The Viet Nam War Memorial
located at Big
Spring Texas on the former site of Webb Air Force Base,
is a belated
attempt to say to the most unappreciated group of fighters
in our nations
history, "Thank you -- we remember!"
(Click any picture below to see it greatly enlarged)
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| The purpose of the Viet Nam War Memorial is contained in the words at the bottom of this monolith, "You Are Not Forgotten". The monolith is for the Pow's/Mia's, but the entire memorial area is also for all veterans of that war. |
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| The Viet Nam War Memorial is located at the East end of the old Webb Air Force Base, or for those of us who were here far enough back, the Big Spring Bombardier School. It is tucked under the Northwest corner of Scenic Mountain, and can be seen from the road at the top of that mesa quite clearly. Approaching it from the North by car, one's first view is of this collection of three war machines from the Viet Nam era. We will have a look at each of them. |
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| The helicopter is a UH-1H "Dust Off". The F4-E Phantom jet was perhaps the most used plane in the war. The tank will be further identified when the information is supplied to us. | ||
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The Cobra
pictured (9Dec02) is a Viet Nam vet, as are Jackie Tibbets and Jerry
Groves
The committee is seeking funds to restore this latest acquisition. |
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| Looking Northeast from the three war machines, one can see the base of Scenic Mountain on the right, with some hint of downtown Big Spring lying in its valley under a beautiful Texas sky. The chapel and flag pavillion can be seen in perspective in this picture. We will see them closer just below. Remember that a click will greatly enlarge this view if you choose. | ||
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The war machines remind the living veterans of what it was like. This chapel and pavillion remind us all to remember those who did not return. |  |
| In the center picture in the table just below, note the relative position of the chapel to the pavillion entrance, where the pictured monument is located. | ||
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| The monument has a map of Viet Nam on the side facing the visitor as he approaches the pavillion. The back side, shown center (above), is the same side pictured in the closeup at the top of this page.. The closeup of the map will be larger yet if one clicks this thumbnail. Or do you prefer to forget such details? The memories must be bittersweet, at best. | ||
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| Looking Southeast toward Scenic Mountain in the center picture, the exterior of the chapel is shown. The ends are open, and the two walls are pictured to see a representation. Even enlarging the thumbnail will not give you a complete view. Some living and some who died are pictured here. Also some from Big Spring, and some from elsewhere who served at Webb are pictured. | ||
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 This
collection of pictures needs no explanation, since they are additional
views of the scenes above.
They just seemed too good to waste. This silhouetted belly of the F4 against the incredible Texas clouds (complete with silver lining), is reason enough to include the group. This pictorial presentation has been done without benefit of an
interview with any one of the several men, most of whom live in Big
Spring, who put this memorial into place. Perhaps time will be
found soon to remedy that situation. |
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