Selected excerpts from an April 26 speech by Lt. Gen. (USA retired) Michael Vane to the Hanford, CA, community:

Welcome back Vietnam veterans. Thank you for putting your life on the line for our country. Thank you for your personal sacrifice!

The war in Vietnam bought time for the other Southeast nations to bolster their economic and political systems leading to the winning of the Cold War and freeing of Eastern Europe. Other positive outcomes include the end of the draft and start of the All Volunteer Force; the lowering of the voting age in America; and tremendous advancements in the medical field such as the ability to MEDEVAC the injured, which when done in less than 60 minutes, leads to a better than 90% survival rate.

In the light of these, the deaths of over 58,000, the POWs and the MIAs are so much more meaningful.

Many mistakes were made throughout the war in Vietnam — sadly … despicably … torture, violence and atrocities are a part of nearly every war. Not an excuse but a horrible reminder of the weaknesses in the human spirit. Even if a person does not agree with the reasons behind a conflict, they can still honor those who served. They can still realize the sacrifices you and your families made and the unjustified shame you had to endure.

Soldiers (all military members) do their duty … they fight hard … they obey our political and military leaders … they win tactical battles … they take care of their buddies. In one of the most comprehensive surveys of the American people, commissioned by the Veterans Administration, 73% of Americans and 88% of Vietnam veterans agreed with the statement, “our troops were asked to fight a war in which our political leaders would not let them win.”

So, despite the disgusting and shameful response of the press and many Americans in the ’60s and ’70s, by 1980, America’s attitude toward Vietnam veterans was changing, and on a scale of 1 to 10, found the American public sentiment 9.8 toward Vietnam veterans.

As I read the memoirs of many Vietnam veterans, it seems veterans want to know that they “done good.” As a poem written by a Vietnam veteran known as One Charlie Nine Hotel (1C9H) says:

It matters not whether my birth was a time of celebration

I ask no praises for my accomplishments

I ask not for tears at my passing

I ask only for knowledge that my time on earth served a purpose.

But your purpose of service does not end when you returned from Vietnam. You are a veteran for life. Help your fellow citizens understand conflict, service to a purpose higher than themselves, and the sacrifices soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guard men and women make on their behalf. You are a very small part of an ever increasing population that does not know public nor military service, which I believe every American should experience.

Our society is headed in the wrong direction. Over 70% of our youth ages 18-24 cannot walk into a recruiting station today and sign up without a waiver. The reasons our youth cannot qualify are: 1) they have not completed high school; 2) they are not physically/medically fit; or 3) they have moral turpitude and disciplinary issues. Our youth needs more interaction with positive role models.

This effort to get and be fit has to start in elementary school. Our youth must develop a yearn to learn, a daily regimen of physical exercise, to include eating and sleeping properly, and a respect for the rule of law and their fellow citizens. They need to understand what it means to be an American and what their forefathers had to do to guarantee the freedoms we enjoy today. All of us take the opportunity to echo your courage and recognize your service. This retired senior military leader, me, also says … you “done good!”

Thank you and welcome home.

Michael Vane is an Aptos resident who grew up in Santa Cruz and graduated from Harbor High School in 1971. He was appointed to West Point by then-Rep. Burt Talbot and graduated in 1975. He served out a 36 year distinguished career in the Army and retired in 2011 as a lieutenant general.