguided nations leaders.
It almost seems universal that those who are incapable of doing anything worthwhile end up governing countries.
A wonderfully written tribute John. Thank you for reminding us why Memorial Day is so important to our country. God bless all our US soldiers…past and present.
Thank you for sharing this man’s great sacrifice. Watched a television reporter going back to Vietnam Nam to revisit her father’s place of action. The scariest was attempting to enter into a tunnel site. Hot and claustrophobic. They reveled on the various levels of 6. Bombing only touch the first 2 levels, our strategy. It’s amazing to see where cities and culture are flourishing and so many service men were tortured and died. It’s beyond my abilities to reconcile. Oh yes the communist red star is everywhere.
Your reflection, along with the others I’m seeing on this Memorial Day, brings us along as we attempt to express our gratitude for their service and for paying the ultimate price for us. Thank you and may God especially bless them and their families. 💙🌟❤️
I consider a salute to be the highest form of respect and admiration towards someone. Mr. Bomarito, I salute you for your service!! Thank you for all you do to remember your fallen comrades!
And I salute you, John, for sharing this amazing account of Mr. Bomarito’s time in Vietnam! Thank you!
As someone born in 1956, I remember the Vietnam War as portrayed on network TV news every night (Walter Cronkite, et al). But I had never seen the riverboat troops that had to go deep into jungles in pursuit of the Viet Cong until I saw the movie "Apocalypse Now" which portrayed those missions, seemingly very accurately. Wow, was that intense for those servicemen who had the unenviable job of carrying out those missions. I have nothing but respect for Doug Bomarito and all his comrades. My own father, Donald McMorris, who passed away last October at 93, was a young Army Lieutenant who graduated at Oregon State in 1952. He had joined ROTC as a freshman and was a top officer candidate. My dad was assigned to an artillery group and trained in Ft Lewis and at the artillery ranges in Ft Sill in Oklahoma with the top performance of any artillery officer in his class. By the end of 1952 he was sent to Korea to fight in the war. My dad was great with a slide rule and able to calculate the proper trajectory of the big guns on the fly and later under fire in North Korea when he was involved in several campaigns, including Triangle Hill, which was the peak event (in terms of violence) of that war. My dad obviously survived Korea, but many of his friends there didn't. I had the good fortune to sponsor my dad on a trip to Washington DC on an Oregon (Mid-Valley) Honor Flight. Anyone who has a relative who served should take advantage and do the same. It is life altering both for the serviceman/woman and for the sponsor.
Brian, my Dad served in the Navy on the USS Frank Knox, a destroyer in Korea (and then later with the occupation force in Japan). He died last June 14, also at the age of 93. He served from 1950 to 1954.
Bless your father and your family, Jack.
Thanks for sharing this story Brian!!
I served during the Vietnam era but was never sent so from my perspective it wasn’t just poor military leadership in some cases but mostly governmental interference. Stupid ROE and changing policy from month to month. I didn’t realize that at the time but as the years have gone by there are more facts being revealed. Our government let us down.
Thank you for sharing these comments, Dennis. Even more important thank you for your service as well as for putting your life on the line. I am fortunate to live in a country that has committed citizens and patriots like yourself!!!!
If our Nation determines to fight a war, we must win it, period. President Johnson abrogated his command responsibilities WRT winning in Vietnam. Look at Korea: we are still working under an armistice, and the North Koreans violate those terms weekly. In that time period, both Presidents Truman and Eisenhower let their nation down. VR, J. Horvath
Memorial Day was started after the Civil War as a means to appreciate the sacrifice of those killed in the war, but also a moment to reconcile the differences between both sides, Union and Confederate, by honoring the graves regardless of which side they fought on.
As a prior combat vet, I think this best explains the emotions I have during this day. It is more than remembrance, but also reconciliation of the heart and soul that is damaged by the ugliness of combat.
May your Memorial Day be spent with family. Give each other a heartfelt hug, because many no longer can.
A place setting for one, a table for all. Remember also today those still unaccounted for:
https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/news-and-events/multimedia-gallery/infographics/heritage/the-pow-mia-table.html
Thank you J-H C!!! You sir are a HERO!!!
Not sure hero is appropriate. I did a job just like everyone else does every morning. The guys and ladies that did not make it back...
You are too modest, as I might anticipate, however you are a HERO! Glad you made it back!!!
I always appreciate your comments in this forum!! Knowing a bit about more about your background makes me appreciate your engagement even more.
John, nice job! It’s a good reminder that Memorial Day isn’t about the beginning of summer barbecues, it’s about the men and women who made sacrifices so that we can enjoy our freedom.
Remembering and recognizing the men and women who served/serve our country is important to the fabric of our history. The sacrifices they made, and continue to make, should never be forgotten. Thank you Mr. Bomarito, and all military service members, for risking your lives selflessly for the sake of the USA and other countries. And thank you John for shining the light on our unsung heroes.
Heartfelt and moving article on this Memorial Day. Thank you, John, for reminding us of these heroic men and women who have lived and died for our country. And thank you, Doug Bomarito, for your continuous work at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington Park. I fear many do not even know this sacred area even exists.
Come down to Veterans Memorial Park in Beaverton (7th & Watson) at 11am today. I’ve attended this Memorial Day service for many years and walk away feeling united to my fellow citizens.
https://memorialdayoregon.com/index.php/beaverton/
John, thank you for honoring veterans and their families in such an eloquent manner. Doug is indeed lucky he survived that duty.
Well done!
Thank you again John for reminding us about the important things in life. Bless all service men and women, both past and present.
Thanks John. Reflecting on others’ service is a form of worship. I appreciate your often providing with reflections, experiences and opportunity to be be grateful. Terry Kneisler
My time in the Air Force was during the Vietnam War and included the Cuban Missile Crisis and too many assassinations. I was in SAC. Years later when I was living in Malaysia I toured Thailand and Cambodia and was told of the destruction caused by those SAC planes. Of being the most bombed country in the world. For 15 years I lived and worked in SE Asia up through China and to this day I don’t understand why I was treated so kindly wherever I went after the destruction caused. Each day during the war and beyond I pray for the safety of all soldiers in every country. Each of them are following the orders of their individual misguided nations leaders.
It almost seems universal that those who are incapable of doing anything worthwhile end up governing countries.
May all have a pleasant Memorial Day.
A wonderfully written tribute John. Thank you for reminding us why Memorial Day is so important to our country. God bless all our US soldiers…past and present.
Thank you for sharing this man’s great sacrifice. Watched a television reporter going back to Vietnam Nam to revisit her father’s place of action. The scariest was attempting to enter into a tunnel site. Hot and claustrophobic. They reveled on the various levels of 6. Bombing only touch the first 2 levels, our strategy. It’s amazing to see where cities and culture are flourishing and so many service men were tortured and died. It’s beyond my abilities to reconcile. Oh yes the communist red star is everywhere.
Your reflection, along with the others I’m seeing on this Memorial Day, brings us along as we attempt to express our gratitude for their service and for paying the ultimate price for us. Thank you and may God especially bless them and their families. 💙🌟❤️
Good story, John. Bless our soldiers and their families
❤️👍
Thank you for your commitment and sacrifice Steve!!!
Excellent story,John!!
I consider a salute to be the highest form of respect and admiration towards someone. Mr. Bomarito, I salute you for your service!! Thank you for all you do to remember your fallen comrades!
And I salute you, John, for sharing this amazing account of Mr. Bomarito’s time in Vietnam! Thank you!