My brother died from a very rare cancer resulting from Agent Orange. Damn Zumwalt.
Thanks very much. I'm a NAM vet and I never tout that or anything, but I do appreciate when a fellow citizen recognizes the men and women of the military for what they did. Many carry bad burdens long after....
Julius Caesar treated his veterans better than we have treated ours. It is a criminal shame the way this country has shunted the wounded veterans into shabby warehouse hospitals. Though I must qualify that by saying there are some Vets facilities that try to do their damndest for the people with the limited resources and funding from the military.
Viet Vet here.... I just found family of a special friend I carried out of the jungle mortally wounded. They are SO happy to hear from someone who was with him. I had some good things to share... it's a wonderful experience.
One of his brothers back in the states latter started the rumor that Jerry got into drugs in NAM and was looking to die. All f'n lies, Jerry was one of the straightest best guys.
Wishing I had got to them before his mom died in 94.
.................though I was terribly wounded on my 44th day in the bush, and scared deeply by the experience; I am so glad I wasn't there so long, as to have my soul eroded away as many whom served much longer periods there. Though my wounds were bad enough to change my whole life and dreams; I seem to be uncontaminated enough to have no cancers, or bad lungs, and lucky to have no limbs removed. There certainly were many periods of trouble with the very enigma of having been there, and having volunteered to be there; but now days I feel good to just be alive, and have some relative assurance I may possibly live another 5,10,15 years with some level of ability to care for myself if neccessary...........
................I do wish all th eyounger ones serving now to come home, and do not support in anyway us fighting this terrorism this way. I would much rather drop the big bomb on the whole bunch over there. They are too different from us, and want to rule the world after destroying us. So why let them distrub the whole world. Or let us just isolate ourselves as a nation and truly protect the welfare of our own. I don't want my sons going back there ever............
..................oh yes. I don't feel I fought in Vietnam so they could come here. I fought there so they could enjoy living in their own democracy without fear of oppression........
.................that is the way it should be all over so peoples will stay in their own countries.....
.................there's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home. Ready Toto?.........
They really are no different than us. There is only one race, and that is the human race.
I lost buddies in Viet Nam before our involvement was revealed to the American people. My brother died of a cancer caused by Agent Orange. The American involvement was at the behest of Big Business and take up where the French had failed. South Viet Nam's democracy was a sham propped up by the military and all our boys who fought and died there were but pawns in the farce to stop the spread of communism. It was a bloody waste of lives. It was a bloody waste of resources. It scared the soul of America and it has not been the same since then.
As history repeats itself, we are in the lockstep in the cycle of petty colonial wars that is forcing the burgeoning American Empire.
Once again bigotry and fear of others who are deemed 'different' are sullying the spirit of America.
well folks iam nam vet usaf i got lucky and went to osan ab korea during that time.iam not retired but stayed just 4years.i want to thank all vets for serving my country and those people still in god bless thanks again. tcandeyman from the state of wasington
May I add something here as well to those who serve with the Patriot Guard? After attending a car show over the weekend, before awards started, The Patriot Guard (several who were also entered in the show) assisted with the opening ceremonies. Awards are given in the Ag building a large facility that the cars drive thru to get thier awards. The guard filled up the space between the doors with thier bikes and flags mounted on the back of most of the bikes. I never let a year go by that I don't walk up to them before they mount thier bikes to leave and thank them for thier service and the duty they perform for our fallen Vets. Just two days before this show in Arkansas City, that town had to bury a soldier, the hosts of the show invited them to join the show and I understand that many of the motels and hotels with vacancies had the members who wanted to stay for the show with no charge to them for their rooms. These Men and women deserve everyone's respect, for each and every one of them have to be a Vetran before they can ride with the Guard, so as far as I am concerned, those who ride with the Guard are still serving our country on a volunteer basis. Protecting the familes of our fallen Vets from the Fred Phelps of this country and thier so called followers. This is truly a group that I am so proud of.
A group that has my undying respect.
Carrie
Well said Buicbelle. So many people do not realize that we owe our way nof life to our veterans who have fought and died so we could enjoy our freedoms.
I am saddened every time I go to a parade or other public function where people don't remove hats or place their hand over their heart when the Flag passes or the National Anthem is played,to me it is a show of disresect for our country and veterans.
It is a sign that they were not taught by their parents and our schools
