The Replacement Plaque Has Been Acquired

On July 24, 2002, I mailed/faxed the following letter to Ambassador Burghardt:

 
July 24, 2002

Ambassador Raymond F. Burghardt
US Embassy, Hanoi, Vietnam 

Via FAX  844-772-1510 and Post

Reference: Embassy Letter of 2/6/02

Dear Ambassador Burghardt:

This is a follow-up to your letter to me of February 6, 2002, stating that 
you would be procuring a replacement plaque honoring the 5 soldiers killed 
defending US Embassy Saigon in 1968.  I am hoping that you can provide an 
update to that situation, and perhaps provide information on when that 
replacement will be ready and if there will be any kind of ceremony when 
it is re-dedicated.  

As you know, I have been keeping an Internet "diary" of my correspondences 
regarding this matter on the Vietnam Veteran's Home Page 
(http://www.vietvet.org//plaquepage.htm), and I have received numerous 
requests to update and post the current status of that project.

Thank you for any information you are able to provide.

Sincerely and most respectfully,

John Paul Rossie

On August 13, 2002, I received the follow response by email:

Subject: Replacement Plaque
Date:  Tue, 13 Aug 2002 16:43:03 +0700
From: "Oliveira, John A" 
 To:  "'jrossie@rossie.com'" 

Mr. Rossie,

I'm CW2 John Oliveira, the Operations Coordinator at the Defense Attache
Office in Hanoi.  My office has had the lead in getting the replacement
plaque you refer to in your 24 Jul letter.  We have received the finished
plaque, it is currently in my office awaiting the Ambassador's instructions
for placement.  We do not have exact dates or specific details for the
placement ceremony at the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).  I
will be happy to forward these details once they are finalized. 
Best regards from Hanoi,

CW2 John Oliveira
OPSCO
USDAO Hanoi

On October 3, I received the following letter on US Embassy - Hanoi letterhead:


30 September 2002

Reference: JPR Letter dated 24 July 2002

Dear Mr. Rossie,

Thank you for your correspondence regarding the plaque honoring the
five US Armed Forces members killed defending the US Embassy during
the 1968 Tet Offensive. We have recently procurred a replica of the
plaque and intend to replace the plaque on the US Consulate grounds
in Saigon in the near future.

This is an important monument and we intend to display the plaque in
an appropriate way that remembers and honors the sacrifice of the
five brave Americans. The energy and interest you have taken in this
matter is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely and Respectfully,

Stephen C. Ball
Colonel, US Army
Defense and Army Attache
US Embassy, Hanoi

This is all good news -
BUT, we can't slack off on our demands for the return of the original plaque. PLEASE, go to the WHAT CAN YOU DO page and use the addresses and form to send a demand letter or email to the Vietnamese for the return of our original missing War Memorial!

John Paul Rossie

The Replacement Plaque Has Been Acquired

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