In Ocean Springs, MS, is the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial. We had driven past it a couple of times and decided to stop and check it out.
The memorial was a collective vision of the Gulf Coast community and designed to be a "healing, teaching, and living legacy" for Vietnam Veterans.
Photographs and names of the 636 Mississippians who gave their lives during the war are memorialized on the black granite panels of the memorial. Also shown is a panel of the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action troops.
Flags of Allied Nations during the Vietnam War are flown along with a flag of the state of Mississippi (yes, it has a Confederate flag on the upper left quadrant). They include Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, and South Vietnam.
In 1985, Vietnamese Americans presented the idea to the Biloxi Vets Center. When the Gulf Coast Vietnam Veterans Association and the Vietnamese Vietnam Veterans met the following year, the result was a decision to build a memorial. A non-profit group was formed in 1988; the land selection process was initiated (the 4-acre plot next to the Convention Center in Ocean Springs); designs were submitted; the ground breaking was in 1995 followed by the dedication two years later. I found this quote to be particularly poignant.
This monument was presented by the Navy Seabee Veterans of America. KIAs are noted with an asterisk.
This Huey, the workhorse of the Vietnam War, is also on display on the grounds.
Also, on display, is the main mast of the USS Mississippi CGN-40, a Virginia class, nuclear-powered, guided-missile cruiser. It was built in 1975, commissioned in 1978, and decommissioned in 1997. It was the 4th ship named for the state of Mississippi.
Also at this site is the Tullibee SS-284 Memorial. Submarine veterans of World War II assigned each of the 52 submarines lost during the war to a state (two each were assigned to New York and California) for them to build memorials.
The granite 14' x 4' monument sits on a 2' pedestal and lists all 52 submarines lost and the names of the crew of the Tullibee. Also engraved on a panel is a list of the submarines that were on patrol during the Cold War.
The back side of the monument lists the 13 boats built in Mississippi and the submariners' prayer.
A monument in rose quartz is dedicated to the wives of submariners.
Also at the Tullibee Memorial is this Mk torpedo. With a length of 20.5', diameter of 21", and weighing 3,209 pounds, this was the primary anti-surface ship torpedo used during WWII.
As is always the case when we visit war memorials, it is a very somber experience. This one is very well done. Kudos to the community for garnishing the resources to build and maintain it.
Additional information about the memorial including the details of the fatal casualties of the state can be found on their site: psysim.tripod.com
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