CHICAGO (AP) — President Barack Obama’s decision to lift the half-century-old arms embargo against Vietnam was seen by many veterans as a logical outgrowth of efforts to normalize relations between the U.S. and the southeast Asian nation.

Obama vowed to leave behind the troubled history between the former enemies and embrace a new era. He steered clear of any condemnation of Vietnam’s for its treatment of dissidents.

Terry Neilen served in the Army infantry in Vietnam in in 1967 and 1968. He says lifting the ban on arms sales makes sense in the face of China’s growing influence in the region.

Fellow Vietnam veteran Ned Foote says Americans long ago forgave Germany and Japan for World War II, so there’s no reason not to do the same with Vietnam.