Let us take pause for a moment this weekend to remember those we served with and those we left behind. Never let their sacrifice be forgotten!
For those who were there...
1st Infantry Division, 1969-1970. Can Tho, DiAn, Lai Khe, Saigon, Vietnam.
WC
my unit there, all I know is we were in support of the 101st Airborne. Half of tour spent in Camp Sally, just a rinky dink outpost in the middle of nowhere, other half at Camp Evans, much bigger base with lots of troops and even a hospital. Both in I Corps, about 10 miles below the DMZ.
Neko
Many thanks to you and to all our Veterans, sir.
We need to meet at the old BBQ place sometime this year.
Regards (and a stiff salute),
drumz1
WC,
You should be proud of your service. I know you are but I wonder how many who come to this board remember the treatment of Viet vets upon their return?...I know you won't forget it. I apologize on behalf of those bird-brains, and take pride in commending all of you.
I also salute all the other vets, now and before, for your great service to our nation. Your sacrifice will NEVER be forgotten...at least by those of us that cherish this country and its' ideals!
Regards and best wishes,
PM
44th Tactical Fighter Squadron, USAF, '73-'75, Okinawa/Taiwan
WC,
Lost my emails due to a crash and since I moved, got a new ISP...contact Toddler or drumz1 for my new email and contact me...
PM
Thanks...but the true thanks and rememberance goes to so many that didn't come home from some really shitty places. I was just lucky.
Lemme know when your path takes you near the Gulf of Mexico, or south of Memphis.
BTW, I'd like to tell you I aced the 20 music ?s you sent, but I'd be a liar...I failed miserably. What's going on with the lady of the house?
It'd be nice to share some time at that BBQ joint...I look forward to it.
Regards,
WC
The majority of us didn't ask to go there, but of course many volunteered for various reasons. It was like being transported to another planet and there you were till fate got you or you did your time. It was a long 11.5 months before I got on that beautiful Coninental Airlines jet in Saigon! A lot of guys had an incredibly shitty deal there and had to survive every day, I was lucky to be on the fringe of the madness. A special memory was seeing the Bob Hope show in Lai Khe, just a few days before Christmas 1969...it was in the upper 90s and incredibly humid. Connie Stephens closed the show by singing "Silent Night", I just can't tell you what that was like!
Why so many were treated so badly will forever be a mystery to me, we just wanted to do our time and go home. I just don't even think about it anymore, it's just a far away and long ago memory.
Some of the sweetest words I've ever heard were from the pilot not long after takeoff..."ladies and gentlemen, I'm happy to announce that we are now well beyond enemy gunfire". That has kinda stayed with me.
Thanks for the post, the honors and praise go to those that didn't come home, there and every other war zone.
WC
And may I say "back at you my friend". Perhaps, some of us vets could meet some day to shoot the bull, reguardless of where or when we served. Military service and B.J. experiences. What a trip!
Delta company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines.
Dec.1967 - Jan.1969...The Nam
Frenchman
you have a great idea, perhaps one day that'll happen.
We were there for about 3 months together. I suspect you had it much worse than me. While I was in the 1st Infantry Division, my role was prmarily administrative in nature. I didn't like travel between bases, the dirt roads, or the Huey rides.
No BJ, but a helluva lot of poker!
Glad you made it back ok...everyone that's been there
understands "welcome home". Thanks for what you did.
Regards,
WC
PS, first 3 Crown Royals on me! :)
The whole "story" of people spitting on Vets returning from Nam is a myth. Many books have been written de-bunking this myth and there is a long discussion thread on snopes.com on this topic.
I suggest you read "Spitting Image: Myth, Memory, and the Legacy of Vietnam" by Jerry Lembcke.
Whether returning Veterans were spit on, or not, the general atmosphere was completely different than it is today. Rumors, stories, accounts....whatever you want to call them were out there. Upon arrival in LAX from my 13 month tour, I immediatly changed into civilian clothes to avoid situations I heard were daily occurcances. Terms such as "baby killer", "murderer", and on the other side "draft dodger" were common. Class distinctions were ripe. If you served, you didn't have the social clout to avoid it, because the "smart" kids stayed in school with defferments. If you served because you thought it was the right thing to do, you were dismissed as naieve.
I will investigate you book suggestion, but when one lives a situation it is hard to dispell facts you believe to be accurate with someone spining the other side.
3rd ID * Rock of the Marne",support, going to small Memorial.
And I played BJ and won yesterday!
any evidence that Marxism doesn't work despite the obvious. Left wing nut case can't seem to come up with much no matter what the subject.
You've correctly described the atmosphere for returning vets in the later years of the Vietnam conflict. But the atmosphere was much different early in the war--from roughly 65-67. In those years, many Americans still supported the war and gave warm welcomes to returning vets. Early anti-war protesters also expressed public support for the troops.
Any incidents of "spitting" were very few and far between. It is a myth that gained traction during the 1st Iraq war and has been prevalent ever since.
Coming home from tour of duty, we had a 1-2hr. layover in Hawaii. As we were piling off the plane to head for ( what else, the bar ) our first encounter with Americans back in the World were these nice little old ladies. Heard one say to the other " look at those dirty Marines ". I suppose we did look a little rough around the edges at the time. Not quite the same as a ticker tape parade in NY city, but it was close enough :-)
Worst part of the whole thing: They carded us and over 50% of us (myself included) were refused service because we were too young to legaly drink.
Ain't that a bitch!
Frenchman
