MAYVILLE, N.Y. — Jim Lemanski of Fredonia was drafted into the U.S. Army in June 1967 and about six months later, was sent to Vietnam, where he saw limited combat.

"I probably fired my weapon maybe eight to 10 times," said Jim.

What You Need To Know

  • Chautauqua County leaders recently held a welcome home Vietnam vets event

  • The ceremony marks the 50th anniversary of the Paris Accords that ended the war

  • Vets on hand say the welcome home is overdue

He last served as a radio and telephone operator, who had to move around every five days or so to prevent his unit from getting hit by a mortar or rocket.

Jim was wounded in combat and has a purple heart to prove it.

"It means a lot," Jim said. "It means I served my country and I shed blood for it. When the mortar rounds came in, I rolled out of bed and got hit in the forehead above the eye here. The doctor told me I was very lucky. A quarter of an inch to the left you lost an eye, a quarter inch to the right and it would hit your temple and you'd be dead."

He left Vietnam in January 1969 and flew into McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey, where he, like many others, was not met with a hero's welcome, but instead groups of protesters he was advised to ignore.

"We got off the plane and they started throwing things, and actually one of them came through the lines and spit on me. And, I punched him," said Jim.

When he got home to Dunkirk, only his parents, siblings and friends were happy to see him. That was four years before the war officially ended with the signing of the Paris Peace Accords 50 years ago, on January 27, 1973.

"I just wanted somebody to just say welcome home," Jim said.

"We felt it only fitting, this 50 years later, we would take time to recognize and welcome you all home," said Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel.

Chautauqua County leaders recently held a Welcome Home ceremony at the courthouse in Mayville for all Vietnam-era veterans living in the area. Wendel read a special proclamation recognizing the end of the war as well as the names of the Chautauqua County men and women who lost their lives serving in Vietnam.

"And I encourage strongly, all residents of Chautauqua County to recognize and thank our veterans for their dedicated service to our country," said Wendel.

Veterans like Jim, who stood proudly on those steps, say he was overwhelmed by the overdue welcome home. And, like the others, received a special token of appreciation

"I didn't think it was going to be as moving as it was, but the speeches and the people coming out is what we deserved when we came home the first time," said Jim.

Part of the county executive's proclamation also declared Jan. 27, 2023, as Vietnam and Vietnam-era Veterans Day.

Visitors to the Capital Region can check out the New York State Vietnam Memorial and Gallery, which was dedicated in 1984 and is one of the first such commemorations in the country.