Welcome Home Brothers!

[Ironhorse]

Today is the 50th anniversary of the ending of the Viet Nam war in 1973. It has been almost 53 years since I came home thru Seattle-Tacoma airport in Washington state. 84th Engineers April 1969-April 1970. Just want to say "Welcome Home" to so many of my fellow veterans who did not receive that acknowledgement when they came home to a nation that was in such anguish and torment.

[FleetsidePaul]

A much overdue "Welcome home'. It was disgraceful the way our veterans were treated back then. And thank you for your service.

[tim71]

Originally Posted by FleetsidePaul

A much overdue "Welcome home'. It was disgraceful the way our veterans were treated back then. And thank you for your service.

Well said, I agree.

[Rich84]

Absolutely agree. Thank you for your service!

[LockDoc]

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I have a few friends that served over there. One in particular is really jumpy. You have to make sure he knows you are in the shop before you walk up behind him or you may get hit with whatever he has in his hand. He drove a dirt scraper building roads through the jungle and said that being shot at with small arms was almost a daily occurrence.... I can't even imagine.

I have a great respect for anyone that served over there. Thank You....

LockDoc
'

[Micmac]

Not long enough to be out of that S**t hole. Mamma told me if you can't say something nice, don't say anything

[Rickysnickers]

A tribute....

[tutone]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Today is the 50th anniversary of the ending of the Viet Nam war in 1973. It has been almost 53 years since I came home thru Seattle-Tacoma airport in Washington state. 84th Engineers April 1969-April 1970. Just want to say "Welcome Home" to so many of my fellow veterans who did not receive that acknowledgement when they came home to a nation that was in such anguish and torment.

Thanks for your service. I worked with a couple of guys for years. One was a door gunner on a helicopter and the other was a (as he said) "tunnel rat". Both were picked for their job by size, according to them. Working midnights we heard story after story. I'm glad they felt like they could share. Even gladder they came home safely. You too as well.

[truckster]

We got flags and parades when we came home. You got spit on. I'm ashamed of that version of America. Whether or not they agreed with the war, you did your duty and answered when your country called on you.

From the bottom of this veteran's heart, thank you for your service.

[LS short box]

I was too young Viet Nam but three years in the army from 76-79. Not once that I recall anyone said thank you for your service.
During my working years I flew thru Atlanta a lot. During sand box wars I gave away thousands of dollars of phone credit cards away to the service folks that were traveling thru the airport. The company I worked for was fully behind it. Just had to expense the cards. Bought a number lunches also.

[Sheepdip]

Just buried an old friend and Seabee about 6 months ago. May you rest in peace old warrior.

[57taskforce]

Thanks for serving our nation in a very brutal war, and probably an even more brutal cultural period, you guys are my hero's!

[Steeveedee]

US Navy, '72 to '76. I was fortunate to not get a lot of crap from people. I never made it overseas. "Join the Navy, see the world!"

Thanks to all those others who served.

[mike1971c10]

Thank you to all of you, I was a smart a** 19yr old who didn't think he needed to stay in school. Drafted 10 days after I quit school Radio teletype operator for a artillery outfit. I hope I'm a lot smarter now. I own several Chevy trucks ?????
mike
Vietnam veteran '67-68

[mr.mud1]

in 1967,i was an 11 year old kid,living in Montreal and Expo 67,The World's Fair going on.that summer,i used to go almost everyday,by myself,riding the bus and subway with a buck or 2 in my pocket,to Expo.what an adventure for a kid.there were people and things to see in the different pavillions,from all over the world.i remember standing in a line to get into one of the pavillions and made conversation with 2 brothers,from Maryland,maybe 18 and 20,just kids too.they were home from Vietnam for some R&R and made a trip with their folks to see Montreal and the World's Fair.we talked for a long time,they signed my autograph book and then we were off in different directions.i don't know their names,autograph book is long gone but i think of them 50 years later,hoping they made it home?hoping their names weren't on the wall in DC that my wife and i visited,along with the WW2 and Korean War Memorials,while we were in DC a couple years ago.it's enough to rip the heart right out of your chest.thanks to all those who have served,or serving,on both sides of the border.we owe them alot.

[special-K]

Thank you Gary and to all others who served in that treacherous war. I just missed that boat. I was registered for the draft, classified 1A, and had a very low lottery number. I figured next stop, Vietnam after HS. Then see about what I'd do with the rest of my life if I came back. But they voted not to induct, I believe, for the first time since the draft system was put in place in '17. I was only going if I was drafted.

In my world, I was not aware of any hatred or protesting toward those serving. I only came aware of that talk during the Raegan era. In my world all protests or bad feelings were toward the government sending our young men to that war. What I saw were protest "for" the soldiers, not against. I knew of many Vietnam Vets involved in the protests.

It also seemed the well-off were finding ways to save their sons from going and most politician's sons managed to skirt the draft. As a 15-16 year old I hung out with a group of returning vets and got to know them well. They came from different areas of the country, served together in the Marines, and seemed to be decompressing. Just kicking back enjoying not being shot at. They made it very clear to me that I should not go to Vietnam. I seemed to hear that from every vet I ran into.

I have a great friend from my mom's hometown who served in Vietnam, a Marine. I have no idea how he feels about any of it. Never hear a word. But he has dedicated himself to seeing a memorial to those who served from that town be built. It is under construction currently. For years we believed Friendsville, MD had the highest death toll per capita of any town in the USA. Came to find out it is number 2, with a town in Missouri (I believe) being the highest.

Jimmy is a biker and he had his Sportster painted up to commemorate the six lost from Friendsville. On the tank is listed the six names. My cousin Roger Garlick was one of the six, his company bombed at night by friendly fire. God bless you Roger, may you R.I.P. I've had the proud fortune of riding that bike in the Friendsville Days Parade behind the color guard on it's 250th birthday. Kick start-only, Jimmy was concerned about his bad knee if he stalled it riding slow. I got a call from him while driving up the hiway asking if I minded riding it for him. Mind??? I was so jazzed up the rest of the drive I couldn't get there fast enough. In the parade I couldn't look down at Roger's name on the tank without tears starting to flow. For me it was one of my proudest moments filled with emotions.

It must be because of this thread that on YouTube this video came up. Maybe due to the 50th anniversary, I don't know. I have watched other videos of Vietnam vets and the stories paint the true picture our news reporting failed to convey. Hard to glorify, I guess

Combat Marine Reveals Ugly Truth About the...

This is another one I watched a couple years ago that I saved

A Vietnam Vet. 19 Million Viewers Watched His...