Da Nang Air Base,
South Vietnam . . .

Uplifted Wings Memorial
to fallen Airmen
by: Don Poss


Da Nang, 1966

There were no U.S. Air Force Bases in Vietnam--only South Vietnam Air Bases. In early 1966, the Vietnamese Da Nang Air Base commander approved a Memorial to Fallen Airmen, U.S. and South Vietnamese.

From my tent compound, I had watched construction of the monument for a few weeks, which was pretty fast considering the bureaucracy necessary to accomplish anything.

For a major dedication ceremony, attendance was poor. True, there were flags, banners, spotlights sweeping a starry night sky, bonfires, civilians standing around ...

... someone got a medal, and a Vietnamese civilian gave a speech which no one applauded. When it was over, the crowd faded quietly into the night.

The memorial, Uplifted Wings, was touted as an eternal flame ...

... but sometime during that dedication night,