THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 4, 1994 TAG: 9408040219
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
The United States was united during World War II, divided during the Vietnam War.
The men and women in the military who were part of the Asian conflict came home to some cheers, but many jeers.
``The biggest disgrace was hating the warrior, not the war,'' said Stan Martinez of Hampton. ``You had no support. You were alone.''
A rifleman with the 9th Infantry Division, Martinez is one of about 35 veterans involved in ``Vietnam Revisited,'' scheduled Saturday and Sunday at Forest Glen Middle School.
The eighth annual Vietnam Revisited, an effort by local vets to explain American involvement in Vietnam, is being held for a second year in Suffolk. It is sponsored by The Vietnam War Demonstration Team.
``We're the only organization in the United States doing this, although our (Hampton Roads) group is one of the smallest,'' said Al Stalcup of Suffolk, the event chairman.
But there's nothing small about the estimated $2,000 in weapons and accessories and 150 man-hours it takes to put together Vietnam Revisited.
``We're trying for as much realism as possible,'' Stalcup said.
Organizers will re-create a MASH unit, a Viet Cong village and a prisoner of war camp, which re-enactors will ``raid'' on a rescue mission.
Visitors also can tour ``Nam Land,'' a booby-trapped trail that will illustrate some of the dangers faced by American soldiers.
Back home, troops experienced a lot of indifference and political interference, Martinez said.
``Politicians called the shots instead of the military,'' he said. ``If we'd have kept up the bombing, the Viet Cong would have surrendered. Their own high-ranking officers told us that.''
Stalcup feels that the United States started out on the right course, then veered in another direction.
``We had the right intentions at first, but the idea changed from freeing South Vietnam to `let's make money,' '' he said. ``It was Johnson-administration politics. The war was seen as an economy-booster, so the attitude was `let it continue.' ''
Visitors will see a lot of reminders of the war, including four helicopters, a variety of weapons, uniforms, equipment and photographs.
``We had about 12,000 (visitors) last year,'' Stalcup said. ``We're expecting about 50,000 this year.
``We want to try to educate the public,'' he said. ``We want to tell them about the way Vietnam was and what the troops went through.'' There will be a $4 fee per vehicle for parking, but admission is free.
For more information, call 255-4524. MEMO: The eighth annual Vietnam Revisited will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Saturday and Sunday, at Forest Glen Middle School, 200 Forest Glen Dr.
The school is just off Route 58 west of downtown.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Veteran Rick Pittinger, left, talks with a youngster during final
preparations for Vietnam Revisited, scheduled Saturday and Sunday at
Forest Glen Middle School. Standing by is rifleman Stan Martinez.
by CNB