Steve Wilson to Interview Vietnam War Veterans Ahead of National Vietnam War Veterans Day

Steve Wilson will release interviews with four Vietnam War veterans each Friday in March leading up to National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29. The interviews will be published on Space Coast Daily, with the final one appearing on March 26. The event marks the 50th anniversary of the recognition of the holiday, which was established by President Richard Nixon in 1975 to honor the withdrawal of the last U.S. combat troops from Vietnam. The day was formally recognized as a national holiday in 2017 after President Donald Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act into law.

The interviews will feature veterans sharing their experiences from the war, which took place from 1955 to 1975. Wilson said he chose to focus on Vietnam veterans after reflecting on his father’s service in World War II. "My father was called a hero when he came home," Wilson said. "But Vietnam veterans faced a different reception." The interviews aim to highlight the contributions and sacrifices of those who served during the Vietnam War, which saw over 2.7 million U.S. military personnel deploy and more than 58,000 Americans killed.

Each interview will be released on Space Coast Daily starting March 5. The first interview features John Carter, a veteran who served as a medic in the 101st Airborne Division. Carter’s story includes his experiences during the Tet Offensive in 1968 and his return to the U.S. after being wounded in 1970. The second interview will focus on Margaret Nguyen, a nurse who served in Saigon and later worked to improve healthcare for veterans. The third and fourth interviews will be released on March 12 and March 19, respectively.

Wilson emphasized that the project is not about politics but about honoring service. "These veterans deserve to be heard," he said. "Their stories are part of our community’s history." The interviews will be archived on Space Coast Daily’s website for future reference. The final interview will be published the week before National Vietnam War Veterans Day, which is observed annually on March 29.