Just Another Guy That Was There.

I started at Ft Jackson mos 11B infantry>> Inf OCS>> Medical Service Corp field med officer, finished pod med school changed mos and stayed for 23 yrs finished at LTC

Such courage from all you young men who answered a call to serve both in war and peace. My father was a LTC, a Pearl Harbor survivor (oh heavens, I was not even close to being thought of back then...lol), trained troops into Viet Nam and retired in 1980 from the Reserves and I am a mere Army brat but I sure do love all of you boys and am grateful that you stood as men (and always a hero in my heart). Thank you for your service, Married. God love you and keep your heart knowing that you truly ARE loved and never alone. (*hugs)

Bill: Thanks for serving and also pass my thanks on to your two brothers for serving also. Things are a lot better for returning vets from Iraq & Afganistan than they were for us "baby killers" that served in Viet Nam. I think we just happen to have been "the generation of the damned." We were just born at the wrong time and were at the right age to have been "invited to serve" by our government even though it was unpopular with a lot of Americans. But we all thought we were doing the right thing at that time. We were trying to give the South Viet Namese people freedom and democracy and keep them from being taken over by the North Vietnamese, Chinese Communists and Russians/Soviets. Thanks for the enlightening comments also.

OOps.. forgot to add I don't have much confidence in our current administration in this regard.. Obama blew a chance with the Iranian uprising by not speaking out in support... I feel there is a general contempt from the left towards the military..



in John Kerry's words



"You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq."

The same guy that threw his "medals" over the fence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Bill in Va.

USAF 70-74. Upon completing my tech training, I put Nam at the top of my wish list... In their infinite wisdom, they must have thought me crazy because they sent me to Charleston, SC. Tuff life hey? Not to minimize the feelings of those that did end up over there, at least they had a bond of brotherhood during their deployment. Here in the US, we lived with a general contempt from everyone we encountered.. even within our own ranks. Even when off base, in civies, the haircut gave you away as "being one of them".. the baby killers etc. (Ya'll know the drill)...



Today, when I encounter a trooper I have two immediate thoughts come to mind. One is a great pride to have been part of that corp... to have served my country. The 2nd thought that comes to mind is a bit more irrational. I'm not able to state it completely right but it's something of resentment or jealousy. Today's returning soldiers get treated with respect, admiration and compassion. I choke up when hearing of the stories like: The airline captain asking the rest of the passengers to remain seated while the GI-s disembark,,,,,, the passengers not only complying but appluading their service....... or the group up in Maine that get up in the wee hours of the morning to show up at the airport to welcome these guys and gals home.. Gotta love em...

It sure as hell beats the treatment we received during our time of service. But... I wouldn't trade my 4 year commitment for anything, the knowledge that we gave service to a country that we loved but at the time didn't love us back.

My two brothers also felt compelled to serve.. Mike, USN 66-70, Phil USAF 82-86.



On a final note.. On Viet Nam.. 58,178 lost troops... Had our congress had the backbone, that war would have ended far differently. Post war, not all that long ago, the NVA military leadership acknowledged that they were close to surrender.. close to retreating back to the north.. Our leadership in Washington failed us............... bent to popular opinion... failed to listen to the experts on war.. our military leaders.



Well.. today we face the same conditions.. The US is getting tired of Iraq and Afghanistan.. but today's enemy is, in my mind, even more dangerous and threatening to our way of life than the communist of the 60's. Communism and socialism falls under it's own weight. A religious jihad has a half life like Uranium!!!! ...Lets hope today's leaders learned something from our mistakes in Viet Nam and continues the effort in the middle east.

Just my opinionated two cents. Bill in Va.

Thanks April.

My father-in-law is a Vietnam vet as well, Marine Corp Recon unit. I have the utmost respect for that man and all veterans.

I was in the 377th CES just next door to the 1876th (800 area) from May '70 to May '71. I knew a lot of guys in your squadron. A really good friend was Mike Harris of Gaffney, SC and a couple of other guys named Fox (Jeff?) and McElroy. Not sure if any of them were there before you left as I wasn't really friends with them until I'd been there a few months. I was a 54370 (E-4 at the time) Electrical Power Production. Our squadron supported the 8th Aerial Port and I got to see quite a bit of the southern half of South Vietnam. I ended up my last few months at the Lucky Dragon power pro site which was in the 7th Air Force compound, right across from the Heliport.

Darist, Justme, Dancer & Skychef: Thanks for your comments. Us old farts appreciate your kind words, but we must continue to support every generation that serves. Every time I see someone in uniform, I thank them for serving. Since the draft ended long ago, where would our country be without these brave young men & women that VOLUNTEER their service and their lives to protect America. I only hope out country's leadership in Washington does an equally honorable job. Please pray for the United States and all the freedom that our founders provided for us.

Got a chance to look back on this story and it brings up so many feelings. I have always harbored a soft spot for those who serve this country. Service personnel do a job and it falls on the leaders shoulders as to how they can complete their missions.



My son served in the navy for years. My best girlfriend and her husband retired form the navy. All fine people who know what courage and sacrifice is in life. Whenever I meet a soldier or sailor or marine or veteran I always shake their hand. We owe them all a debt of gratitude for doing what so many of us never did. Peace to you all who served from a grateful heart. D.

dartist: my eyes tear for you, God Bless.

And to Just me you Dad was a hero I salute him.

