Son of Ex-US Defense Secretary Weighs In on His Father’s Legacy in the Vietnam War

Fifty years have passed since the Fall of Saigon brought an end to the lengthy Vietnam War. To numerous Vietnamese Americans, this date represents a time of grief as they reflect on the loss of their homeland.

In Winters, there is a man who reflects on the deeds of his father and how they affected both the people of Vietnam and those in the United States.

Here lies the tale of Craig McNamara, whose father Robert McNamara held the role of Secretary of Defense throughout the Vietnam War. At just 10 years old, Craig saw his dad take up this high-ranking government post.

"Craig mentioned that his father was collected daily by a limousine which took him to the Pentagon," he stated.

He recalls being supportive of his father's position at the White House, yet as time went on, his views began to shift.

Craig stated that he started realizing the war was unjust.

Out of all the numerous visits his father made to Vietnam to assess the aftermath of the war, Craig thinks his father might have downplayed what he witnessed, leaning instead on an optimistic outlook.

Craig stated that leaving us with an optimistic view was the idea—that our forces were emerging victorious and that our body count statistics indicated the National Liberation Front and North Vietnamese casualties were far more substantial compared to ours. However, those of us who started opposing the war understood these weren’t accurate portrayals.

A video recorded in August 1964 depicts Robert McNamara stating that the U.S. was not interested in significant involvement in the conflict.

In 1964, Robert McNamara stated, 'We want to make it clear that we aspire for no broader conflict. How we react hinges upon what the provocokers do, here specifically referring to the actions taken by North Vietnam. The crux of the matter lies in the extent of Northern incursions into Southern territory,' he emphasized.

Craig stated that he thought the U.S. had realized as early as November 1965 that they couldn’t triumph in this war.

This made Craig wonder why his father would continue the United States' involvement in the war. The U.S. left Vietnam in March 1973. The Fall of Saigon happened on April 30, 1975.

"There's a quote that my father has said that his loyalty was to the president, and I questioned my father. If he were here today, I would question why were you more loyal to your president than to the Constitution?" said Craig.

During the 1990s, many years following the war, Robert McNamara admitted publicly that he had been mistaken regarding his involvement in the Vietnam conflict. He detailed his remorse and reflections in a personal account published as a book.

In 2025, which will mark 50 years since the Fall of Saigon, Craig has been invited to participate in a documentary alongside Vietnamese media experts, all working towards a single objective.

“I lost numerous chances to learn from listening and assisting my father in changing and apologizing for his part in the Vietnam War. This incredible person, at 47 years old, has endured much; he’s a survivor of Agent Orange. The U.S. deployed 13 million gallons of Agent Orange throughout Vietnam, irrevocably altering the ecosystem,” stated Craig.

Craig has become a farmer and currently manages this land in Winters where he cultivates walnuts and almonds. In his youth, Craig relocated to California and began participating in protests against U.S. participation in the Vietnam War. Following an enlightening journey of two and a half years across Central America, he decided he wished to pursue farming as his career.

“I understand the significance of food production and its critical role in ensuring the survival of everyone. It’s at the heart of many conflicts we face today. The reality is that there is sufficient food produced globally to nourish every single child and individual,” stated Craig.

Sierra Orchards Has remained in Craig's family since 1980, embarking on an unending quest to discover a way forward while honoring both the land and one another. Craig penned a memoir detailing his viewpoint on his father’s role in the conflict entitled, Because Our Fathers Lied .

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