Vietnam Vets

Back then, I was a young Marine with a unique group that spent a lot of time working deep to see what the other side was doing. It was my life back then, and between early '65 and '71 I spent most of my time in country. Aside from professionalism, why did I keep going back? Because, as silly as this may sound to some, there was the feeling that if I weren't there to watch out for them, my men would get hurt or killed. Sounds stupid trying to explain it, but other officers and NCO's will know exactly what I'm talking about. In any event, my being there didn't prevent some of my guys from getting killed, and their names are on the wall. To this day, I don't think I could face that wall: I would have a total breakdown, and I know it. I feel that I owe it to them to visit the wall but, so far, I just haven't been able to bring myself to do it. Cowardly? Perhaps, but I still can't do it yet. There are still, almost 40 years later, too many strong emotions wrapped up in that wall.
 
I finally went to see the Wall, I was ok until I started seeing some names that I recognized. when I found our XO's name I had to leave. He left five little kids back home. We lost him on a mission and never found him, didn't know until several years later if he had been killed or was a POW.

A few years ago my best buddy from the service died of cancer. His name will never be on the Wall but it probably should be. I had Cancer too but we found mine soon enough to beat it, it has been all clear for ten years now.

Back in my day, we had to go, still had the draft. My hat is off to the guys and gals serving the country now in the all volunteer military. I was going anyway but while I was in boot camp, I got a letter from my mom telling me that I had just been drafted.:confused:
 
udtjim said:
I finally went to see the Wall, I was ok until I started seeing some names that I recognized. when I found our XO's name I had to leave. He left five little kids back home. We lost him on a mission and never found him, didn't know until several years later if he had been killed or was a POW.

A few years ago my best buddy from the service died of cancer. His name will never be on the Wall but it probably should be. I had Cancer too but we found mine soon enough to beat it, it has been all clear for ten years now.
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You're a better man than I, Jim: I know I don't have the guts to see the wall. I've given it a lot of thought, over the years, and I don't think I could take it. Just seeing the names online tears me up, because I remember those people too well.

Cancer is worse than bullets ever were, and I'm really glad you caught yours in time.

I was with the Maritime Observations Group for quite awhile, and one of the guys (Marine) who was with us got sick: it turned out to be cancer but, like you, they caught it in time. He was only 26 at the time.

I have a buddy that has only months to go: there was nothing they could do.
 
Going to the wall is a heart wrenching experience. My next trip is to Arlington. This one will be worse as I have newly lost buddies there. The fellow who introduced me to my first wife is there.
 
I remember watching many videos about the Vietnam war. It is just incredible what our soldiers did for us. The way they were forced to live, and fight, and die. Its truly humbling. I will say this no man, woman, or child in recent times have done more for our country than our soldiers.
 
kr1 said:
I was in from '77 to '80. All my drill Sargents were Vietnam vets. Lots of the guys I served with and learned my skills from at my duty station were Vietnam vets.

I served with one who was one of the tunnel rats. I served with some that were scouts over there. Some were Special Forces. Every one of them, I thought very highly of. I saw the personal file of one of the guys. One that never really talked about much. Winner of a Silver Star. Almost all of the guys were the epitome of the "quiet professional. Many of these guys were true heroes in every sense of the word.

I still consider that it was truly an honor to know these men and be taught by them and to have some of them consider me a brother.

It's a very nice gesture you are doing for them. Thanks, they deserve a lot more recognition than they ever got.

KR
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I went into the Infantry shortly after you went in. Same experience. It's funny, because I ran across my blue braid and jump wings this afternoon in a box and it made me wonder where "Jim" was and what "Denny" was up to. I spent a lot of long nights pulling duty with guys who couldn't stay married and couldn't get out of the Army. Heard a lot of stories because sometimes somebody else just had to hear it, or stuff just had to get out of their heads for a bit. Made the best friends and learned a lot about respect and appreciation. Most of them were E6s and E7s by then and those who made E8 - now, that's where I learned about respecting a leader, because even the Battalion Commander (Vietnam Vets as well) deferred to "Top's wisdom and authority." Woe be to the new Lt. who had not been warned ahead of time. True respect is when Top jerks a knot in your a$$ and you have a genuine and heartfelt appreciation for the education. Without doing it on purpose, I always looked for the right-shoulder patch. Always knew the skinny associated with whatever unit it was for and I knew I was in good company.

Recently, while driving home from work, I heard a familiar voice on the radio. It was a retired General and I knew who it was. It was a man for whom I had imense respect and knew would "go somewhere." He was a Lt. Col. when I worked for him. I searched for him on the Internet when I got home and it was him, one and the same. I don't live in the past, but I do miss those days. I had leadership and friendship that has not been matched since.

Thanks, guys. A lot of us understand - as far as someone who hasn't done it can, and we apreciate it with all of our hearts. Back then, you didn't say that. The response was sometimes akin to "I didn't do it willingly and I didn't do it for your stupid a$$!" All the same - thanks for what you have done for us since.
 
Missed this one.
My cousin never came home.NEVER.
He fell in love with a girl and decided to stay.
He's 62 or 63 now.
He's a Kayak and cave guide,in the south ???,last I heard. That's been 10 years or so.Maybe 15.

A lot of his buddies , after coming home, told him to just stay and, if he did come home, FORGET bringing his girl.:mad:
 
That is a darn poor attitude for them to take, what happened over there was not the fault of that government or their people. Uncle Sam owns that mess lock, stock and barrel. Those people and our military were sold down that smelly river. But WITH HONOR of course. :confused::confused:
 
Many years ago I was eating lunch in Atlanta. I started talking to the waitress, who turned out to be Vietnamese. She had married a GI during the 70s and eventually came to the U.S. The stories she told of her treatment after arriving were real horror tales. So, I am not surprised at the attitude adopted by the guys family. I am myself in a similar situation.
 
I did an easy tour in Saigon at MACV HQ, '71-72. I can't go to the wall any more, and I had some trouble reading this thread. One of my jobs was casualty affairs, and I still remember some of the names that came through. I can't imagine how much worse it is to have been in the jungle. It took me a long time to come home mentally, and I hope the rest of you have made it.
Richard
 
In 77 or 78 I worked for a Captain while assigned to the 82nd Abn Div, who after his tour in Vietnam, was a Notification Officer. His job was to go to the families of KIAs and inform them. He told me of several incidents in which he thought he was going to be killed by the family, no joke. I believe he had to do this for a year. He said that he would rather go back into combat than to ever do that again.
 
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