Vietnam War gets recognition after 50 years
July 4, 2012 at 1:00 am in Grand Forks Herald
As the nation commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, we asked readers to write in with memories of that time period. The Vietnam War didn’t and still doesn’t get the same kind of public recognition as World War II and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Neighbors’ brothers came home with no fanfare and no flags, said Ludwig, now of Larimore, N.D. Continue Reading
I am a person who served during the Viet Nam era. Enlisted for 3 years from ’66 to ’69. I was not sent to Viet Nam….but was fortunate enough to be assigned elsewhere. After my 3 year committment was finished, I returned to GF and encountered a female GF Central classmate in the Chester Fritz Library, she asked me where I’d been. I told her I’d been in the Army. She gave me a disgusted look and turned on her heel and left. To this young lady, we were all baby killers back then. I was shunned by her even though I’d never had to point a weapon at anyone. It wasn’t until 42 years later that someone thanked me for my service. I was stunned. I didn’t know what to say. It never occured to me that anyone would ever thank me for what I though was my duty to my country. I lost GF friends and U.S. Army friends in the war. Seeing the Viet Nam Memorial still brings tears to my eyes, even though I never served there. I know my friends names are inscribed there and some day I hope to go see it in person. I am thankful for the recognition that Viet Nam Vets are finally receiving. It’s about time.
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I’m a combat wounded Vietnam vet…..and find nothing to celebrate. When the war ended America for the most part ignored us. The VA had little interest in treating our unseen wounds and shuffled us out their doors as quickly as they could. Many employers tossed applications directly into the trash because they believed we all had drug problems or unpredictable behaviors…took this country nearly 30 years after the fact to discover that many of us needed serious medical and psychological help…many ‘nam vets are still waiting for claims to be processed in the VA system….Am I a little bitter after 40 plus years? …sure am..I, and many others have had years to set that bitterness in stone….Tell me what’s to celebrate?
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Thank you for your service Vietnam Vets. I remember getting my draft lottery number and dreading going over to that bloody jungle. My Daddy couldn’t get me in the National Guard which was a safe haven for the privileged kids at the time-nothing like the National Guard of today in this all volunteer army.
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America’s involvement in the conflict in VietNam should be remembered for what it was. It was yet another example of misguided US foreign policy, a war based on lies and sold to the US with lies. It was exactly what President Eisenhower warned US about in his farewell speech. It provided the foundation to sell more wars based on lies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Peace and Semper Fidelis…
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“You’ve never Lived til You’ve almost died. For those of Us who have fought it, ‘Life’ has a flavor the protected will never know (quote). The Vietnam WAR will always be recalled as a ‘conflict’ the American Soldier lost…when in fact, we as American sons and daughter, did not lose on the battle field, yet lost when we returned home. For those of us who phyically fought in that WAR, we still carry the pain, but have opened the doors for our fellow Veterans that followed.
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Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I can only imagine what goes through a person’s mind while waiting to be called up or once they are overseas.
The treatment the vietnam vets received when they returned home is deplorable. I’m sorry this happened to you gentlemen.
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