The Department of Defense is the agency responsible for deciding whose names go on The Wall, based on established criteria. If the DOD determines that a Vietnam Veterans death was a direct result of severe physical, psychological and torture-related combat wounds inflicted by the enemy while he was held prisoner during the Vietnam conflict.

The Department of Defense is the agency responsible for deciding whose names go on The Wall, based on established criteria. If the DOD determines that a Vietnam Veterans death was a direct result of severe physical, psychological and torture-related combat wounds inflicted by the enemy while he was held prisoner during the Vietnam conflict.