National Vietnam War Museum — Attraction in Texas

I stopped by the National Vietnam War Museum when my son had a golf tournament in the area. I was given a tour by Jim Messinger, Vietnam veteran and helicopter pilot. The exhibits were very informative. I loved the desk in the "oval office" and the exhibit where children could crawl under the floor and pop up in the bubbles! In addition to the indoor exhibits, the outdoor exhibits featuring the helicopters, tanks, amphibious vehicles, memorial wall, etc. are very interesting and hands on. Jim gave me information about the Sons & Daughters of the Vietnam War, which I was happy to join for a very nominal fee. They sent me a certificate of membership and a really nice lapel pin. My father being a Vietnam veteran, I'm excited for my son to visit with me on our next trip this way. This facility is a treasure that all Texans should visit and support. They also have a gift shop that is stocked with more patches, shirts, caps, etc. than I've ever seen...

The museum has presented a series of events preceding and during the Vietnam conflict in great details. In my own words, the French wanted to regain reputation after its surrender to the Germans in WWII by picking on a perceived weaker opponent but failed. Blinded by the victory over Germany and Japan, and in combination with the controversial Gulf of Tonkin incident, the leadership considered military involvement a "righteous" and wise decision. Days after days, years after years, this country was of no match to guerilla warfare. By the time the course of war was reversed, America had already lost the support of its people over a war that lingered 20 years. The withdrawal of the US military indirectly led to the fall of Saigon, adding to the statistics of history in abandoning their allies to fend for themselves. For the brave souls who fought fiercely for their country and laid rest on foreign soil, what had their...

I served with the 101st Airborne Division in 1969 - 1970. When I learned of this museum, my wife and I visited and found it to be small, but well organized and informative. With maps, photos, charts and realistic exhibits, this museum showed both sides of the conflict, including NVA and Viet Cong exhibits and written material. These were simple and to the point explanations of the cause and progress of the war, to its conclusion. There is also an excellent library where visitors can find materials of specific periods, and units. I was able to find two books about the time I was there and my division's contributions. My wife who was a high-school teacher at the time also found the exhibits and displays informative. Many of her students protested the war, but this gave her a different perspective. And she got a glimpse of a very important part of her husband's life and how I was affected by serving in...