It was a promise 50 years in the making. In 1986, Jim Eddleman was serving in the U.S. military in Vietnam when he made a promise to himself.
“I helped carry several wounded comrades to evacuation helicopters,” he told Andrew McCrea of AgWeb. “When I had time to reflect, I made a promise to myself if I made it back to the United States alive, I had to do something to show my respect and honor for my comrades.”
The Missouri farmer and his wife donated their 46-acre cornfield that had been in the family for three generations to build a replica of the Vietnam memorial wall in Washington D.C.
Eddleman spoke with McCrea and about why he decided to donate the family land. You can listen below.