In 1984 I was awarded the Purple Heart by U.S. Congressman Henry B. Gonzales in San Antonio, Texas. I was not given it in 1968 after I was wounded because Operation Mallard Duck was a suicide mission and I was not supposed to be rescued. I was the last survivor off the field and although the medivac helicopter was shot down, I managed to survive. I am not looking for recognition and the only reason I consented to accept the Medal was because of the eleven Marines who died putting me on the helicopter. I wear it proudly for them.
Things were different back then. We were patriotic Christian Americans who stood for the National Anthem at nearly every public activity. Most of us volunteered to be in Vietnam to fight the godless communist and for that same reason families sent their loved ones into battle willingly… but things were changing. The suicide mission was my first indication that things were not right… assassinations and supposed terrorist activities within our borders, with no believable explanations given, hinted that a cancerous growth was forming… but we ignored the signs and went about our daily lives believing it would go away because, after all, we were a God-fearing nation and surely He would heal us.
I have spent a lifetime compensating for the wrongs we did in Vietnam… but how much is sufficient payment for the innocent lives that were lost? I haven’t been alone in my efforts to heal our nation’s wounds and redeem our nation’s image, but it seems we are losing ground. The Cancer that started in our government has, I feel, taken over Christianity as well. To hear the name of Jesus coming from the mouth of the newly elected president of the United States is blasphemous and the fact that he was elected because the majority of voters were concerned about the price of eggs and gasoline or simply because they didn’t like how his opponent laughed, is further evidence of how far the cancer has grown.
Congratulations, America! You got what you deserve. I just hope there will still be Light at the end of the tunnel.
Wayne Dale Matthysse
