If it's any solace, We won the primary goal of the Vietnam war. Soviet support of North Vietnam combined with the later efforts in Afghanistan bankrupted the country and caused the collapse of the Soviet bloc- which stayed collapsed until Barry O'bama breathed life back into it. The secondary goal was to prevent South Vietnam from falling to North Vietnam. This too was accomplished in that the various NVA invasions had disastrous results for NVN, resulting in changes of command and finally a treaty in 1973 where NVN promised to cease further aggression- at that time, following the disastrous Easter offensive, they couldn't have attacked a high school football team. but it gave an out for the US to officially withdraw. Then two years later, the NVA rebuilt, they attacked and finally succeeded in overrunning SVN. But look at VN now- it is Communist in name only- it has little relationship with China and it is moving as fast as possible to a market economy. Prior to recent Soviet and Chinese actions, the Vietnam war was the highwater mark for worldwide Communism- the 58,000 that died stopped the greatest threat to freedom since the Third Reich.
Vietnam Veteran's Stories
- Thread starter kvd
- Start date
Served from 1959>1987 in the Navy. I've talked to many WWII, Korea, and Vietnam Vets and most do not talk/tell much about their combat experiences other than mention those who did not come home. These men and those who gave there all are the people I respect the most. GOD BLESS AMERICA
perry42
perry42
I was born about the time that war was wrapping up. Reading your replies here puts real emotion into a war I only know about from history books and television documentaries.
I have always went "out of my way" to go over and thank a vet when I see them wearing a hat or jacket that identifies them as such. Especially if Vietnam is written on any of it. I don't think those vets hear " Thank You " nearly enough as they have earned.
And thank you all for "speaking/writting" frankly about your personal decisions on if a visit to that country would be benficial. So often now, many are worried about offending somebody else with a bold, honest point of view. If it were me...I would say Hell No. Not everybody heals or is inspired by being reminded of previous times or events.
Just my perspective.
Truly, from my FREE heart, THANK YOU to all vets on the forum!!!
I have always went "out of my way" to go over and thank a vet when I see them wearing a hat or jacket that identifies them as such. Especially if Vietnam is written on any of it. I don't think those vets hear " Thank You " nearly enough as they have earned.
And thank you all for "speaking/writting" frankly about your personal decisions on if a visit to that country would be benficial. So often now, many are worried about offending somebody else with a bold, honest point of view. If it were me...I would say Hell No. Not everybody heals or is inspired by being reminded of previous times or events.
Just my perspective.
Truly, from my FREE heart, THANK YOU to all vets on the forum!!!
muleman69
USMC -1st marine Div. RVN
You are one true AMERICAN and thank you for thanking us. Just to bad The NFL doesn't think like that as I really miss football.Thanks again
Just Dave
Gold $$ Contributor
About 15 years too young to gave gotten involved, but I always stopped what I was doing at work, when this old cat named Warren Westphal told his tales.. He was a riverboat Capt, and always told about greenies getting aboard for the first trip, and ducking for cover when they started taking fire from shore..(Boats were fiberglass hulls ? ) . So there really was no "safe spot" .. Hard to fathom the intensity of that conflict. And the betrayal by our own citizens when you returned still angers me today.. God bless all of you, living and passed.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
I missed it by one month, and I appreciate those that served!
From what I hear, a trip to Thailand maybe healing!
nakneker
Gold $$ Contributor
When I was in High School we would drive about 20 miles away to another small town on Friday night to go dancin and flirtin, often times on our way home at midnight we would see “Uncle Tim”, my cousins Uncle, walking our small town streets in fatigues and gear, everything but a firearm. He would just wander aimlessly down the roads in the middle of the night. We stopped to talk to him one time and it unnerved us bad enough we never did it again. He was not himself, had a thousand mile stare going and didn’t say much, we were use to smiley joke crackin Uncle Tim, not this man.
Years later I had the chance to talk to him again. He knew I was building a VA facility and that’s how we got into the conversation. It felt like the right time to ask him about how he was doing concerning the war. He spent the next hour talking to me, telling me about his experiences, how he use to wear the ears of the enemy around his neck, his hand to hand combat in tunnels with a knife. I was taken back, I had known the man my entire life, cut wood with him, shared hunting camps, gone fishing and for the first time in 30 years he bore his soul to me. The stories he told gave me chills and you could see the emotion in his eyes, hear it in his voice. I left that conversation with a new appreciation and understanding of the man.
I have always appreciated and saluted our Vets, it’s the kind of family I come from. After talking to Uncle Tim and others, that reverence and appreciation continues to grow and I try and teach my own children to do the same. I hope VA care gets better, sooner, our vets need it. I’ve talked to many Vets in need while building outpatient clinics for them, I’ve had just glimpses into their world, many are hurting. It is because of them we enjoy so much today. I will always be grateful for that and thank all Vets for it.
Years later I had the chance to talk to him again. He knew I was building a VA facility and that’s how we got into the conversation. It felt like the right time to ask him about how he was doing concerning the war. He spent the next hour talking to me, telling me about his experiences, how he use to wear the ears of the enemy around his neck, his hand to hand combat in tunnels with a knife. I was taken back, I had known the man my entire life, cut wood with him, shared hunting camps, gone fishing and for the first time in 30 years he bore his soul to me. The stories he told gave me chills and you could see the emotion in his eyes, hear it in his voice. I left that conversation with a new appreciation and understanding of the man.
