I used to think being called ignorant was the most insulting
thing anyone could ever say to me. However, I would be the first one to
admit that my ignorance has kept me from thinking about the POW's we left
behind at the end of the Vietnam War over thirty years ago.
I was a senior in high school during Operation Homecoming
and I cannot recall discussing the Vietnam War, our POW's, or anything
related to the subject in American History class. I have been in the dark
for over thirty years, oblivious to the plight of the men and women who
continue to serve.
I can honestly say that after the Vietnam War ended,
I thought all of our men and women had me home. I thought people no longer
wore MIA bracelets because the missing were no longer missing. I thought
they had returned home.
There are two things that led me to Operation Just
Cause and to our POW's. One of those things was Star Trek and the other
was the American Space Program. I know, you are saying, "What in the world
is she talking about?"
I started a little over two years ago to try and write
a novel. Ialways loved writing but stopped
doing so after high school, except for an occasional
journal I would keep. Then getting married and having three
children left little time for writing. Then we got our first computer. I went into Word Perfect, played around with
it a little bit, and felt like writing a book.
I remember starting to write one when I was
thirteen after receiving a typewriter for Christmas.
I had to think of something to write about. I read
somewhere that it is a good idea to write about what you know and what you are interested in. At
that time, I was a huge fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It was the last season for first-run episodes and so I thought I would write a story based on the series. I had so much fun with it and never gave a thought to getting it published.
It was just something fun to do.
I let a few people read some of my Star Trek Novel
and they suggested that I try my hand at submitting
stories or articles to newspapers and magazines.
I read every book I could get my hands on about freelance writing.
The main theme of the books was to come up with an idea for an
article. I wrote done a lot of ideas and started writing
away. I was surprised to find how easy it was
for me after all the years I was away from
it. I thought my ideas were wonderful.
Unfortunately, the editors of the magazines and newspapers
I submitted query letters to did not agree
with me. I got rejection slip after rejection
slip. I almost dropped the notion of trying to become a 'published'
writer. Then one day after watching the movie "Apollo 13", my
family and I were discussing NASA and the American Space Program. At
the time, my daughter was in eighth grade, attending a
school ranked one of the top ten schools in
the state of Pennsylvania. She turned to me and
asked, "Who was Neil Armstrong again?" I could not believe that she did not know about the first man to walk on the Moon or
about the historic Moon landing of 1969.
Needless to say, I found what I wanted to write about.
I began researching and writing articles on
the anniversaries of historic space flights.
Using the angle about our children not knowing about some of the most significant events in our country's history,
editors suddenly wanted to at least read my
articles. I have even had five articles published
on the subject.
Then I found the Internet. I joined every writers group
and mailing list I could find. I shared ideas
with other writers, and we helped each other
with ideas on getting published. One day someone on one of the lists mentioned a web site called "A Vietnam Veteran's
Memorial Wall Online".
Growing up in the sixties, this entry piqued my interest.
I visited the URL for the Wall and that was
the beginning of my involvement with the POW
issue. I followed all of the links on that site until I stumbled upon "The Meadow Years". I spent a long time looking through
all of the pages containing the memories of
the sixties I buried in my subconscious, including
those of the Vietnam War. Then I saw the MIA bracelet.
I submitted my form to adopt an MIA after reading that there were still
POW's in Vietnam. I was appalled to learn that there were still
American listed as MIA and POW. I honestly did not know anything about it until that day.
Since joining, I have met some of the kindest and most
generous individuals ever put on this Earth.
Most of them are Vietnam Veterans, and some
of them are concerned people who still care about the ones who continue to serve.
So making a long story even longer, this article is
dedicated to our POW's and also to two very special Vietnam Veterans. Without their help, I
would still be walking around with blinders on. I will not mention names to avoid embarrassment, but they know who you are.
They are a couple of true American heroes who
are in my thoughts and prayers daily.
I want to thank everyone associated with Operation
Just Cause for giving me the opportunity to
try and give back a fraction of what the POW's are still
giving up for me. I give a little bit of my time, and they are giving their all.
Ignorance may have kept me from this extremely important
issue in the past, but nothing will keep me from continuing to demand a full accounting
of our POW/MIA's.
by B F Malone
