Elder Lance B. Wickman, Honorable General Authority Seventy, General Counsel of the Church, and a military veteran, has visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., several times over the years.
The memorial’s reflective surface, also known as the “Wall,” honors their service and sacrifice by inscribing the names of more than 58,000 people who have died or are missing since the Vietnam War.
For the elder Wickman, a former U.S. Army Ranger who served two tours of duty in Vietnam, the memorial is both an impressive and deeply spiritual place, listing the names of many personal friends.
One is Spc. Daniel Fernandez, a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, joined the Army immediately after graduating from high school. On February 18, 1966, a Viet Cong company ambushed American troops during a night patrol. As the soldiers retreated under heavy fire, an enemy grenade landed in the midst of several soldiers. Fernandez threw himself at the grenade, saving four people’s lives. Fernandez was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
“As we mark Memorial Day, I can’t help but think of the many comrades in arms who were not able to return home. They are the ones we truly honor on that day,” he said. “All of these men’s deaths were terrible. That’s what I think about on Memorial Day.”
In an interview with Church News, Elder Wickman paid tribute to his fellow service members and shared personal experiences, gospel lessons, and reflections on Memorial Day and patriotism.
It’s possible — Soldier and Disciple of Christ
The elder Wickman was an officer in the United States Army from 1964 to 1969. He served twice in Vietnam as an infantry platoon leader and as a military advisor for the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, receiving the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, the Unit Citation for Valor, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Late on the first trip, in November 1966, the elder Wickman’s battalion had just returned to base camp after weeks in the jungle when an emergency message blared over the radio. Another battalion had been overrun by the enemy and had to be rescued.
Elder Wickman said a silent prayer as he grabbed his helmet and rifle and prepared to depart. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
Some time later, as the elder Wickman’s armored personnel carrier was making its way through a lightly forested area of the jungle, it overturned over an enemy mine that the commandos had detonated. The explosion was so large that the vehicle’s engine and other parts were blown away. All on board, including the elder Wickman, were injured.
After the explosion, the same words from Proverbs, “Trust in the Lord,” returned to his heart and gave him comfort and reassurance.
During the Vietnam War, Elder Wickman found personal peace, strength, and confidence in the Book of Mormon, especially the war chapters. He was inspired by examples such as Alma (see Alma 2:29-33) and Captain Moroni (Alma 48:11-13, 17-19). Despite witnessing the atrocities of war, they remained undefiled and drew strength from Jesus Christ and his gospel.
“These great people that I read about in the Book of Mormon were a great inspiration to me that it is possible to be a soldier and still be a man of Christ,” he said. “It has been and always will be a huge blessing to me.”
“I love America”
As Americans prepare to honor their loved ones this Memorial Day on May 25th and celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary on July 4th, Elder Wickman said we should remember and thank those who sacrificed their lives to establish the freedoms we enjoy today. That includes respecting the agency, rights, and religious freedom of others, as President Dallin H. Oaks has repeatedly taught.
“I’m grateful to the Lord. I’m grateful for the blessings in my life,” he said. “I am so grateful to be a Latter-day Saint. I am so grateful to be a citizen of this great country. I love America. I believe deep in my heart that America was established by the Lord as a place where the gospel could be restored.”
Elder Wickman continued, “In the midst of the challenges we face in today’s world…my prayer is that this past year we will embrace all that America stands for, so that the Lord will guide us through these times.”
