Name Added To Wall > General Discussion

Posted: 6/2/2004 2:45:41 PM EDT

I was at the Vietnam Wall in DC in May and watched them add a name to the wall. I was curious about it and here is the story. Incidentally several Nam vets fought this hard!

Washington, D.C. -- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund will add the name of a Vietnam veteran who committed suicide four months after his release as a prisoner of war to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, announced Jan C. Scruggs, Founder and President of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

“The Defense Department is the agency responsible for determining whose names go on The Wall, and we recognize that this was a difficult decision,” said Scruggs. “Based on the DOD decision, we have made arrangements for Captain Brudno’s name to be inscribed on The Wall in early May. His will be the first name added; and nine other names will be inscribed as well.”

U.S. Air Force Captain Edward Alan Brudno of Quincy, Massachusetts was shot down over North Vietnam in October 1965 and held as a prisoner of war for more than seven years before being released in February 1973. Four months after arriving back in the United States, Captain Brudno took his own life on June 3, 1973.

By the way Jan Scruggs led the fight against adding the name.

Posted: 6/2/2004 2:57:05 PM EDT

[#1]

Well, I guess he could be considered a casualty.....sort of...

Who's Jan Scruggs?

Posted: 6/2/2004 3:04:18 PM EDT

[#2]

"Jan C. Scruggs, Founder and President of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund."

He started the group that raised 9 million bucks to build it. No federal money was used.

Posted: 6/2/2004 3:14:03 PM EDT

[#3]

Tough call... I can see both sides of the argument...

Posted: 6/2/2004 3:27:27 PM EDT

[#4]

I think they are adding names of vets dying of Agent Orange exposure too...seems like I heard that somewhere...anyone confirm?

Posted: 6/2/2004 3:44:02 PM EDT

[#5]

Here is what I can find:

The first additions to the Wall occured 1983, the year after the memorial was dedicated. These sixty-eight names were of Marines who were killed when their R&R (rest and relaxation) flight crashed in Hong Kong. Fifteen more names were added in 1984. In 1986, 110 names were added, the majority of which were added when the geographic criteria were enlarged to include those killed outside the war zone while on or in support of direct combat missions. Since 1986, other additions have occurred when, through study and discovery, it was determined that names deserved to be placed on the wall. More often today, names added are of veterans who have recently died as a direct result of combat-related injuries received in the war. When the occasion arises, new names are etched into the wall around Memorial Day in the spring or Veterans Day in the fall. Since the names on the wall are listed chronologically according to casualty date and because space on the Wall is limited, the new names are added as close as possible to the appropriate place where space allows.

This is from www.nps.gov/vive/memorial/names.htm

Posted: 6/2/2004 5:24:41 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
"Jan C. Scruggs, Founder and President of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund."

He started the group that raised 9 million bucks to build it. No federal money was used.

That would be why I'd heard the name. I just couldn't remember who he was. Thanks

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