Is he on "The Wall"? Why would that be non hostile, was it our mine?

Hostile?

Must have been a US mine.....

Hostile vs Non-Hostile

Hostile vs Non-Hostile has nothing to do with "The Vietnam Wall". The only requirement for being on the Wall is that you had to have died in or because of Vietnam, and served in the designated war zone as a U.S. military service member. Civilian deaths in the designated war zone do not qualify.

"the Memorial is dedicated to the 2.7 million men and women in the U.S. military who served in the designated war zone."

"DOD casualty lists were compiled during and after the Vietnam War according to criteria set in Executive Order No. 11216, signed by President Johnson on April 24, 1965, designating Vietnam and adjacent coastal waters, within specified geographical coordinates, as a combat zone. As hostilities spread, the combat zone was expanded to include additional areas such as Laos and Cambodia in or over which U.S. forces operated. DOD Instruction 7730.22, "Reports of U.S. Casualties In Combat Areas," January 20, 1967, and March 20, 1973, provided that the casualties to be reported were all those occurring within the designated combat areas and those deaths occurring anywhere as the result or aftermath of an initial casualty occurring in a combat area.
In February 1981, DOD supplied the VVMF with a computer database representing the casualty list which included those known dead or missing in action. The list included casualties from battle or hostile causes and those from accidental causes. After a lengthy process of cross checking the lists and working with each branch of the military, the VVMF used its discretion in adding some names that had been overlooked, but which still met the criteria.

The VVMF recognized that names might be added to the memorial after it was constructed and was gratified that DOD set up a mechanism to review individual cases of deaths some months or years after being wounded in Vietnam.

Names are added when it has been determined that a service member has died directly from combat-related wounds. Cancer victims of Agent Orange, and post traumatic stress suicides do not fit the criteria for inclusion upon the Memorial. Some have calculated that it would take another two or more entire Walls to include all the names in those two categories alone.

In addition, status changes occur when remains of missing-in-action (MIA) servicemen are identified, an ongoing process conducted by DOD. The VVMF works in conjunction with DOD to determine name additions and status changes and with the National Park Service which operates and maintains the Memorial. The cost of additional inscriptions is paid by the VVMF which has always been funded exclusively by private supporters."

We work daily with the Casualty Database to update the sometimes errant data of many of these military losses from the Vietnam War - and to more accurately reflect the actual casualty loss.

I had a friend (Army) that died from food poisoning in Nam. I guess because of it being non-hostile he can't make "The Wall". They never would put him on "The Wall" even though he died in Nam serving his country. Must make his family that is now dieing off feel like crap!

Let's follow this issue - don't just let it drop

If you have a friend that you feel should be on The Wall, let's get an official read on the situation. Need name, army unit, dates, etc. Get them to me and I will get on it. we can't abandon any of our men: Soldiers, Sailors or Marines.

history@popasmoke.com