3,417 dog tags commemorate Texans lost in Vietnam

Texas Heroes ExhibitThe Texas Vietnam Heroes Exhibit was developed by the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument committee to honor and remember every Texan who died in the Vietnam War, including the 102 Texans who remain missing in action. Each of these Texans is individually represented on one of a pair of dog tags that includes his name, rank, branch of service, date of loss, and home of record. The second tag is entombed inside the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument that was dedicated March 29, 2014 on the northeast grounds of the Texas State Capitol. A scale model replica of the monument is included in the exhibit.Don Dorsey Holding Tags

Each tag was hand-embossed by a vintage machine identical to that used during the Vietnam War by Don Dorsey and James Hart, Texas Marine Corps veterans. Visitors are encouraged to touch and photograph the interactive exhibit.

“The exhibit is an educational and healing opportunity,” said Robert Floyd, Chairman of the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument Committee. “It has traveled more than 2,400 miles across the state accompanied by a motorcycle honor guard to honor Vietnam veterans in communities across Texas, and to allow veterans and families to honor their friends and loved ones who never came home.” Before making its final home at the Museum of the American G.I. in College Station, the Texas Vietnam Heroes Exhibit was displayed in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Lubbock, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, and Honeygrove. It won the 2013 Lantern and AMA Crystal Awards for outstanding educational exhibitions.

The Texas Vietnam Heroes Exhibit was made possible through the generosity of the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation.

Learn more about the Texas Heroes Exhibit here.

The Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument honors all Texans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in Vietnam.  With the entombed tags, it also serves as a memorial to Texans who did not return home.

To visit it in person in Austin:
Monument Location
Texas State Capitol
1100 Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78701
Located on the Northeast side of Capitol grounds.