Thanks to everyone keeping this thread going. It means so much to us.Vietnam was a part of our life we can not never forget.Skychef

It must have really been hellish having been a POW under the Japanese during WWII. So many more died than survived. They were so in-humane, so cruel and brutal. I don't know how anyone could go through an experience like that and stay sane, as crazy as the Japs were back then.

Peace my brothers. Served 1970-74 and as many of you all hold memories of that are forever.I gave only my time, but have friends that gave their lives. I want to say I love them and will never forget them and the time we spent.It is over 35 years but I sill remember their young faces,they are ageless.As with some of you ,my treatment coming home has scarred me still to this day.I am so happy for the current service men and women who recieve the respect they deserve from the American people.All I ever wanted when I returned home was for some one to say "Good Job Soldier Welcome Home."But that was a long time ago,I have had too many good things happen in my life up to now to cry baby about the past. God Bless America and you my brother Vets,Skychef

Dear enna: That was long ago and far away and I had nothing less than an extraordinary time in "The Land Down Under" and have nothing but fond memories. I didn't meet or see a single person in Australia that wasn't friendly and charming and perfect hosts for us less that perfect guests. I fell in love with your county and have never changed my mind about it. Actually, I think I would enjoy living there (except they might have trouble understanding my "Southern Accent." I would love to take a nice long vacation there.

I'm another one of that generation. I was very anti-Vietnam. Marched in the Moratorium marches here in Oz and protested the war vigorously.



With the benefit of maturity and the advantage of hindsight, I now sincerely regret that I, and many like me, made no distinction between those who were responsible for the war and those who fought it . . .



We treated our servicemen and women very badly - and I feel shame to this day for that fact.



Australia joined the Vietnam war to show solidarity with the USA - "All the way with LBJ" was the slogan of the time! There were also many who feared the "creeping yellow peril" of Communism would reach Australia if it were not halted in South East Asia . . . hard to imagine those beliefs in today's world. . .!!



So MUAA, if you were one of those brave lads on R&R in Sydney that I scoffed at so many years ago, please accept my abject and heartfelt apologies. You deserved better and I wish I had always known that.



Please forgive me my friend.

WL: I would love for you to show it to me. Exactly where is it?

Dear L63: Thanks Lady. .

Posted Sep 13th, 2009 at 11:12PM

D: Thank you for your comment. I too have been there at the wall and touched the name of a classmate and was touched by the endless panels of names of those that died in Viet Nam. They paid the ultimate price in service to our country. They did not want the war or necessarily agree with the leaders of our nation at the time. I believe that our leaders saw Viet Nam as a just cause, freedom for a nation fighting for their own desire to live in a democratic nation. Unfortunately, public opinion was against the war and the American people misdirected their hatred of the war upon the warriors. This is a disgrace as far as I am concerned. They only did what their country ask them to do. I do feel that the war was mishandled very badly by LBJ & particularly Sec Def Robert McNamera and his"measured response" approach to the war. He tied one hand behind each soldiers back with this policy. A war cannot be won without fighting all out to win, and that is what they imposed upon the people serving in Viet Nam. We never lost a battle, but we lost the war. All these lives were given for nothing unfortunately. The true disgrace was the treatment of the veterans returning from this war. The denials that Agent Orange didn't cause all the terrible effects on the vets for so long and the lack of proper treatment and disability compensation and poor VA facilities. That truly was an injustice.



At least the American people are supporting our troops in combat and after their return with more dignity and respect than in the past. All gave some, some gave all. Thank you for honoring your fallen friends that unselfishly gave their lives in the service of their country.

Years ago I was driving back from an art show in Virginia and decided to stop in D.C. and visit my dad's grave in Arlington National Cemetery and also to pay my respects to friends who had died in Vietnam.



It was a cold November day and raining mixed with snow. I walked up to the Wall and stood in the cold and looked down the long dark length of it. Saw all of the panels filled with the names of my generation. So many lives sacrificed. It broke my heart that cold November day.



I looked up two names in the book and found my classmate Joe. Traced my chilled bare fingers across his name and then walked to where my loved friend Denny's name was etched. Raised my hand and touched him. There for eternity on that dark cold marble. I saw his face. Young and handsome. Always laughing and my heart was torn once again at his loss. At the loss of so many young men and woman from all those years ago.



After a time I gathered up my strength and looked around me. Saw pairs of worn boots placed at the base of panels. A pack of chewing gum placed in memory of a fallen comrade. A brother, sister, husband or child. Taken in their youth but always remembered.



I looked again down that long dark wall and there was a man of my age standing there dressed in fatigues. He gazed at some names and then turned to me with tears in his eyes and we walked to one another and hugged. Cried together. Never exchanged one word but shared a brief moment in time and then walked away from each other out into that cold rain filled day.



I am glad that you are one of those that came back to a life and you have my gratitude for being a veteran. That war defined our generation in so many ways. Our first loss of innocence. I hope that life has been kind to you. Thank you and blessings, D.

First let me say that I admire all veterans and have the utmost respect for them. I am a Gulf War vet, Radioman, and also I am an Army vet 71LF5. I appreciate your sharing your story with us and if you feel like sharing please feel free to message me. I'd consider it an honor sir.

Im not a V/N vet but my high school love was killed over there. Ive also dated a few vets-most having lots of emotional scars from serving there. You have my admiration and thanks for doing that thankless job. Thank you for sharing part of your story.