The Vietnam War Summit: The Troops: A View from the Front Lines [Day 3]

Veterans discuss the daily reality of the war in the "The Troops: A View from the Front Lines" panel on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at The Vietnam War Summit at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas. The conversation was moderated by Dr. William Adams, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Introduction by Karoni Forrester, Board of Directors and TX State Coordinator, National League of POW/MIA Families

Panelists
Liz Allen, Ph.D.
Major, U.S. Army Nurse Corps (Retired); Former director of continuing education at the University of Michigan School of Nursing

Dr. John Sibley Butler
Founding Director, Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship, McCombs School of Business, The University of Texas at Austin; Bronze Star recipient

Isaac "Ike" Camacho
Former POW; Recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the Prisoner of War Medal, Bronze Star, two Silver Stars, and two Purple Hearts

Ken Wallingford
Former POW; Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart Recipient; Senior Advisor to the Executive Secretary, Texas Veterans Land Board

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About The Vietnam War Summit
When the LBJ Presidential Library was dedicated in May 1971, President Johnson proclaimed to the assembled crowd, "It's all here, the story of our time--with the bark off. There is no record of a mistake, or an unpleasantness or a criticism, that is not included in the files here." Accordingly, he wanted his presidential library to reflect not only the triumphs of his administration, but the failures, too--and he wanted us to learn from them to build a better future for our country.

In keeping with President Johnson's vision for his library, the summit will take a substantive, unvarnished look at the most controversial facet of his legacy: The Vietnam War. The goal is to shed definitive light on the war, its lessons, and legacy. It is also our intent to invite, include, and recognize the men and women who courageously served in Vietnam.

The passage of years offers greater perspective and an opportunity to elucidate the complexities of a war that altered not only our history, but our perception of ourselves as a nation. To look at it with the bark off may help us to move on stronger and more united. That would have been President Johnson's hope, just as it remains ours.

The summit is co-hosted by The University of Texas at Austin.

http://www.vietnamwarsummit.org