Vietnam veteran reflects on war 50 years after fall of Saigon| 7Salutes

MCLEAN, Va. (7News) — April 30 marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. On that day in 1975, the capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese. Even though thousands of Americans died in that 20-year war, the Asian country is still communist to this day.

But a Vietnam War hero living in Virginia still feels the war was worth it.

The striking number of ribbons and pins on Brigadier General John 'Jack' Nicholson’s chest reveals a life dedicated to duty and heroism.

He’ll tell you he was just being a good soldier, and he gladly volunteered for Vietnam on three separate tours.

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“I felt sorry for their suffering that they were undergoing under the communists,” said Nicholson. “I’m glad I served because it was worth serving there. The people were worth it. They aspired to be free.”

Nicholson served as an advisor to Vietnamese troops fighting against communist forces.

During a brutal firefight in 1963, Nicholson’s troops were reduced from 200 to 40, and he noticed some of the men retreating while some of their own fellow soldiers were lying wounded.

“They were escaping and fleeing, and throwing their rifles into the canal. That was a cowardly thing to do, and I felt that needed to be stopped,” Nicholson recalled.

So he bravely led his beleaguered men to victory.

“We changed that battle, one of cowardly retreat to valorous retaking the battlefield and rescuing the wounded," added Nicholson.

Decades later, in 2009, General Nicholson was finally honored with the Silver Star for that battle. It’s the third-highest military combat award.

Despite countless stories of heroism like Nicholson’s, the North Vietnamese captured the capital of Saigon in April 1975, effectively ending the war that killed more than 58,000 Americans.

But Nicholson feels the war was worth it.

“'Cuz we prevented communists from taking over for several years as they intended to do, like they had done to dozens of other countries around the world,” said Nicholson.

Nicholson feels the United States could have won the war if lawmakers hadn’t caved to political pressure.

But now, 50 years later, he hopes history remembers the bravery of Americans and the southern Vietnamese who fought for freedom.

“It's important for the young people to know the United States stood up against the communists of the world,” he said.

Brigadier General Nicholson served 30 years with distinction, and bravery runs in the family. His son, retired Four-Star General John Nicholson, served as the commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.