MILWAUKEE — The memories of the Vietnam War are still fresh in the minds of Wisconsin Vietnam War veterans as March 29 marked the 50 year anniversary of when American troops were taken out of the country.

Glenn Fieber is the president of the Wisconsin Vietnam Vets State Board. As he stands in front of the Milwaukee Vietnam Veterans Memorial, he said he will never forget the moment he was called to serve.

“My mother was standing by me, when I got the letter and I read it and my mother said, ‘Well, what are you going to do?,’ and the story went on and I went into the Army and then to Vietnam 1968 and 1969,” said Fieber.

That experience changed him forever.

“It’s amazing how a 19-year-old became a man very quickly,” said Fieber.

On Wednesday, Vietnam War veterans gathered for a welcome home ceremony at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center to commemorate the 50 year anniversary of getting Americans troops out of Vietnam.

“It was a long war and a lot of people were killed and a lot of people were maimed mentally and physically because of that throughout the state of Wisconsin,” said Fieber.

Kurt Baker of Milwaukee also served in the Vietnam War as a mechanic. He is also a member of the Wisconsin Vietnam Vets Chapter 1, which represents the southeastern part of the state.

For him, what always stood out was the backlash he and other Vietnam veterans received when they returned home.

“It wasn’t the Vietnam vets that they were mad at. It was the government, but they couldn’t take it out on the government so they took it out on the veterans,” Baker said. “That should have never happened then and never again to any veteran that comes home."

Baker said the reception toward Vietnam veterans is a lot more positive these days.

He believes it’s more important than ever to share experiences with the next generation.

“Hopefully they remember it,” Baker said. “Hopefully, they won’t make the same mistakes that were made earlier and hopefully people won’t die needlessly.”

Fieber said when thinking back to the Vietnam War, he hopes people can see there is one characteristic that all veterans share.

“Remembering the wars that the United States has fought; no matter what it was for and no matter how it turned out, we are just a bunch of proud, patriotic people,” said Fieber.

That’s why he wants to help and support other veterans and their families and a day like is a great opportunity.