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No One Ever Said Thank You to A Vietnam Vet!
J 1357
Member Posts: 283 ✭✭✭
I was at a winter event yesterday, where the Army had a booth. As I walked by, I noticed at least four people coming up to the servicemen and saying thank you to them for their service.
For the first time in many years, I was pissed. No ONE, not anyone ever thanked me for my service. In fact, I remember an officers convention in San Fracisco, where I was walking down the street back to my hotel in uniform and was spit on.
I know, that at the time we were just pieces of drafted meat for the grinder, but every young man at the time was affected by that damn war. No matter where you served in combat or in the states, lives were disrupted and changed.
I guess I still hold alot of resentment.
For the first time in many years, I was pissed. No ONE, not anyone ever thanked me for my service. In fact, I remember an officers convention in San Fracisco, where I was walking down the street back to my hotel in uniform and was spit on.
I know, that at the time we were just pieces of drafted meat for the grinder, but every young man at the time was affected by that damn war. No matter where you served in combat or in the states, lives were disrupted and changed.
I guess I still hold alot of resentment.
Comments
I was at a winter event yesterday, where the Army had a booth. As I walked by, I noticed at least four people coming up to the servicemen and saying thank you to them for their service.
For the first time in many years, I was pissed. No ONE, not anyone ever thanked me for my service. In fact, I remember an officers convention in San Fracisco, where I was walking down the street back to my hotel in uniform and was spit on.
I know, that at the time we were just pieces of drafted meat for the grinder, but every young man at the time was affected by that damn war. No matter where you served in combat or in the states, lives were disrupted and changed.
I guess I still hold alot of resentment.
J,
Perhaps refocus on what is in front of you. I enlisted into the Navy at 17 in 1972 and was quickly introduced to the seas off the coast of Vietnam on a tin-can. This obviously was the end of the Vietnam war. I stayed around until just after Desert Storm (ret. '94). I saw a major transition from what we experienced then from our own society to what you see now. Nothing changed until after Desert Storm. All of a sudden it was okay to be military again. We got welcome home parties and the like.
Society isn't always at their best when it comes to treating those who serve. I have made it a personal goal of mine to say welcome back and thank you to every vet I meet. It can't make up for when we were spit on but it does it can help.
Welcome home.
COB
Maybe that's the true legacy of the Vietnam Veteran......
It is the federal government itself, that set up those warriors to be unappreciated when they return home, by putting them into war and hamstringing them. Both Korean and Vietnam vets have this in common.
I'm sure everybody here remembers how it felt not to be as worthy as WW2 vets when you got back. Orgs like VFW in my old home town didn't even want you as a member.
There are 6 pages of Hal-3 history and accolades.
How about that fellow Seawolves!!!
Hal-3 Airframes Division Chief, 1971,1972
I travel a lot -When I see currently serving military in uniform in eating establishments, I often ask for their tab with the instruction to the waier/waitress that they are not to say anything about my request.
I have met a number of the aircraft departing to/returning from Iraq and Afganistan at the old Pease AFB... see PeaseGreeters.org
These are both the Right thing to do, and a nice thing to do...
So, Thank You! and Welcome Home.
Mike former PJ, USAF '70-'74
I live in Maine where there are people who regularly greet troops passing through the Bangor International Airport.
BTW...I personally don't care for the hats, pins, etc as I know of 2 people who wear this stuff who weren't anywhere near VN. That stuff is appropriate for parades, etc. but day to day wear is a different story. Just my opinion.
Hindsight being 20/20 we learned of the heroic deeds done. So that
the freedoms at home can go on. As new troops march off to the
harms of the Gulf situations. We pray that the gallant men and women of Nam will remind us to never forget again.
Please pray for the American Soldier and pray for peace.
I was there with you. 3rd btn/9th marines 1967-1968
I endured taunts and jeers weekly while attending college after VN. When I started looking for a job, I was asked stupid question like "are you still using drugs", "did you ever participate in a massacre". The cream jobs were off limits, employers were afraid that you would go crazy on them and this was the start of affirmative action. It was much safer in the minds of an employer to hire a lesser qualified minority than to risk hiring a Veteran who they knew would go postal on them.
