"The Wall That Heals,” a three-quarter replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, arrived at Civic Center Park on March 20, 1997. The wall listed the names of American military personnel who died in Vietnam that included 22 soldiers from Berkeley.

American Merchant Marine Veterans from Golden Gate Chapter spoke to the Merchant Marines participation in Vietnam and that their fallen comrades should be remembered as well. During that military conflict 44 merchant mariners perished while serving on U.S. merchant ships in Vietnam. As with the armed service personnel who died in combat, some are known only by their family names, and one is unidentified. Two were missing in action and presumed dead. The organization asked that these Merchant Marines be included on the Wall.

ALSO SEE:

• Vietnam Memorial Wall 1997 "VIETNAM: Berkeley's Battlefield"
• Vietnam Memorial Wall 1997 Belated Thanks to The Merchant Mariners Of World War II