Thousands of Canadians served in the Vietnam War. These researchers are looking for them

If you are a Vietnam veteran or have a family member who fought in the war, two researchers in Windsor, Ont., want to hear from you. 

For their project, Be Counted, they're developing a registry of as many Canadian veterans as possible to record their information before it's too late.

"Canadians who served were never recognized and I think it's time they were," said Keith Tracy, a U.S. army veteran who lives in Windsor, Ont., and one of the researchers. 

The Vietnam War began unofficially in 1955, with the height of the conflict in the late 1960s. It ended April 30, 1975, with the fall of Saigon.

Canada did not have an official part in the war but tens of thousands of Americans fled to the country to avoid the draft.

What's not as well known is thousands of Canadians enlisted with the Americans, although the exact number isn't clear.

The Canadian Vietnam Veterans Memorial Association - Larry Semeniuk Chapter believes as many as 20,000 enlisted, but other estimates are twice as high.

Tracy has partnered with CJ Scott, a Windsor genealogist and member of the association, to help find veterans across the country as well as Canadians now living in the United States.

"We thought, you know, we can do this," said Scott. 

Finding veterans a challenging process 

Finding veterans hasn't been easy. A number of them have passed away. Also, some haven't come forward because of their reluctance to talk about taking part in the war. 

"That has been a major problem," said Tracy.

"The Canadians came back to a country where people basically ignored or didn't know anything about the Vietnam War other than what they saw on TV. When they came back, most of them just put their uniforms in the cupboard, locked the door and forgot about it."

When the war started, Canadian James Mackay was studying in the United States to be a Franciscan monk. He ended up joining the military and was assigned to the American Special Forces. 

"We weren't treated like [veterans] from World War II or World War I," said Mackay, who lives in Cape Breton, N.S. "We were called baby killers.

"The United States and Canada were very close and I was fighting for freedom, protecting the Vietnamese. At the time, [that's] the way I saw things," said the four-time Purple Heart recipient.

Tracy and Scott hope their efforts to find veterans will get easier as American lawmakers signed a resolution last year to acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of Vietnam War veterans and formally apologize for their treatment upon returning home.

There are also logistical challenges to finding Canadians who served. 

Scott has been researching death certificates, census records and voting lists. She has reached out to national and local historical organizations and has been speaking with Royal Canadian Legion branches across the country. 

Confidentiality laws have proved to be difficult, especially accessing documentation from the United States. She is currently researching about 70 cases.

"However, we know that there are thousands out there. We really need to get the word out," she said. 

"Their name matters and if you don't have all the information, still reach out to us. We will do our best to get our own information and just make sure their names are remembered."

Homecoming planned for 2025

Their efforts to record Canadians who fought come before the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. 

To mark the anniversary, a small group of people is inviting Canadians who served and their families to Windsor for July 6, 2025, as the Canadian Vietnam Veterans Memorial, also known as the North Wall, is located at the Detroit riverfront in the southwestern Ontario city's Assumption Park. The names of 173 Canadian soldiers who were killed or missing in action are inscribed on the granite. 

Next year also marks the 30th anniversary of the monument, which was erected in 1995 after a group of Vietnam veterans from Michigan were inspired by Canadians who fought.

The black granite monument was made of the same material used for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Mackay plans to travel from Nova Scotia to Windsor for the 2025 ceremony, to pay tribute to those who can't be there.

"I was very fortunate that I came home … lucky," he said.

Organizers of the anniversary event hope honouring those who fought will be a healing moment for veterans and their families after the years of not getting recognition.

"The people that are still here, they are kind of experiencing their own war. They are still battling what might be [post-traumatic stress disorder], Agent Orange …  they matter too," said Tracy.