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Veterans Reflect on Lifting Arms Embargo with Vietnam

DUNMORE — As Memorial Day approaches, members of Friends of the Forgotten cleaned up the memorial tank site in Dunmore. The group is a mix of veterans and...
lacka vietnam vets

DUNMORE -- As Memorial Day approaches, members of Friends of the Forgotten cleaned up the memorial tank site in Dunmore.

The group is a mix of veterans and those who support military families.

Involved with the cleanup is Ed Faatz, he's the president of the organization and also a Vietnam veteran.

Just one day after President Obama announced ending an embargo on military equipment with Vietnam, Faatz shared his thoughts on lifting a ban that's been in place for decades.

"I question whether we should be opening the arms to them. It's things we've done before. It's one of the great things about living in the United States. We do things for other people," Faatz said.

Decades after the Vietnam War, Lackawanna County still honors those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The memorial at the courthouse in Scranton remembers the 55 people from Lackawanna County who died in Vietnam.

"I had a very close friend and he got killed before I got there," veteran Eugene Waszcak said.

Waszcak walked away from the war injured in combat. He still suffers from nerve damage. He says over the years he has healed and it's time our country heals too.

"When we were over there they were very behind time, you know what I mean? If we can help them out, we'll help them out. The French was there first. They left so we took over," Waszcak said.

Just before the Vietnam War was the Korean War. Angelo Benedetti fought for our country during the Korean War. He's disappointed that the president's announcement came so close to Memorial Day.

"I hated to see it lifted simply for selling them ammunition and guns and that. Maybe it will turn into something else. I hope for the better. We certainly need some good things to happen to our country," Benedetti said.

President Obama also announced that for the first time the Peace Corps will go to Vietnam to teach English.

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