White Plains, NY -- Fifty years ago today, the USS Westchester County was attacked by Viet Cong mines delivered by frogmen as the boat lay anchored in the Mekong Delta.  Twenty five people lost their lives in the attack, including 23 U.S. servicemen. It was the largest loss of life in a single combat instance for the U.S. Navy in the entire Vietnam War. Wednesday, October 31, we honored those who lost their lives that day in 1968, and the survivors of the attack, with a gathering at the Westchester County Center. We mourn all loss of life, but feel a special connection to those who were killed and injured in the attack on this ship which bore our name.  Even after half a century, those who sacrificed for us in Vietnam are never out of our minds.  Nor are those who sacrifice themselves for us today.

PICTURED ABOVE: Families and survivors of the attack on the USS Westchester County on November 1, 1968, gather at the Westchester County Center

A survivor of the attack on the USS Westchester County addresses families and survivors at the Westchester County Center

L to R: Dan Griffin, executive director, Vietnam Veterans of America, Westchester chapter; County Executive George Latimer; Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient and keynote speaker Paul Bucha; Board Chairman Ben Boykin