Viet Nam Veterans Day

Paul B · Mar 30, 2011

Today is National Viet Nam Veterans Day.
Unfortunately almost no one knows.
On this day 38 years ago the last American combat troop left Viet Nam.
We lost 58,000 Americans

drainbamage · Mar 30, 2011

The conflict is remembered for the politics of it- but let it never be forgotten that those men went over and followed their orders, obeyed the commands they were issued, and fought on behalf of their country's wishes.

Regardless of one's views on the conflict, never forget or take lightly the sacrifice made by all the men and women in uniform on behalf of their, and our, country.

kingfisherfleshy · Mar 30, 2011

Dad served in 68. Thanks for the update, I wasnt aware. Now I can say thanks. Im 90% sure he has no idea this day exists ha

Paul B · Mar 30, 2011

Drainbamage, that is correct. No matter what we feel about the war itself, the men who fought, fought for what they felt was right for their country.
All wars have political impacts and there will always be a large number of people who feel we should or should not be there but the fact is that the American serviceman or woman will always be there to do what they feel is right to support the country and they should not be blamed for the consequences of that war or the general feelings of others. We have no control of that and no one wants a war.

Welcome Home Vietnam Vets Day
The following story has been submitted by a user of semissourian.com. To submit your own story to the site, click here.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
User-submitted story by M.Riney
Thank You, Vietnam Veterans
By LTC. Carolyn Abell, US Army, Retired

"No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now. Rarely have so many people been so wrong about so much. Never have the consequences of their misunderstanding been so tragic." -- Richard Nixon from his book, "No More Vietnams"

Earlier this month the United States Senate declared March 30, 2011 as "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day." This particular date was chosen because on March 30, 1973, remaining U. S. troops withdrew from Vietnam under the terms of the Treaty of Paris.

In a resolution introduced by Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina and co-sponsored by five other senators, including Georgia's Johnny Isakson, the Senate is encouraging Americans across the country to recognize Vietnam veterans for their sacrifice and to make them feel the gratitude of a country that sent them to fight. "It's time they receive the recognition they have earned and deserve," declared Senator Burr.

While Richard Nixon might have had his faults as President, the above statement about the Vietnam War is spot on. Largely due to intentional misreporting by anti-war press members, a number of myths and falsehoods were generated and have continued to be perpetuated about this war and the men who fought it.

Statistical evidence contradicts most of these lies. For one, the majority of Vietnam veterans declare they are glad they served (91percent), with74 percent saying they would serve again, even knowing the outcome.

In contrast to the popular notion that a great number of Vietnam veterans were drug users, a myth promoted by such movies as "Apocalypse Now," information from the Veterans' Administration indicates that there is no difference in drug usage between Vietnam veterans and non-veterans from the same age group.

A 97 percent rate of honorable discharges among Vietnam veterans should quell any myths that they were largely lawless heathens.

According to a speech by Lt. Gen. Barry McCaffrey in 1993, 85 percent of Vietnam veterans made a successful transition to civilian life. General McCaffrey further stated that these veterans' personal income levels exceeded their non-veteran counterparts of the same age group by more than 18 percent. He added that Vietnam veterans had a lower unemployment rate than the non-vet age group.

A lot of people think, too, that the Vietnam War was fought by the poor and uneducated. In actuality, these veterans were the best educated forces our country had ever sent into combat, with 79 percent having at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Many had taken some college courses or even earned a degree.

The survival rate of Vietnam veterans was also much higher than in previous wars, thanks largely to MEDEVAC helicopters. Pilots of these birds flew nearly 500,000 missions, airlifting over 900,000 patients. The average time lapse between wounding to hospitalization was less than one hour. As a result less than one percent of all American wounded who survived the first 24 hours, became fatalities.

I think the average American appreciates the sacrifices of all veterans. There is nothing more noble and honorable than serving one's country in the armed forces. Vietnam veterans answered the call to duty, and they continue to serve today with acts of national patriotism, community involvement and serving in elected offices.

Make it a point this Wednesday to thank a Vietnam veteran. Tell him "Welcome home."

My goal for the book is to preserve the memories of men who died too young--who gave all they could give for a cause they believed in. It is because of them that I sit here in a land of freedom and plenty. May they never be forgotten!

Paul_N · Mar 30, 2011

They will always be remembered in thought and prayer.

Thanks for posting and reminding us.

