In 1970, 60 Minutes flew to Vietnam with Americans on their way to serve in the war, returning three days later with a group heading home. Mike Wallace listened as they shared their mixed feelings about the war.
I went over in '70 and came back in '71 -- so I can relate to this video
What they didn't show was the protest reception upon arrival that we got-- name calling --"baby killers" etc For many, Travis was the "mustering out" place where you officially left Army active duty Then the basically mandatory change of clothes to civvies before we left Travis Then the issuance of a special pass to fly military standby (cheaper flight) in civilian clothes
And I still think about the fact that on Monday of that week I was at Bien Hoa RVN, and Wednesday morning (2 days later) I was sitting in a college classroom Not much time to "adjust".
My uncle tells a similar story. He crawled out of a foxhole to catch a Huey to Tan Son Nhut AFB, then flew to San Francisco where he caught a flight home to Atlanta. He said it was about a 36 hour trip. A real mind f**k.
I came home in 69. The whole town had changed. People were weird. I moved 600 miles to get away and the people were strange there too. I stay stoned a long time. Took about twenty years to finally grasp the only person that had changed, was me.
Amen, brother. Came home in 74 on a C126 - stopped at every postage stamp until Kaneohe; then blue ball express to LAX and the "loving, patriotic welcome". That's all. Yeah, there was a change. Change, then change again; then change yet again. Fuck, life sure is a long time
I was a 20-year-old US Marine corporal when I flew to Vietnam in January 1968. I came home an "old man" 12 months and 29 days later. Prior to me time in-country, I wrapped myself in the American flag and chanted "USA! USA! USA!"... When I got home and for 30 years afterward, I kept my mouth shut about serving my country and about being in SE Asia. Today, I belong to a Vietnam veteran association of US Marines who served in tanks in-country, and we have an amazing brotherhood.
Bless you all that served in that hell hole and sorry our GOV and so many "citizens' treated you so badly. We still have not learned that our Vets should be suported whole hardly when in the action and for the rest of their lives as well depending on needs. My oldest brother was a Navy Corpsman and I cannot even imagine the horrors he went through although I get a peak via his dark black sense of humor.
Those who fought in Vietnam have been treated in a disgusting manner by so many
ReplyDelete2+2 - Bob Seger
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ReplyDeleteI went over in '70 and came back in '71 -- so I can relate to this video
What they didn't show was the protest reception upon arrival that we got-- name calling --"baby killers" etc
For many, Travis was the "mustering out" place where you officially left Army active duty
Then the basically mandatory change of clothes to civvies before we left Travis
Then the issuance of a special pass to fly military standby (cheaper flight) in civilian clothes
And I still think about the fact that on Monday of that week I was at Bien Hoa RVN, and Wednesday morning (2 days later) I was sitting in a college classroom
Not much time to "adjust".
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My uncle tells a similar story. He crawled out of a foxhole to catch a Huey to Tan Son Nhut AFB, then flew to San Francisco where he caught a flight home to Atlanta. He said it was about a 36 hour trip. A real mind f**k.
DeleteI came home in 69. The whole town had changed. People were weird. I moved 600 miles to get away and the people were strange there too. I stay stoned a long time. Took about twenty years to finally grasp the only person that had changed, was me.
ReplyDeleteAmen, brother. Came home in 74 on a C126 - stopped at every postage stamp until Kaneohe; then blue ball express to LAX and the "loving, patriotic welcome". That's all. Yeah, there was a change. Change, then change again; then change yet again. Fuck, life sure is a long time
ReplyDeleteI was a 20-year-old US Marine corporal when I flew to Vietnam in January 1968. I came home an "old man" 12 months and 29 days later. Prior to me time in-country, I wrapped myself in the American flag and chanted "USA! USA! USA!"... When I got home and for 30 years afterward, I kept my mouth shut about serving my country and about being in SE Asia. Today, I belong to a Vietnam veteran association of US Marines who served in tanks in-country, and we have an amazing brotherhood.
ReplyDeleteGrandpa and John, Welcome home man. Back in the world sure was strange. You both said so much with few words. I understood everything you were saying.
ReplyDeleteBless you all that served in that hell hole and sorry our GOV and so many "citizens' treated you so badly. We still have not learned that our Vets should be suported whole hardly when in the action and for the rest of their lives as well depending on needs.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest brother was a Navy Corpsman and I cannot even imagine the horrors he went through although I get a peak via his dark black sense of humor.