MOVING WALL MEMORIAL DAY 5/16/26 - ELAINE TELLEZ

Thank you for the introduction Debbie…

It’s truly a privilege., to be allowed to speak on behalf of all Vietnam Veterans.

Thank you all for coming out today… to all Goldstar families, all Vietnam veterans, all Military service members and your families, a big thank you to my family who could still be in bed sleeping. A special thank you to each and every person whose vision and dedication brought the moving wall back to Stockton so that we may honor and remember all the men and women , who gave the Ultraman sacrifice

When I joined the Navy I was a bright eyed young 19 year-old ready and passionate to serve my country.

Popeye the sailor-man wore the crackerjack uniform that I so dream of wearing one day. …So it was no surprise to my mom that I sought that uniform and all that it symbolized, ….I must say I truly was disappointed when I learned that women sailors did not get issued this now, iconic uniform and was truly dumbfounded when the US Navy decided it would completely retire that uniform prior to my joining the Navy.

I was given an entrance exam and I excelled with flying colors …in carpentry! I knew the difference between a saw and a hammer! I could be a Seabee in the navy’s specialized construction forces building roads and airport landing strips. NOT so fast Elaine, The Navy was not ready to fully embrace women into these elite forces,

the choices narrow because of my gender BUT a career in communications ….handling top secret messages that was something I could do, yes please! BUT No again no top secret clearance for junior, enlisted personnel, let down again …. However I did settle into communications, and later got my Top Secret clearance…

I serve at Naval Communications Station Yokosuka, Japan handling important and offering heart wrenching messages during the Vietnam war. Our station in Japan was transmitting and originating messages for various shore stations to ships at sea, naval airplanes and submarines all which were engage in the efforts to help fleeing refugees, …dignitaries and …over 3000 orphans this final mission now commonly referred to as operation baby lift occurred at the end of the conflict in Vietnam or the Fall of Saigon.

My responsibilities during the war also included processing messages between the American Red Cross and Navy Chaplain messages to families that let them know “Your loved one was killed in action. Your loved one is coming home for burial” each of these loved ones are represented on the Vietnam memorial Wall. But there are more.

I never understood the courage I had nor the impact I made. …

I also didn’t connect the messages that I transmitted to my personal world. I simply did the job I was assigned. I transmitted messages . now almost 50 years later I am proud of the mission I carried out and I understand the importance. I also now wonder if any of these messages I transmitter had names from my high school from my graduation class …..

I know time is lifting the numbness and humanizing these messages and names that crossed my path over half a century go ….the Vietnam war which began on November 1, 1955 and lasted until April 30 of 1975 was a long and costly conflict ….a conflict for which tens of thousands of service members lost their lives…

Some American Red Cross Messages were delivered to families who never knew anything more than their family member would never be coming home …would never have a burial at Home. …Their messages were written as notification of POW or MIA. There are more than 1000 family, still griefing, the unknown faith of a loved one…..more than 50 years later, they still no answer no closure no more information than that original Red Cross message received over five decades ago……for these families the mothers, the fathers, the sisters, the brothers, the children, the grandchildren, and maybe even the great grandchildren the wall, symbolizes, honor, and remembrance. This wall is important.

More than 58,000 names, including eight women. All nurses . T are itched on the black marble granted in Washington DC representing the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrificed during the Vietnam war.

Coming together as a community before this moving wall is so important to us Vietnam veterans., and to everyone who will NEVER have the opportunity to visit Washington DC …

We veterans were not welcome when we arrived home there were no parades, no thank you for your service instead many were spat upon. We were called baby killers …therefore we hid our uniforms, we hid our service, hid our history, hid our identity.

This wall also brings dignity to us the Vietnam Veteran. We were not baby killers. We were young women and men some drafted some volunteered we worked 12 hour shifts others 24 hour shifts all serving this great Country …all doing our best fighting a war that wasn’t even classified as such until after it ended ….It was downplayed and called a conflict …we left behind our innocence our youth, our families we are forever changed, changed by the horror we witness …by the messages we transmitted, ….we grew up fast. …We hid our scars as best we could some of us are thriving others are broken. Some would never answer the call again others including myself will always be ready to answer the call to defend our way of life and our people.

We only wanted to come home to open arms and open hearts to a handshake. Thank you for your service and welcome home.

What are you waiting for? Find the Veteran standing next to you now and shake their hand. Next week at the grocery store take the time to welcome them home, thank them for their service.

As you walk around these replicas of the Vietnam veterans war take the time to realize each of these names more than 58,000 names represent a person, a real person that had a life and people who loved them and in your heart never forget That freedom isn’t free …

I am truly humbled and honored to be here today.

Thank you…