2025 marks fifty years since the United States’ conflict in Vietnam ended. A new exhibition at the Washington State History Museum honors Vietnam veterans and their wartime experiences through stories, objects, and film.
Curated by Lt. Col. Erik Flint (US Army, retired), former Director of the Lewis Army Museum, and military historian, Dr. Megan Nishikawa, PhD, this exhibition features deeply personal stories from some of Washington’s 183,000 Vietnam veterans. It provides a uniquely human perspective by showcasing personal items that veterans brought home to remember their experiences in Vietnam.
“We originally intended to tell this story through objects carried by veterans during their military service,” said Flint. “Instead, we found objects deliberately brought home to remember the war. We were amazed at the variety of items, from everyday functional military uniform pieces to ceremonial items and even a mail-order shopping catalog. No two objects are the same, just as no two wartime experiences are the same.”
Guests will also find historical information about the conflict and Washington’s connection to Vietnam. Fort Lewis (now Joint Base Lewis-McChord), located in Pierce County, played a significant role in this history. Between 1961 and 1965 the Army staged its first large-scale counterinsurgency training exercises at Fort Lewis. In 1966, following the expansion of America’s military commitment to Southeast Asia, Fort Lewis was established as a major basic combat and advanced infantry training center. The center included two mock “Viet Cong” villages, complete with tunnels and boobytraps to simulate warfare. By 1972, over 300,000 soldiers from across the country had trained at Fort Lewis before deployment.
The exhibition will launch with a public opening reception on Friday, April 25, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Guests will get an exclusive first look at the exhibition and hear insight from the curators. This event is free with online registration at bit.ly/receptionopening.
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