Watch the interview HERE or download broadcast quality HERE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In honor of National Vietnam War Veterans Day, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs (SVAC) and Armed Services Committees (SASC), released his latest episode of “Answering the Call: Maine’s Veteran Voices.” In the 10^th interview of the series, produced in partnership with the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project, Senator King sat down with Norm Lajeunesse of Kennebunkport, who served with the Marine Corps at the height of the Vietnam War.

“A Marine who served in some of the deadliest battles of the Vietnam War, Norm Lajeunesse embodies the bravery, dedication, and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform,’” said Senator King. “The country is forever indebted to Norm for his heroic actions and gallantry in the face of true danger. Even after his time in Vietnam, he has continued his selfless service as a resource in his community for veterans who are returning to civilian life or struggling with mental health challenges. It was an honor to hear Norm share his experiences as a Marine, his personal struggles after serving, and his invaluable life lessons for this Vietnam Veterans Day Special of ‘Answering the Call: Maine’s Veteran Voices’.”

Originally from Biddeford, Norm is the son of Quebecois immigrants; many members of his family worked in the mills in the area. Norm attended St. Louis High School in Biddeford and then went on to college in New Brunswick where he played football. During his third year of college, Norm left school and was promptly drafted into the Marine Corps in 1966. After finishing bootcamp, Norm completed infantry and communications training. Norm says these trainings instilled discipline and made him the man he is today. Norm was stationed at Camp Pendleton in southern California before being sent to Vietnam.

While in Vietnam, Norm served on the front lines with the 1^st Battalion, 4^th Marine Division, experiencing intense combat. He spent much of his time at Con Thien, a Marine Corps combat base located near the DMZ (Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone). Norm survived a large ambush on the Con Thien military base on May 8^th 1967 where 44 Marines were killed and more than 100 were wounded. Days later, Norm was hit by shrapnel and had to be medically evacuated to Dang Ha Combat Base. After his wounds were treated, Norm returned to active patrolling until he left Vietnam in November of 1967. For his brave service, Norm earned the following decorations:

• Purple Heart
• Combat Action Ribbon
• Presidential Unit Citation
• Meritorious Unit Commendation
• National Defense Service Medal
• Vietnam Service Medal with 2 bronze campaign stars
• Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross with Palm and Frame) Ribbon Bar
• Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device

After returning to the United States, Norm separated from the military in 1968 and moved to Kennebunkport with his wife Pearl, who he has been married to for 58 years. He worked for United Postal Service for 15 years and then opened his own hardware store which he ran up until just a few years ago. Norm and Pearl have three children who graduated from Dartmouth, Harvard, Columbia, Colby, and Maine Maritime with various degrees. Norm never spoke about his experience after leaving the service. It wasn’t until decades later that he realized the immense mental impact Vietnam had on him. He now helps others deal with their mental and physical wounds after returning from combat, including veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Veterans History Project is an effort by the Library of Congress to collect, preserve and distribute the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. The interviews and primary documents from the project are then used by researchers, historians, students, and filmmakers across the country. Senator King joins many other members of Congress who’ve participated in the project.

Representing one of the states with the highest rates of veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. Senator King uses this interview series to learn and share the stories of the lives, service, and sacrifices of Maine’s veteran community. He has been among the Senate’s most prominent voices on the need to address veterans suicide, and has repeatedly pressed for action from top Department of Defense officials on this issue. Additionally, he recently spearheaded the passage of legislation to better track and study servicemember suicides by job assignment.