The warrior guards the entrance of the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He is clearly an Infantryman seated on his inverted steel pot for a moment’s rest. His weapon is always close at hand while he reads a letter from home. “I do miss hearing you laugh. The President says you might be home for Christmas … the best present of all! Please take care of yourself and don’t be a hero. We don’t need a Medal of Honor, we need a son. All our love, Mom & Dad.” Home to a great number of military bases, nearly 10% of all Vietnam casualties claimed California as their home of record. 5,822 names are inscribed on the circular monument including 13 Medal of Honor recipients. Veterans in their own words in the memorial’s 20th anniversary book: “So many young men … lost their lives before they even knew what living was.” Find this and 99 other stories in the photo documentary #WarriorsRemembered at www.warriorsremembered.com