I have always appreciated and saluted our Vets, it’s the kind of family I come from. After talking to Uncle Tim and others, that reverence and appreciation continues to grow and I try and teach my own children to do the same. I hope VA care gets better, sooner, our vets need it. I’ve talked to many Vets in need while building outpatient clinics for them, I’ve had just glimpses into their world, many are hurting. It is because of them we enjoy so much today. I will always be grateful for that and thank all Vets for it.
Was just young enough to not be draft age for Viet Nam, but I enlisted RA one month before my 18th birthday in 1974. During BCT at Fort Leonard Wood, I ended up in the base hospital with an infection in my left foot.
As the Medic was getting me settled in and hooked up to an IV, I peppered him with questions about possibly getting recycled due to missing too much training. He assured me I would be back to full duty in 2 - 3 days. While I listening to him,I noticed he was a SP5, and that he wore what I later identified as a Combat Medic Badge on his starched white shirt.
When he asked where I was from, I gave him the name of my little hometown. He looked at me and quietly said he knew a guy in Viet Nam from the same town. I remember his statement was like a spark to me, and I impulsively asked him if the guy's name was Mike ______ and if he was wounded.
I remember pretty intense look from him just before he turned and left.
When he came back a little while later he said he was going off duty and then asked me "...what happened to Mike?". I told him Mike had come home in a wheelchair and lived with his parents (my next door neighbors), but had passed away a couple years later. The Medic then told me he and Mike were in the same Infantry unit, and that he had last seen him when he helped put Mike on the dust-off after the fire fight that resulted in his being wounded. The Medic then wished me well and left, never to be forgotten.
As the Medic was getting me settled in and hooked up to an IV, I peppered him with questions about possibly getting recycled due to missing too much training. He assured me I would be back to full duty in 2 - 3 days. While I listening to him,I noticed he was a SP5, and that he wore what I later identified as a Combat Medic Badge on his starched white shirt.
When he asked where I was from, I gave him the name of my little hometown. He looked at me and quietly said he knew a guy in Viet Nam from the same town. I remember his statement was like a spark to me, and I impulsively asked him if the guy's name was Mike ______ and if he was wounded.
I remember pretty intense look from him just before he turned and left.
When he came back a little while later he said he was going off duty and then asked me "...what happened to Mike?". I told him Mike had come home in a wheelchair and lived with his parents (my next door neighbors), but had passed away a couple years later. The Medic then told me he and Mike were in the same Infantry unit, and that he had last seen him when he helped put Mike on the dust-off after the fire fight that resulted in his being wounded. The Medic then wished me well and left, never to be forgotten.
Beat the big rush the first time - arrived the first week of May, 1964. Only one fond memory from my two times; had to attend the snake lecture the second time. It was very short; a grizzled, combat hardened sergeant who must have been all of 24 came in, faced us and said, "Gentleman, this will be brief. There are 100 varieties of snakes out there - 99 of them are poisonous and the other one swallows you whole. Stay alert."
It was good advice.
It was good advice.
I got in country feb 6 1969 assigned to 1st med btn 1st Mar Div. Naval Medical battalion stationed just west of hill 327 PX Freedon hill. I was marine 3531 Mtr. Transport assigned to support Graves Registration. Also supported medcaps to villes, ophanages, civilian hospitals and ARVN hospitals by day, walked the paddies by night, after 9 months i transferred to convoy duty supporting I Corp ops from Chu Lai to the DMZ.
Went back in 2001 with 2 corpsmen and our kids, greatest experience of our lives, their doing well and glad to see us come back, many speak english, the old dont talk about the war, the young dont know about the war.
Went out to the frontier An Hoa SW of Da Nang, the Song thu bong river meanders on the eay out there and its beautiful, idylic.
You can still land a C131 their, airstrip is not overgrown.
Sempi Fi
Went back in 2001 with 2 corpsmen and our kids, greatest experience of our lives, their doing well and glad to see us come back, many speak english, the old dont talk about the war, the young dont know about the war.
Went out to the frontier An Hoa SW of Da Nang, the Song thu bong river meanders on the eay out there and its beautiful, idylic.
You can still land a C131 their, airstrip is not overgrown.
Sempi Fi
If my knees were in better shape for walking, I'd love to go back and see the North part of Viet Nam. My experience was mostly launching from the U.S.S. Oriskany and flying combat missions over the North part of the country. Even though I flew the F-8, a single seat fighter, we had the capability to carry heavier bombs than the A-4 light attack aircraft who's primary mission was bombing. So when it came to bombing bridges, we carried a pair of 2000 pound low drag bombs, something the little A-4's couldn't do.
I'd particularly like to see some of those bridges I bombed. I'd also like to visit the dramatic karst islands in the extreme north-east part of the country and I'd like to visit Hanoi too. I wonder if they have preserved any of the POW prisons where quite a few of my squadron mates served out the rest of the war and, in some cases, served out what was left of their young lives.
I'd particularly like to see some of those bridges I bombed. I'd also like to visit the dramatic karst islands in the extreme north-east part of the country and I'd like to visit Hanoi too. I wonder if they have preserved any of the POW prisons where quite a few of my squadron mates served out the rest of the war and, in some cases, served out what was left of their young lives.
muleman69
USMC -1st marine Div. RVN
Small world , I spent time in An Moa as well.Did you get any pics. of what is left? Were you there when they dropped a rocket on freedom hill that night?Welcome home
Viet Nam = S&&t Hole Country
Rick in Oregon
Gold $$ Contributor
WTF? Lizards? Who you callin' a lizard? And what does it have to do with Vietnam?
KMart
Gold $$ Contributor
I heard about those from a guy that I worked with. He spent a lot of time in the bush and I didn't.
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