Thank You Jan Scruggs

"If you do not know who this person is, then take the time to learn who he is."

By B. Clark

Throughout the year across America, fulfilling the high demand for a local display replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial are several traveling walls. The most notable is “The Wall That Heals”. Based out of Washington, D.C. it is maintained by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF). Their President, until his retirement in 2015 was the originator of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and is someone you should know.

While most deserving, it wasn't for accolades, praise or glory, but to honor - Scruggs is the essence of a true, almost better than blood, brother. Many of us may have heard his name, but how many know the details behind the building of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial?

Jan Scruggs, born in 1950 went off to Vietnam in April 1969 after having joined the Army the previous year. He was assigned to Company D, 4th Battalion,12th Infantry Regiment, 199th Light Infantry Brigade. Scruggs was trained as a mortarman (a soldier who operates a weapon system called a mortar. A mortar is a smooth bore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used for close-in support of ground troops).

In May of 1969, while leaving the jungle after a previous conflict the day prior, about 9:30 AM, a rocket-propelled grenade attack left Scruggs wounded in his back, right arm, and both legs. After spending three months in a hospital, he returned to duty. Scruggs was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in combat.

Again in November 1969, after another battle with the Viet Cong, he was awarded an Army Commendation Medal, with the V device, which stands for “Valor” for retrieving a weapon from the battlefield while under fire. His exemplary service would go on to receive more awards.

Even after these 2 recorded battles, Scruggs again agreed to serve our country with a second one-year tour of duty, which kept him in the Xuân Lộc District.

Without a doubt, events leading up to the 21st of January 1970 had forever changed this young soldier's life, but this day would be the seed in which years later a much needed healing would begin to grow.

Accounts tell the morning began as normal as any morning in a war can be. Just as most awake to a coffee, so did Jan Scruggs this January morning. Then came the explosion. Then came the loss of 12 of his comrades. Then came the beginning of never forgetting 12 friends and all the others he knew who would never again share a conversation or coffee or any events the future should have held for them. Then came, the beginning of a lifetime of trying to honor their memory and the many others.

He left the Army as a Corporal in March of 1970.

The Vietnam War is one of the most controversial wars American soldiers have been ordered to fight.

Back home many Americans had strong opinions of our country having been involved in the war; feeling the United States should never have gone to war. Then add the influence of the “love” and “peace” generation, who, in this writer's opinion never understood the duties of a soldier or the true meaning of love which the greatest comes from sacrifice. “Make love – not war” seemed to fuel and accelerate the negative feelings Americans had towards the war. Dumping them all on the Veterans returning home from having had to uphold the oath they had sworn to abide. Few Americans separated their disdain of the war from the fellow human being who had managed to survive unbearable conditions to come home to the country they had so gallantly served.

There are always those who stand above, not out of pride or for personal gain, but in understanding what lies hidden from those who are blind to or uneducated of the facts.

Jan Scruggs is such an individual. He understood America needed to heal to remember and honor those who gave their lives in the line of duty. A healing was also needed to reunite all returning veterans of Vietnam with Americans.

In 1979, Scruggs gathered about $2,800 of his own money to launch an idea he had for honoring all those who served in one of the longest wars in our history. A memorial in Washington, D.C. to take its' place amid other tributes to our country's heroes.

Gradually he gained the support of other veterans and they persuaded Congress to grant them a predominant location in Washington, D.C. It was far from an easy task, but the seed of nearly ten years prior now had a place to grow. Congress chose a site near the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall.

To design, create, maintain and ensure the integrity of the mission, Scruggs founded a non-profit. On April 27, 1979, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) came into existence. As President, Scruggs headed up the drive to raise funds needed to build the memorial. Quickly raised was $8.4 million allowing the memorial to be completed within 2 years!

The design was created by an undergraduate at Yale University. With no professional experience, the 21-year-old student beat out over 1400 competitors. Maya Lin created the design as part of her college architecture class. The school had encouraged students to participate in the design competition. Reportedly Maya only received a B on her assignment, but in creating the winning design she beat out her professor who gave her that grade.

In Lin's explanation of her design, it was clear she understood what once again many others did not. Healing. Remembering. Honoring. It would come from the earth, rise with the two sides meeting into a V which pointed to the Lincoln and Washington Memorials. She explained it was like a wound that was healing. Simple but a clear statement that each name represented someone who wouldn't return and should be remembered.

