Southeast Asia Memorial

It was the vision of the Air Force Academy (AFA) Class of 1970 to create this impressive memorial. This memorial, dedicated in 1980, is a tribute to the graduates of the AFA who fought in the first major conflict in Southeast Asia.  Built on the edge of Heritage Trail on a hill, visitors can see through many glass walls overlooking the Academy Eisenhower Golf Course and Cadet area. This graduating AFA class designed and funded the memorial to honor the 150 graduates who died in the Vietnam War and for all those who served. Nine of those graduates who died were from their graduating class. A long black granite wall displays 14 bronze plaques with the names of each graduate who died in the war. It also displays plaques describing war operations, aircraft and equipment used and the importance of soldier’s rescue roles.

The Memorial Pavilion features a large 600-pound bronze map of the SEA Theater of Operations, created by sculptor Jim Nance, a 1971 AFA graduate. The Plaza of Heroes hosts interactive screens on the wall that display the events and history during the war. Black granite wall displays more than 150 names of fellow AFA graduates who died in battle.

The Plaza of Heroes memorializes those who earned the Air Force Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart and other awards. A large bronze statue of Captain Lance Sijan shows the severely injured soldier trying to survive in the jungle of Vietnam. See photo of the glass panel for his commendable story. Sijan was the only Medal of Honor recipient for his actions during the Vietnam War.

The film “Return with Honor” narrated by Tom Hanks explains what the POWs went through while being incarcerated by the enemy. Many were tortured and lost their lives while protecting the United States Code of Honor. A bronze plaque displays a horrific image of a bounded and emaciated prisoner. 33 AFA graduates served as POW in Vietnam.