Vietnam War Memorial vandalized in Big Spring

Click the link to see the damage done in this news report.

Big Spring Veterans Survey Damage to Vietnam Memorial
8/27/12
Tatum Guinn
CBS 7 News


Big Spring - Big Spring Police are on the search for the people who vandalized the Vietnam Memorial over the weekend.

Veterans are in shock as they surveyed the damage to their Vietnam Memorial and now they're asking one question, "why?"

The Vietnam Memorial is a quiet place where Big Spring veterans go for peace of mind.

"At night a lot of guys wake up with bad dreams...they go out there to the memorial to reconcile why they're here and their buddies are not," Mike Tarpley, Vietnam veteran said.

And it was overnight that their place to honor the fallen was vandalized.

"Its a place we go for peace and it's been destroyed," Tarpley said. "They busted out a window of the cobra helicopter and stole the pilots head. I guess they thought it would be funny."

Also damaged was a display case that held items from past wars. A canteen belt and canteen were taken from the case.

Tarpley says the damage done brings back bad memories.

"It took us back to how we were treated when we came home from Vietnam," he said. "We keep thinking that'll be over with, but when that was done, its like man why cant they leave us alone."

At this time, the police do not have any leads in the case. However, they are offering a substantial reward for anyone with information that leads to an arrest.

If you have any information, call the Big Spring Police Department at: 264-2550.