Committee hears oral histories from Vietnam-era wives and names them honorary members

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee on March 29 heard extended testimony from Charlotte McDaniel, author of Stories Untold: Oral Histories of Wives of Vietnam Servicemen, and several women she interviewed, then moved to make the visitors honorary members of the committee.

The testimony, which ran for more than an hour, brought personal accounts of life on the home front during the Vietnam era and the long-term effects on families. “This is truly an honor and a pleasure to be here,” Charlotte McDaniel told the committee as she introduced the book and described how she collected first-person accounts from more than 30 wives and family members.

The memoirs included accounts of weekly letter writing, care packages and “Mars” radio calls that confirmed service members were alive, as well as anecdotes of social stigma the families faced when servicemembers returned. Claudia Grantham, who described herself as the wife of a second lieutenant who served in Vietnam, said, “The one word that kept coming back to me as I thought about our time in the service … is support. We were the support.”

Other speakers described grief, long-term mental-health impacts and rebuilding life after loss. Holly Poltz read a prepared statement about being married 56 years to Dan Poltz, a Marine infantryman, and recounted his service at battles including Khe Sanh and the long-term wounds that followed. “When Dan came home, his service did not end,” Poltz said. “We see it in their quiet moments, in the sleepless nights, in the unspoken memories that haunt them.”

Laurie Spada, whose husband was killed in Vietnam and who said she later found healing through veteran-focused programs including Sons and Daughters in Touch, described attending a VA-affiliated PTSD group and how listening to other veterans’ accounts filled gaps in her understanding. Barbara LaPosta, whose husband served 21 years and later became 100% VA disabled, told the committee about practical VA supports the family has received, including equipment and home modifications.

Committee members responded with thanks and the committee’s bipartisan leadership moved to recognize the visitors. Chairman Kevin Gillan made a motion, seconded by Representative Webster, to make the women honorary members of the Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee; members supported the motion with applause and no objections recorded in the transcript.

Chairman Gillan said the testimonies provided more emotion in the room than he had previously experienced in committee meetings, and he announced he had placed a donated Vietnam-era foot locker and mementos on display in his office to highlight the visit. Other members, including Representative Webster and Representative Sappy, described the remarks as “inspiring” and urged broader attention to the stories and needs of veterans’ families.

The guests said they hope the book and the public conversation will prompt more recognition of spouses’ and families’ sacrifices and draw attention to programs that help veterans and survivors. McDaniel said the project aimed to preserve stories that “no one ever has” recorded and to bring them to public attention.

The committee adjourned after the hour-plus program and a round of member remarks. The committee also advanced several separate agenda items earlier in the hearing (see separate article: committee actions and votes).