Many fought this design and provided numerous reasons why it shouldn't be the winner. However, it all rested with the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. Their determination would provide the design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Lins' original design was kept, but to appease those who felt it was too simple they added the third-place winners design, a sculpture by Frederick Elliot Hart entitled, “Three Soldiers”.

Lin was not present at that meeting and the controversy over her work weighed heavy on her for several years. The controversy had nearly stopped the entire construction.

With Veteran's Day falling on Thursday, November 11 in 1982 the nation was celebrating a week-long salute to Veterans. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on Saturday, November 13, 1982.

With the memorial now completed, Scruggs set out to add to the healing. Along with author Joel L. Swerdlow, came “To Heal a Nation – the moving story of Scruggs efforts to build The Wall.” It went on in May 1988 to become an “NBC Movie of the Week.”

Scruggs' didn't stop there. He kept that seed well nurtured with public appearances on many high profile television shows along with opinion articles for well-known publications. He campaigned to build an Education Center at The Wall. It would have photos and stories of those who made that ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War. To celebrate the values embodied by all service members in all our nation's wars.

There was a time when Scruggs left the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. He furthered his education and looked into other opportunities. He returned to VVMF and took the reigns again until finally retiring in 2015.

The earliest date for a traveling wall is not “The Wall That Heals”, but one titled “The Moving Wall”. A half-size replica of the Washington, D.C. memorial. John Devitt returned from attending the 1982 annual commemoration ceremonies in Washington with an inspiration he was compelled to execute. So moved by his experience at The Wall, he felt others who might never have an opportunity to go to Washington should have a chance to experience what he had at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Devitt, Norris Shears, Gerry Haver, and other Vietnam veterans volunteered to build The Wall replica. It went on display for the first time in Tyler, Texas, on October 1984.

“The Wall that Heals” is a half scale replica of The Wall in Washington, D.C. It was first unveiled by VVMF in 1996 on Veterans Day. Exterior sides of the trailer which carries The Wall replica opens to become a mobile Education Center. There are display photos of service members whose names are found on The Wall, and items representative of those left at The Wall in D. C.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund continues the mission which inspired Scruggs nearly 50 years ago and officially started nearly 40 years ago. Honor. Preserve. Educate.

If you have not visited https://www.vvmf.org/, it is something you should consider. A well designed site with extensive information. Among other things, you can request a name rubbing; visit the Wall of Faces; take a virtual tour and learn at least one thing you never knew. If you couldn't or can't visit The Wall or traveling wall in person, you can honor and remember through this site.

In honor of the Vietnam Veteran who worked so hard to bring this country back to an understanding of soldiers' duties and sacrifices, please outstretch your hand and offer a simple, “thank you” to the Vietnam veterans and all veterans around you. The healing is not over. Veterans don't ask for, demand, or require a thank you, but for those who perform the duties of which they are ordered to do for this country, they do deserve to be shown a sincere level of respect and appreciation. Be it your father, mother, spouse, child, brother, sister, uncle, aunt or stranger – don't forget the ones close to you as well as strangers.

Scruggs has since had health issues more than once that took him back to the brink of death and of which he has emerged to “carry on”. At this writing he still walks among us.

Below is the oath a person takes when accepting the job to protect and serve you and our country. There is no additional, "if I want to do it" or "unless I don't agree with the orders" or "I didn't vote for him." A true veteran, whether drafted or enlisted by one's own choice abides by this oath.

“I, ________, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

Maybe if more civilians understood, more civilians could understand why so many of our veterans have dealt with inner conflicts, in addition to other difficulties with coming home from war. Why it was so important to have welcomed these veterans back into the community with even just a smile.

Regardless of our opinions of war, the circumstances which created the war, or of the President who gives the orders in war, we as their family, friends, neighbors and co-workers need to welcome veterans home with open arms. In order for our country to heal from war and remain strong, we need to embrace our warriors and help them heal.

Thank you, Veteran

for the sacrifices, not only the physical, mental, and emotional ones but all the personal and missed family milestones. Thank you for respecting and loving this country enough to

accept the call to duty and honor your oath.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall website is listed under the National Parks System at

https://www.nps.gov/vive/index.htm.

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