Canadians and Americans do not realize that while Canada was not officially involved in the war some of our men and women were.  There were hundreds of companies who benefited from the war by supplying the American military with supplies.  Which in turn employed thousands of Canadians.

During the Vietnam Era an estimated 20,000 to 50,000 Canadians served in the American forces, not all went to Vietnam.  Senator Edward Kennedy on Jan 17, 1994 read to the U.S. Congressional Record that 40,000 Canadians went to Vietnam.

Why would Canadians go and fight in a war that was not theirs.  The reasons vary as do the men/women.
1) They were working in the U.S. on a green card and were drafted.
2) Their families moved to U.S. and they got drafted.
3) They were going to school and just got out and got drafted.
4) They got in trouble and the court system said jail or no record if they joined the services.
5) They believed they were fighting for the right reasons - freedom.  (Remember that most were raised by watching John Wayne and Roy Rogers - white hat - good vs. evil).
6) They wanted to be a Marine or they could not get into the Canadian Forces.

Canadian Vietnam Veterans like their American Vietnam Veterans had to readjust to the civilian life.  Finding employment and trying to fit back in with their families and friends.  They were treated with contempt and were called mercenaries.  Because of their ill treatment a lot of them hid their war time service for fear of negative treatment.

When they came home the Canadian Vietnam Veterans were not even recognized as veterans in Canada by their country or by other Canadian Veteran groups.  (In recent years they were allowed to join the Royal Canadian Legion as full Members.)

The Canadian Vietnam Veterans suffer from the effects of Vietnam like their American brothers - PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), Agent Orange, Flash Backs, and Depression.  In the early years and for many years after, to get any help they had to cross the border to the States to receive any treatment.  Now in Canada we have VVA representatives, PTSD councilors and support groups.

Please remember our Canadian Vietnam Veterans.

~Written by: Maddy Laffin~
Veterans