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They called it "the domino theory." In the years after World War
II, Western leaders, fearful of the well-minded wishful thinking that permitted
Hitler to gradually embroil the world in arms, became alarmed by Communism's rippling
sphere of influence in the Far East. Believing that small countries would topple
one after another if left undefended, they resolved to stop the spread of Communism
wherever possible. In Korea, the UN successfully completed that mission, but in
Vietnam, it failed, at a cost of more than 58,000 American lives. More than 1,300
of those men and women were citizens of Massachusetts. Battleship Cove is
home to the Commonwealth's official memorial to Bay Staters of all branches of
service who were killed in service to their country during the Vietnam War. Located
on board the USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr.,
this memorial is a solemn reminder of their eternal, selfless sacrifice. Click
here
for an honor roll listing the names of all Massachusetts servicemen and women
killed in the Vietnam War. | 
