A Minnesota PBS Initiative
1968 A Turbulent Time/A Fallen Flag
Jeff with partner Steve Cordell.
Having survived my year in Vietnam I arrived back in Minneapolis on February 12, 1968. You could say that I was just happy to be alive.
After a few weeks of leave time I was sent to my next duty station which was in West Berlin, Germany, arriving in March of 1968. I was assigned to the U.S. 6th Infantry which was located at the McNair Barracks Compound.
One of my first duties there was to be part of a week's long guard detail of the base. We took turns guarding the front and rear gates while being paired with a German soldier.
Another duty we had daily was for about six of us soldiers to march in formation out to the base's flagpole and raise up the American flag each morning. Then in the evening we would march back out to the flagpole to lower the flag. Then we would neatly fold the flag and march with it back to the guardhouse.
I would say that race relations between soldiers on the base at that time were mostly good, especially among the Vietnam Vets. However the 'fallen flag' was a reminder that not all was well.
On April 4th, 1968 we were informed that Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated back in the States. We then got the order to go out to the flagpole and lower the flag to 'half mast' in honor of Dr. King and we did so.
Later that evening as we marched back out to bring in the flag we didn't see it at first as it was lying on the ground. We found that the ropes had been cut and the flag came down. Apparently someone on the base didn't think that Martin Luther King Jr. deserved the honor of having the flag at half mast.
We again neatly folded the flag and returned with it to the guard house. Our squad of men consisted of black and white soldiers together. I don't remember anything being said while we marched back to the guardhouse as I recall it was quiet, but I'm sure there must have been some discussion afterword.
I would say that race relations between soldiers on the base at that time were mostly good, especially among the Vietnam Vets. However the 'fallen flag' was a reminder that not all was well.
A few weeks later we would hear that Bobby Kennedy had been assassinated and we wondered what the hell was happening to our country.
Martin Luther King Jr., 1964. Public domain courtesy of the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division.
At that time I didn't know much about Martin Luther King Jr. I would learn about his life and legacy later in college. I discovered that he was a courageous moral leader and I admired him greatly. I especially respected him for openly criticizing the Vietnam War as most American clergy at that time would not. I came to consider him a role model and he became my hero.
Biographical Details
Submitted From: Edina, MN
Primary Location During Vietnam: Dak To, Vietnam 
Story Subject: Memorial
This story is part of
Stories of Martin Luther King Jr.
Go to the collection.
Story Themes: 1968, Assassination, Dak To, Edina, Germany, Jeff Nordahl, Jeffrey Nordahl, Martin Luther King Jr., Memorial, MLK Assassination, MLK Jr., Patriotism, Race, Racism, Read, West Berlin