05-04-2021

(Photo by Scott McLeod)

2021 NAME ADDITIONS AND STATUS CHANGES ON THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL

Additions bring total number honored on The Wall to 58,281

Each spring, VVMF works with the Department of Defense to make updates to The Wall. If the Department of Defense determines that a service member has met the criteria for addition to The Wall, their name is added. Service members repatriated in the previous year have their status symbols changed.

This year, there were two additions to The Wall, bringing the total number of names on The Wall to 58,281. There were also two service members who were repatriated in 2020 and those service members had their status symbols changed on The Wall. The number of Americans still listed as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War stands at 1,584.

Beside each name on The Wall is a symbol designating status. The diamond symbol denotes that the service member is known dead or presumed dead. The cross symbol denotes that the service member was missing or prisoner status when The Wall was built in 1982 and remains unaccounted for today. When a service member is repatriated, the diamond is superimposed over the cross.

These service members will be officially welcomed home at the Memorial Day ceremony at The Wall on May 31.

These two service members had their names added to The Wall in 2021:

ANDREW J SMITH

PFC, U.S. Army

Grabill, Indiana

Panel 36E, Line 86

 

LARRY R TENDA

PFC, U.S. Marine Corps

Clarksburg, West Virginia

Panel W30, Line 70

 

These two service members were repatriated in 2020:

PAUL A AVOLESE

MAJ, U.S. Air Force

East Meadow, N.Y.

Panel 23E, Line 25

 

ALVA R KROGMAN

1LT, U.S. Air Force

Worland, Wyoming

Panel 14E, Line 45

The Department of Defense sets the criteria for, and makes decisions about, whose names are eligible for inscription on The Wall. VVMF pays for the name additions and status changes and partners with the National Park Service to ensure the long-term care and preservation of The Wall.

Inscriptions and status changes have been made by Engrave Wright from Denver, Colo., since 1986.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C. in 1982. VVMF continues to lead the way in paying tribute to our nation’s Vietnam veterans and their families. VVMF’s mission is to honor and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and era through programs, ceremonies and education materials. To learn more about VVMF, visit www.vvmf.org or call 202-393-0090.

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