GREENFIELD — When John Chadwick and his family learned that his brother, Frank “Buddy” Chadwick, had died in Vietnam, he was in shock.
“It was like the whole world just collapsed,” John Chadwick, who lives in Shelburne Falls, said.
“I still ask myself today, ‘Why? Why did it have to happen?’”
And now, more than 50 years later, Frank “Buddy” Chadwick and the more than 58,000 other Vietnam War casualties were honored in Greenfield during a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Mall for Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day and the 50th anniversary of the Tet Offensive on Thursday.
John Chadwick, a U.S. Air Force veteran who decided to serve to fulfill his brother’s mission during the war, was one of the dozens in attendance to honor the thousands from around the country who died in the war, including the six from Greenfield who were killed in action.
The event occurred after Greenfield Mayor William Martin announced earlier in the week that March 29 would be Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Day. That followed President Donald Trump signing legislation making March 29 Vietnam Veterans Day in 2017. Before Trump, President Barack Obama also declared March 29 Vietnam Veterans Day in 2012, according to a press release from Martin.
Chadwick was also one of the guest speakers at the event, which featured a wreath laying at the wall where a list of Greenfield residents who served, were killed in action or died in service during the Vietnam War, is carved. Other guest speakers included Martin and Turners Falls resident John Murphy, who are both Vietnam veterans.
And while the moment seemed like it was a long time coming for Chadwick, he said that he feels that it is helping to finally bring closure to his brother’s death and those of others.
“I think they’re finally getting the deserving recognition that they should have gotten many years ago,” he said.
John Murphy, who also served during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, agreed.
He felt that the ceremony helped to address unresolved emotions surrounding the war and its aftermath, as well as to honor those he served with and saw die.
“I lost a lot of friends. They’re right beside you one minute and the next minute you never see them again,” he said.
“This is a long time coming, (it) should have been every year,” Murphy said.