May We Never Forget By Lewis J. Walker, CFP(R)

By an act of Congress, Memorial Day is a national holiday, celebrated on the last Monday of May. The tradition of decorating graves goes back to the end of the Civil War. Picnics and family gatherings honored fallen heroes. Following W.W. I, the day expanded to honor all who perished in America’s wars. We honor veterans, those who served in any capacity, with special tributes for those stationed in a theater of war or conflict.

Recently, Jim Hoogerwerf of Sandy Springs, GA, a retired Delta captain, and I were reminiscing about our Vietnam service with the U.S. Air Force. Jim flew C-130 transport aircraft out of Tan Son Nhut airbase in Saigon 1968-1969. I was a Ramp Control Officer with the 8th Aerial Port at Tan Son Nhut 1963-1964.

America’s involvement in Vietnam started in the early 1950s, assisting France in their battles in French Indochina. Initially, America took a “hands off” policy relative to the Indochina War. But as the Cold War took hold in the late 1940s, U.S. officials began to view the conflict as less colonial in nature and more a contest between democracy and the scourge of Communism represented by the Soviet Union and China. Essentially, it was the “domino theory.” If we did not resist the spread of Communism throughout Indochina and the South Pacific, like cancer, it would spread. Our involvement grew incrementally through the mid-1950s. Congress designated November 1, 1955 as the official date to mark the deaths of Americans in Vietnam. President Harry Truman established the Military Assistance Group of Indochina (MAAG) when the French asked for aid in battling North Vietnam. Officially, the Vietnam War lasted from November 1, 1955 to April 30, 1975. Over 2 million people died, including civilians, and 58,000 Americans.

We see similar “mission creep” in the Middle East, despite President Obama’s pledge, “no boots on the ground.” At the time of my Vietnam service, it was common to tag some of us as “advisers.” We were touted as “non-combatants,” despite carrying weapons at times and receiving hazardous duty pay. Advisers did die in combat, in guerrilla attacks (“terrorism” is the new name for guerrilla warfare), bombings, planes shot down. Our group handled the caskets and the public did not understand the extent of the casualties. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Advisers are dying in the Middle East. Flag-draped caskets arrive at Delaware’s Dover Air Force Base. We are at war.

It may surprise you to learn that in the history of our American republic, we have been at war, involved in some kind of conflict, 92% of the time. Of the 240 years since 1776, American troops have been in battle at some point in 220 years. There are only 20 years, 8% of the time, when we were totally at peace. Look it up: www.infowars.com.

Investors worry about global tensions and conflict. Wall Street hates uncertainty. Yet, generally, history shows that stocks have outperformed their long-term averages during periods of war. The U.S. has let our military forces decline in strength, and the need to modernize and beef up our military is an election issue. Fiscal stimulation is likely and defense stocks have begun to rally. Often markets decline as a conflict comes into view, but such slumps are usually short-lived and markets rally when battles begin in earnest.

I returned to Vietnam in 2000. My friend Jim has been back twice. In notes from a recent trip, Jim recognized that the “past” exists vividly in the minds of veterans. But Vietnam has moved on and so has the U.S. A younger generation, he said, has a new perspective and they are responsible for the future. The Vietnam experience will not be forgotten, but now it exists only in history books. “Vietnam veterans are the WW II generation of our youth.”

That we “lost the war” was a failure of foreign policy, not of the battles fought by brave Americans who did what their country asked of them, and more. Communism seemed to have triumphed at the time, but in the long run, the Soviets lost the bigger war—the Cold War.

History is repeating itself, as it does. My fear is that the youth of this country, clamoring for socialism, have been taught history by left-leaning professors. Pray for our republic. Citizens with no real sense of history are a danger.

Again, we are at war. Brave men and women will pay the ultimate price. Pray for them and their families. Freedom isn’t free; it is purchased with blood and treasure. May we never forget! On Memorial Day, 2016, we salute all who served!

Lewis Walker is a financial planning and investment strategist at Capital Insight Group; 770-441-2603. Securities and advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA). Lewis Walker is a registered representative and investment adviser representative of SFA which is otherwise unaffiliated with Capital Insight Group.

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