MCCAFFREY CALLS FOR VETERAN SUPPORT

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) Americans should support hospitals and drug programs
for Vietnam veterans, many of whom continue to suffer from drug abuse and
alcoholism, retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey says.

``Our nation needs to make this sacrifice for those who sacrificed so much
in Vietnam,'' McCaffrey, now President Clinton's leading drug adviser, said
Tuesday at a Veterans Day ceremony at the Vietnam War Memorial.

Military honor guards and the black granite wall engraved with the names of
58,209 war dead were a backdrop for speeches and songs remembering those
who served in the Vietnam War.

McCaffrey, a Vietnam and Gulf War Army veteran, said more than 303,000
soldiers were wounded in Vietnam, and at least 80,000 still suffer from
severe serviceconnected disabilities.

Around 6 percent suffer from drug dependence, another 11 percent are
alcoholics, and many are homeless, McCaffrey said.

``This continuing heavy human toll demands that we Americans vigorously
support the finest possible health care in our Veterans Administration
facilities,'' he said.

McCaffrey also pointed to the accomplishments of Vietnam veterans.

``Our comrades in arms are now leading all facets of public and private
life,'' he said. ``We are governors, senators, members of Congress,
mayors, Cabinet officials, sergeants major and commanders in all our
services.''

Emmylou Harris brought the veterans to their feet and to tears as she sang
``50,000 Names'' with songwriter Jamie O'Hara.

Verses of the song described the wall, mementos left there and people
searching for names, ``fatherless daughters, fatherless sons. There's
50,000 names carved in the wall.''

``Boy Scout badge and a merit pin, little American flags waving in the
wind. There's 50,000 names carved in the wall.''

The ceremony also marked the 15th anniversary of the dedication of the
memorial.

Veteran Joe Castillo helped close the ceremony as he ended his
crosscountry journey on his horse, Indio.

Castillo read a list of names of his buddies who had talked about traveling
the country together when they returned from the war, but Castillo was the
only one who came home alive, said Jan Scruggs, who led the effort to build
the wall.

Castillo decided to make the trip alone on horseback. He began in August in
Fort Collins, Colo., meeting veterans along the way and having them sign an
American flag he carried.

He ended the trip, still on horseback, by presenting the flag at the
ceremony.