Jan Scruggs
Encyclopedia
Jan Scruggs is best known for being the founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
. Scruggs served as a corporal in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade
, and upon completion of his service attended American University
in Washington, D.C where he obtained a master's degree
in counseling. During the course of graduate studies, Scruggs came up with the idea of a memorial to honor the veterans of the Vietnam War
, and began to raise funds after the United States Congress
did not take action. The effort began with $2,800 of his own money and eventually raised over $8 million, coming mostly from private donations. The memorial was dedicated in November 1982.
Scruggs is now a motivational speaker, attorney
and author of three books dealing with the Vietnam War, To Heal A Nation (with Joel L. Swerdlow) Why Vietnam Still Matters, The War and The Wall and, "The Wall That Heals"
To Heal a Nation was also made into a television film, with Eric Roberts
as Scruggs, Glynnis O'Connor
as Scruggs' wife, Becky, and Marshall Colt
as Jack Wheeler.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a national memorial in Washington, D.C. It honors U.S. service members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Vietnam War, service members who died in service in Vietnam/South East Asia, and those service members who were unaccounted for during the War.Its...
. Scruggs served as a corporal in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade
U.S. 199th Light Infantry Brigade
The 199th Infantry Brigade is a major combat unit of the United States Army which served in the Reserves from 1921–1940, in the active Army from 1966 to 1970 briefly in 1991–1992 at Fort Lewis, and from 2007 as an active Army training formation at Fort Benning.The brigade was first formed in the...
, and upon completion of his service attended American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in Washington, D.C where he obtained a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in counseling. During the course of graduate studies, Scruggs came up with the idea of a memorial to honor the veterans of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, and began to raise funds after the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
did not take action. The effort began with $2,800 of his own money and eventually raised over $8 million, coming mostly from private donations. The memorial was dedicated in November 1982.
Scruggs is now a motivational speaker, attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and author of three books dealing with the Vietnam War, To Heal A Nation (with Joel L. Swerdlow) Why Vietnam Still Matters, The War and The Wall and, "The Wall That Heals"
To Heal a Nation was also made into a television film, with Eric Roberts
Eric Roberts
Eric Anthony Roberts is an American actor. His career began with King of the Gypsies , earning a Golden Globe nomination for best actor debut. He starred as the protagonist in the 1980 dramatisation of Willa Cather's 1905 short story, Paul's Case...
as Scruggs, Glynnis O'Connor
Glynnis O'Connor
Glynnis O'Connor is an American actress, perhaps best known for her work in the mid-1970s, including her lead actress roles in the TV version of Our Town and the films Ode to Billy Joe and Jeremy, all of which co-starred Robby Benson.O'Connor was born in New York City, the daughter of stage, film...
as Scruggs' wife, Becky, and Marshall Colt
Marshall Colt
Marshall N. Colt is a marriage, family, and life enhancement therapist in San Diego, California, who was an actor of film and television from 1976 to 1995...
as Jack Wheeler.