Ode to a fallen Vietnam veteran on Memorial Day

Editorial by Jim Rhodes . . . a Creek Indian from Alabama and heroic Vietnam veteran himself. At the behest of the US State Department, Jim later played a significant role in the normalization of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States.

The photograph above of the 2021 celebration of Veterans Day was courtesy of Mvskoke Media, a division of the Muscogee-Creek Nation tribal government.

Remembering Walter Davis who was a classmate of mine in Wetumpka, Alabama; we both came from poor, rural families that would have qualified for public assistance but our families never applied because they were “Communist programs” directed at (non-whites). And because we had no political clout, we were not allowed to join the Alabama National Guard as Texan George Bush did-so we both ended up in Vietnam and we both received generous doses of Agent Orange.

When we returned, I stayed in California-Walter returned to Alabama; neither of us were treated for any of our herbicidal poison or PTSD conditions. Then, like today, dead veterans are honorable while living veterans who actually need help, as a direct result of their military service, are subjected to financial budgetary oversight and must justify every penny we receive unlike our non-veteran Congressmen that legislate themselves socialized medicine and immediate pensions they would never allow their constituents to receive. I often remind people on July 4^th that had we remained a colony of England, we would all now have national health insurance except that would require everybody to pay taxes and that somehow would be “Socialist.” 

Walter married and had a handsome son that during his junior year had set so many state football records he was recruited by all major Southeastern Conference football powerhouse teams. Although suffering from effects of his Vietnam service, Walter was a long distance truck driver because that is what paid the bills. Seeking help or disability was not in his mindset. While on a long distance run, his son was involved in a serious automobile accident that left him in a coma. 

To be close to home, Walter did only short hauls but it paid less money. It was only a matter of time before his insurance company cancelled his policy, so they moved their son to their living room where they prayed for a miracle. Walter’s health deteriorated and his mental capacity became a struggle to maintain. He became so distraught I offered to take him to Vietnam with me because there I knew he would receive compassionate and competent treatment, something both of us, at that time, were denied in this country.

Walter was sure his son would soon regain consciousness and he did not want to risk being away when that happened. He swore to me we would both make that trip as this was something he needed both mentally and medically. 

Walter’s son has been in a coma now almost 50 years. Walter died earlier this year a broken combat veteran who only had he been a member of Congress, or CEO of a multi-national corporation, or had the right lobbyist-his situation would have been radically different. This Memorial Day we celebrate dead veterans like Walter because they don’t cost the government anything. Isn’t it time we collectively reevaluated this situation?

James Rhodes