A Minnesota PBS Initiative
The Minnesota Connection to the Battle of Soui Tre
In 1966 a significant number of Minnesota men entered the army together, trained together, deployed to Vietnam together, were assigned together in units of the 25th and 4th Infantry Divisions, and found themselves fighting together in the bloody Battle of Soui Tre in March of 1967.
The Fire Support Base at Soui Tre was commanded by then Lieutenant Colonel John Vessey, a Minnesotan, who received the nation’s second highest award for valor at Soui Tre and went on to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s highest ranking military officer during the Reagan Administration.
Watch an interview with General Vessey.
At the May 20th, 2019 Vietnam War Roundtable at Concordia University, Major General Rick Nash, the recently retired Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard, gave a brief overview of his extensive knowledge of General Vessey’s leadership skills.
Retired Army Chaplain Colonel John Morris gave an overview of the battle based on his research for the book he is writing on General Vessey.
It was one hell of a battle. It's amazing many of you are here today.
At the Roundtable, numerous Minnesota veterans of Soui Tre discussed their varied participation in the battle. Veterans included: George Dahl, Bob Holmstrom, Joe Fernlund, Dennis Defiel, John Mersinger, Bruce Peterson, and Jeff Klein.
THE VIETNAM WAR ROUNDTABLE
The Vietnam War Roundtable is a collaboration between Twin Cities PBS, the Minnesota Military Museum, and Concordia University and is an opportunity for veterans, students, and those interested in the war and its legacy to gather the third Monday of each month to honor, remember and understand this tumultuous time. Fall 2019 schedule coming soon.
Story Themes: Battle of Soui Tre, Concordia University, General Vessey, Minnesota Military Museum, Rick Nash, TPT, Vietnam War Roundtable