I am still blame Dan Rather and the lying piece of poop, John Kerry for portraying VN vets in such bad light. I hope they die a slow lingering death, however in Kerry's case, that rabid wife of his is probably more punishment than the Hanoi Hilton.
Not being able to find a decent job in my field of finance/accounting, I joined the police department and spent the next several years beating the poop out of war protesters on a monthly basis. Sure felt good.
What bothers me the most is when all of the chicken poops that fled to Canada were granted amesty. I know of only one personally and wouldn't give him the time of day.
I think it's great the way our current service men & women are treated although, I have to admit I am a bit envious. Still rare, I have been thanked several times in the past few years for my service.
I'm proud to have served, thankfull for returning healthy, and having a wonderfull family.
Vietnam USMC 69/70
Thank you for your service in Korea for our nation!
My father (Army)and my uncle (Marines) were there, done that and got back as well. That was a little early on for me. Do recall when my father returned .... had no idea who the heck he was. Took quite a while to find out who he was too .... a life time.
I was to RSVN for awhile .... and concur with others experiences. Never did freeze my * like most if not all in Korea.
So again romer, I know it may sound trite, but thank you for going thru that unholy Hell.
Have a good weekend and take care.
the Best
SF
USMC
Vietnam '66-'67
On our return trip from the NAM, we flew into Travis AB, but before we landed the stews put on a magnificent performance of Hello Dolly. They practically danced up and down the aisle singing and welcoming home all of the Gyrenes in Greens. What a great moment in time that was for those of us being entertained. Those ladies were awesome!
After landing many of us made our way to the San Francisco International Airport for flights home. Once there we could not even get word as to when we might be able to book a flight! One call to my sister in Texas did the trick. She must have given someone a serious piece of her mind, because two of my buds and I were being paged by name shortly thereafter! They actually bumped three people off the flight that was being boarded at the time of the paging. We were told by the reservation clerk that they had got a call for us to be on the next flight out to LA. Everyone needs a good sister like mine! BTW, today is her birthday, and I need to call her and rekindle some old, but great memories!
When I got my draft card I was 1A for Vietnam, shorty after the war was over.
All of you should be proud,the hell with incompotent people.
My hat go's off to you,life is't fair,try to spend the rest of your life happy without regrets.This Flag woulden't stand without You,,,You know it and I know it.
Blixx
I was in VN from 1965 to 1966 with the 1st Air Cavalry at An Khe.
I had 21 days left when the VC took over the radio facility on top of that mountain and rained mortars down on us for the better part of the night until a few of our gun ships could come to our rescue.
I remember Christmas 1965 when they tried to pick up a huge cross to put on top of that mountain. A sikorski sky crane came in and the prop wash turned a giant quanset hut down by the air field over on it's back - rocking from side to side like a babies cradle. What a mess.
I'm in pretty good health. Finally quit smoking when I turned 65 [;)]
Had a heart attack back in 1995, but been doing pretty good otherwise. Lost my best friend about a year ago. He did two tours in RVN on medicvac helicopters - received 2 purple hearts and ended his career as a Command Sargent Major. I was with the 15th Administration Company, Replacement Detachment, 1st Air Cavalry Division. We were the processing department for everyone coming or going for our division. I can't recall the dates I was there, I would have to dig out my DD214, but I think I arrived around June of 1965 and left 9-10 months later. It took us close to 2 months to get to Vietnam by troop ship thru the Panama Canal Zone.
Hope things have been good for you and the best of luck in the future.
Cheers,
John
SW Missouri
I live by Springfield, Missouri and they are taking a plane load of WWII vets to Washington DC to see their memorial every time they get enough cash scrapped together (about every other month).
There are a lot of retired military down this way and a lot of good patriotic people who show their appreciation for our military.