SaraB · Mar 30, 2011

Paul_PSU said:
They will always be remembered in thought and prayer.

Thanks for posting and reminding us.

+1, thanks to all those that served!

steamer51 · Mar 31, 2011

Paul B - Thank you for posting your thoughts and those of others. For those of you who did not live through this time period, we who served did so in the same tradition that our parents did when they saved the world from tyranny during WW II. We were raised to proudly serve our country to give back something for the freedom we enjoyed. Many of us did not wait to be drafted but volunteered to have the opportunity to choose which branch of the service we wanted to join. The men of my generation that I personally know who seriously messed up their lives are not veterans of the Vietnam War but "draft dodgers" who ran away to Canada when called to serve or became "professional students" changing their major over and over to avoid graduation and draft eligibility. I saw very little drug use among my fellow servicemen and women, much less than I saw previous to my service among my fellow high school students in Los Angeles during the 1960's. These veterans did an excellent job and served honorably but instead of coming home to parades honoring their sacrifice they were met by protesters who directed their anger against the war at the warriors. It was suggested that we fly home in civilian clothes to avoid being targeted by the vile, obnoxious, dishonorable protesters waiting for us at the gate. Previously, job applicants who were veterans were preferred due to a record of following orders and coming to work regularly. When we came home there would be a pause in the interview when they read veteran on the application. They would look at us to decide if we were the psychotic, drug addicted, baby killers that the media, protesters and traitors like John Kerry told them we were.

Thanks to Paul B and all veterans for your service keeping our country free through strength. Personally my sacrifice was much less than most of you made. I am a Vietnam "Era" veteran meaning that I served during the war but was never "in country" serving in combat. I spent my active duty in the Navy on a ship in the Mediteranean Sea and the only trouble we had was the Yom Kippur War when we were "standing by" off the coast of Lebanon to rescue Americans if needed for three months. Our fleet was really there to make sure that the Russian Fleet didn't jump into the Arab Israeli War and start WW III. I wore my uniform home against their advice hoping for the opportunity to correct some protesters opinions of right and wrong but there were none at the Louisville airport. I guess there was more press in bigger cities for them to be foolish in front of. My job interview went fine after the guy figured out that I never was in Vietnam but I felt bad that he would question those who had served there.

Paul B · Mar 31, 2011

Thank You Steamer and thank you for your service. Whatever we did, we did. We also had the opportunity to join any service but the Army and Marines were the only services not full. Many people wanted to join the Navy or Coast Guard because there was little chance of actual combat.
I myself was drafted when I was just 19. I was originally drafted when I was 18 but got a few weeks off to be the best man at my Brothers wedding.
Unfortunately I lost many friends at home and many friends I was with in country.
I was very lucky and only have tinitus for a rememberance (ringing in the ears) I got that from being attached to a field artillery battery.
I was also blown uncontious for 20 minutes but many people did not recover from that and they are the heroes.
Coming home is so different today for our brave service people and I always make it a point to thank them for their service no matter what they did.
My last day in the Army was in the jungles of Cambodia. I was sent home (a 24 hour flight with bologna sandwiches, no movie) and I went straight to an Air Force base in NJ. I was still dirty. My wife and Sister N Law typed out our discharge papers because no one was up to type them and we did not want to wait until morning.
The Army gave me a 15 cent subway token and told me to have a nice day. There are no subways in NJ and I was 100 miles from home. If my family did not come to pick me up, I would have had to hitch hike to NY
I am really glad that that is changed and we now welcome our people home and hopefully pay for their fare to their home.

steamer51 · Mar 31, 2011

Paul B - Thank you for sharing your experience. I served with many in the Navy who had joined to avoid Vietnam. One from my advanced training class chose communications because the majority was shore based (not on a ship) and came to the Navy to stay away from Vietnam. Straight out of school they assigned him to a ship in Nam so it didn't work for him. I decided at 16 to serve my country when I was old enough and there is a long history of Naval service in my family so that's where I went. The year I turned 18 they finally gave 18 year olds the vote. Congress decided to do something for all those new voters so changed the law to where you were eligible for the draft at 19 instead of 18. When I told the recruiter what I wanted after high school he said there had not been an opening for that in three years and I should consider another of the jobs they offered. Because they would not pull my draft number for another year I was able to wait six months until the opening came up that I wanted. I was in boot camp when they drew the draft numbers for my age and it was 263 so I would have not been drafted.