01-05-2025
Vietnam veterans remember the war 50 years later
SIOUX FALLS, (KELO) – April 30 marks 50 years since the Vietnam war ended with the fall of Saigon as the United States military withdrew the last of its troops. Both Ron Anderson and Ron Obe who currently live in South Dakota enlisted in the military after high school where they would later end up overseas in Vietnam.
Obe serviced ships in the area from 1967 to 1972, while Anderson worked in communications from 1957 to 1971. Both say they remember the day when they heard the news the war had ended.
'We didn't accomplish you know a victory, it was kind of why did so many people die and why are so many missing yet,' Anderson said.
'It was one of those, knee jerk moments. And I just stopped and processed it and try to understand what that meant,' Obe said. 'I think like most guys, and ladies the thoughts went back to people that you knew that were no longer with us.'
Obe says he did not get a warm welcome home when he returned.
'I remember walking through the airport and wearing my uniform because back then you had to travel wearing your uniform and, people spit at you, called you a lot of names, and, it was not a very welcoming thing,' Obe said.58,044 American solders died during the nearly 20 year long war. Something Anderson says he and other veterans are still healing from.
'There are people still struggling with the war. And a lot have PTSD and it just never ends,' Anderson returning, both Obe and Anderson have found fellowship in the Vietnam Vets Legacy Vets MC, a group that allows Vietnam vets to talk about their experiences and remember those who didn't return.
'It's how many brothers and sisters didn't come home and so we keep that alive in our club,' Obe said.
'Veterans understand veterans and civilians can't really understand how veterans feel, what they went through. If you've never experienced that,' Anderson said.
The latest Inside KELOLAND takes a look back at a journey KELOLAND News took to Vietnam in 1988 with former anchor Steve Hemmingsen, assignment editor Dexter Gronseth, and former U.S. Sen. Larry Pressler.
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