A Brief History
On January 27, 1973, about 11 hours before the cease fire marking the official end of American involvement in the Vietnam War, Colonel William Nolde, US Army, age 43, was killed by artillery fire at An Loc, South Vietnam. Nolde thus became the last official US combat casualty of that war, and a footnote in history.
Digging Deeper
William Nolde was more than an historical footnote, however, a real life person and patriot, a husband, and a decorated soldier (veteran of the Korean War as well as Vietnam War), and had worked as a college professor at Central Michigan University prior to his military career.
Former Senator and Secretary of State, John Kerry, pointedly asked “How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?”
William Nolde was born in Michigan in 1929 and was drafted during the Korean War. Commissioned as an officer after attending Officer Candidate School, he served in Korea and did a tour in Vietnam in 1965-1966. Nolde returned to Vietnam in 1972 at the request of Army Chief of Staff General William Westmoreland to serve as an advisor to the Army of South Vietnam. Nolde’s military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal, and Purple Heart. He is remembered as a member of the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame and in a lecture series in his name at Central Michigan University’s Military Science Department. The family, friends, and students of William Nolde have established a scholarship at Central Michigan in Nolde’s name as another testament to this patriot.
The death of William Nolde was treated as a national event, with President Nixon and General Alexander Haig in attendance at the burial at Arlington National Cemetery, an event aired on national television.
In answer to John Kerry’s question, if you are asking a true patriot, you simply ask and he follows to serve as needed. Vietnam was a mistake, the American people were misled by politicians throughout the war, those same politicians did a terrible disservice to the military, but the men and women that died serving the country deserve credit and our thanks for their sacrifice. Question for students (and subscribers): If you have any thoughts or opinions about the Vietnam War or America’s wars in general, please share them with your fellow readers in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see this article.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="15187 https://www.historyandheadlines.com/?p=15187">29 Comments
“…if you are asking a true patriot, you simply ask and he follows to serve as needed” Very well said
Sad that so many lost their lives in a war that mislead so many.
This man did not die for a mistake but rather he fought for the man next to him.
This man died fighting for the rights of everyone living in this country today. To call it a mistake is to bring your own views into play.
What a sad day. It reminds me of the Jews who died moments after World War II concluded. It was not a mistake though, he died defending his country, and that is as noble as any a cause.
Man how terrible this man lost his life right before the war ended.
It is such a shame that he passed away right before the war was over.
It does not matter whether you are the first or the last killed in war, “ALL LIVES MATTER!” Its sad that the war was almost over but how about the guy that was first killed. I can only guess he was only there a short time before being killed.
I wonder what would happen if he hadn’t had died before the war?
So politicians are still as corrupt as always like they were during Vietnam. You also do not ask military members to do anything. They follow orders and do as they are told. Whether the they agree with the the rights or wrongs of the situation, service abide by following orders.
I feel horrible for the family of Colonel William Nolde. However I feel horrible for all of the men that lost their lives during the Vietnam war. The Vietnam war should have never happened, I thank all of the brave American soldiers that fought for this country in the Vietnam war (Both the volunteers and those whom were drafted into the war).
Men and women of the military branches do not worry about politics, they just follow orders. Sometimes they pay the ultimate price by dying in combat, but they don’t do it for the glory or to get awards, they do it for the person to the right and left of them (Comrades in arms).
My grandfather fought in the Vietnam war and tells me all about his time in combat. I have so much respect for all of those who lost there lives and served our country to defend our freedom.
The Vietnam War should never of happened and those who lost their lives should be remembered as heros because they were doing a duty by following orders.
Vietnam war was a bad time and we lost a lot of soldiers plus the ones that came home had a rough time with the war.
It is sad to loose any soldier, but especially sad when a soldier dies who has given so many years to his country and had such an impressive military record. At least he is remembered for more than just been gate last combat causality of the Vietnam War, that scholarship the is set up in his name at Central Michigan will at least educate people more about the kind of person he was.
It is nice to see a veteran noticed by the president.
I agree with this article. Every man and woman that serves in the military should be recognized for their service. It should not matter how you feel about the war, like Vietnam war, people gave up their lives and they should be treated as a hero.
Every member of the military should be honored for their services, these men and women put their lives on the line for our country.
My father was in the army at the time of the Vietnam War. There he, like many others, was introduced to opium. When the soldiers returned, many of them suffered withdrawal symptoms along with other serious illness caused by exposure during this war.
I agree that the Vietnam War should never have happened. But I do believe that everyone in the military deserves our gratitude and our respect.
I feel like junk when a Vietnam War Veteran thanks me for my service, my 8 tiny months I spent on a ship with little to no danger around me in my four years. If I see a Vietnam veteran, I do my best to go out of my way to thank them for their service because Lord knows, they didn’t receive proper thanks on their homecoming. No one wanted to fight in that war, but they did, and they did because it was their duty, I have the utmost respect for Vietnam War Veterans.
I am really excited that the President recognized the veterans, my grandfather was in the Vietnam War and I think that war should had never happened.
I love the Vietnam War. It’s my favorite war to learn about. I always make sure I go out my way to tell a soldier my appreciation for what they do for our country.
What is sad is I remember, before my grandparents passed away, when I was in high school we learned about the Vietnam War and I brought it up to my grandparents. I remember them saying that when our troops came back home they didn’t get the acknowledgement that they deserved. When our troops came home from WWII and the Korean War they got more of an acknowledgement than those that served in the Vietnam War.
It is an interesting article by showing William Nolde was treated as a national event. Men and women should be putting in the same level of being trust .
I don’t really know a tremendous amount about the Vietnam War but my great uncle is a veteran of it. He never will talk about his experience though.
The media exploited his death. Everyone should get credit, however the media exploited him forward their agenda.
P.S. Discus is really hard to comment on because it lags incredibly, maybe because of all the ads.
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