As I write this, the date is November 13. The History Channel’s “This Day in History” site I subscribe to reminded me that on November 13, 1982 the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C.
That anniversary reminded me of one of the men’s adventure magazine stories I picked to reprint in MEN’S ADVENTURE QUARTERLY #10, the Vietnam War issue.
It was published ten years before the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated, at a time when Vietnam vets were still being unfairly treated by many Americans and by the government that sent them to ‘Nam.
The story is titled “Uncle Sam’s Universal Shafting of Viet Vets.” It was written by award-winning journalist Edward “Ed” Hymoff (1925-1992) and first published in the November 1972 issue of SAGA, one of the best and longest-running men’s adventure magazines.
During World War II, Hymoff served in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). After that war, he covered the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He later worked for CBS and helped produce the 1980 presidential debate between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter.
Hymoff’s experience and talent as a reporter are evident in his story about America’s shameful treatment of Vietnam veterans. It wasn’t until the 1980s that those vets began to be given the type of positive recognition for their service and sacrifices they deserved.
I think one of the symbolic turning points was the building of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1982, with its black granite wall inscribed with the names of 58,000 men and women who were killed during the war or remain missing.
After that, I noticed that during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars celebrities mindful of the long-lasting flak Jane Fonda took for her visit to Hanoi in 1972 seemed to start making a point of saying they opposed those wars but “supported the troops.”
The more positive attitude and treatment of military veterans is a good thing, of course. But it came too late for many of the 8.75 million Americans who served during the Vietnam War.
I don’t know how you feel about the Vietnam War. I was draft age during those years. But I didn’t get drafted.
I was against the war. But I had friends who served. I saw how terribly it affected them and how terribly they were treated.
Ed Hymoff’s story is a good overview of how shamefully Vietnam veterans were treated. It starts with an eye-opening anecdote about the sad fate of one of those Vietnam vets, Medal of Honor recipient Dwight H. “Skip” Johnson.
In case you missed MAQ #10, I’ve embedded a flip-page version of Hymoff’s article in this post. Click image below to read the entire story online…
After you read the story, think about what is written in the citation that explains why Johnson received the Medal of Honor. It says:
“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp5c. Johnson, a tank driver with Company B, was a member of a reaction force moving to aid other elements of his platoon, which was in heavy contact with a battalion size North Vietnamese force. Sp5c. Johnson’s tank, upon reaching the point of contact, threw a track and became immobilized. Realizing that he could do no more as a driver, he climbed out of the vehicle, armed only with a .45 caliber pistol. Despite intense hostile fire, Sp5c. Johnson killed several enemy soldiers before he had expended his ammunition. Returning to his tank through a heavy volume of antitank rocket, small arms and automatic weapons fire, he obtained a sub-machine gun with which to continue his fight against the advancing enemy.
Armed with this weapon, Sp5c. Johnson again braved deadly enemy fire to return to the center of the ambush site where he courageously eliminated more of the determined foe. Engaged in extremely close combat when the last of his ammunition was expended, he killed an enemy soldier with the stock end of his submachine gun. Now weaponless, Sp5c. Johnson ignored the enemy fire around him, climbed into his platoon sergeant’s tank, extricated a wounded crewmember and carried him to an armored personnel carrier. He then returned to the same tank and assisted in firing the main gun until it jammed.
In a magnificent display of courage, Sp5c. Johnson exited the tank and again armed only with a .45 caliber pistol, engaged several North Vietnamese troops in close proximity to the vehicle. Fighting his way through devastating fire and remounting his own immobilized tank, he remained fully exposed to the enemy as he bravely and skillfully engaged them with the tank’s externally-mounted .50 caliber machine gun; where he remained until the situation was brought under control. Sp5c. Johnson’s profound concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.“
You can read an in-depth preview of the rest of MEN’S ADVENTURE QUARTERLY #10 in the post on my blog at this link. Copies are available via Amazon worldwide, the MensPulpMags.com bookstore, or my eBay listings.
MAQ #10 reprints some of the best men’s adventure magazine stories about the Vietnam War published in the 1960s and 1970s. They include a story by Mario Puzo, author of THE GODFATHER, first published under the pseudonym he used for the many MAM stories he wrote early in his career, Mario Cleri, and a story about Barry Sadler and his song “Ballad of the Green Berets.”
In addition to story reprints, MAQ #10 features a special Art Gallery section showcasing other Vietnam War cover paintings by Mel Crair, articles about Vietnam War novel series by vintage paperback expert and writer Paul Bishop, author Nicholas Cain’s account of the making of the movie based on his novel SAIGON COMMANDOS, a photo feature about Raquel Welch’s 1967 USO Tour to Vietnam with Bob Hope, and a unique article by MAQ Co-Editor and designer Bill Cunningham about the now nearly forgotten PS MAGAZINE comics designed to educate GIs about preventive maintenance on their guns, featuring artwork by Will Eisner, creator of THE SPIRIT.
As usual, MAQ #10 is enhanced by the superb layout work of my co-editor Bill Cunningham. I think it’s one of our best issues.
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