A dying memory: the urgency of doing oral histories of the Vietnam Wars

Memories of the Vietnam Wars are dying. The generations that witnessed and lived through one of the bloodiest wars of the twentieth century are ageing. Their memories are fading, and very soon, there will no longer be any chances to record the missing voices of the wars.

I intentionally put the Vietnam Wars in the plural form to include their global scope against its conventional singular form; for example, to include the overlapping wars in Laos and Cambodia.

Oral histories have the advantage of accessibility, allowing a wider range of participants, from high-ranked military officials to civilians or private soldiers. Chronicling stories of those who lived the Vietnam Wars is imperative for honouring their sacrifices and the sacrifices of those who perished.