Vietnam Vets - Merry Christmas!
- Thread starter Jst1mr
- Start date
Thanks for your consideration, I too am often caught with nothing much to say when I'm thanked for my service. I don't know if its about the way many of us were treated when we came home and how unpopular it was, I remember being glad that after my month of leave I got sent to Germany for my last eighteen months. When I finally did get home in April 1973 I had only been stateside one month from July 1970 to April 1973 and really felt like an alien, it was very wierd.
I was a bit young, too.
I was born in '55. One thing I remember doing while the war was going on was waking up on a pleasant morning and thinking of the guys spending part (or all) of their young lives in the jungle, mud and rice paddies. Hats off to all those guys. And though this thread is dedicated to Vietnam vets, I'd like to thank anyone that served in an overseas hell hole.
I was born in '55. One thing I remember doing while the war was going on was waking up on a pleasant morning and thinking of the guys spending part (or all) of their young lives in the jungle, mud and rice paddies. Hats off to all those guys. And though this thread is dedicated to Vietnam vets, I'd like to thank anyone that served in an overseas hell hole.
HOUSTON RICK
Member
Thanks to all veterans for their service. My godfather (now deceased), a burly, cantankerous CPO in World War II with some lengthy swimming time courtesy of the IJN told me there was no way that I was serving in the military, and threatened me with bodily harm if I enlisted. I think that I missed something.
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lonejacklarry
US Veteran
I saw Raquel Welch in 1967 at Bearcat and Ann Margaret in 1968 at Long Bien. They were there with the Bob Hope shows. It wasn't all bad!
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CH47gunner
US Veteran
A very Merry Christmas to all.
I have very mixed feelings about this Viet Nam thing - I enlisted in the Army at age 17 in 1969, volunteered for Doorgunner school and to fly and volunteered for RVN after I turned 18.
All volunteered -
I knew about the protests vaguely, didn't much care as I wasn't affected personally, until I came back in Dec. 1970. Then I saw the airports, the news, and was accosted at the SeaTac airport on my way home.
Now I get the war was unjust, a civil war we had no business being involved in. But, I'll never get over the fact that as individual soldiers we were taking the blame for policy the government and big business was setting. To many of the protesters it was flavor of the day (as now) and just a convenient reason to throw a party/protest.
Nope - I'll never forgive the government for putting me in that position and I'll never forget the protesting pukes who now apologize for not supporting the troops back then.
Merry Christmas and Welcome Home.
Bruce
I have very mixed feelings about this Viet Nam thing - I enlisted in the Army at age 17 in 1969, volunteered for Doorgunner school and to fly and volunteered for RVN after I turned 18.
All volunteered -
I knew about the protests vaguely, didn't much care as I wasn't affected personally, until I came back in Dec. 1970. Then I saw the airports, the news, and was accosted at the SeaTac airport on my way home.
Now I get the war was unjust, a civil war we had no business being involved in. But, I'll never get over the fact that as individual soldiers we were taking the blame for policy the government and big business was setting. To many of the protesters it was flavor of the day (as now) and just a convenient reason to throw a party/protest.
Nope - I'll never forgive the government for putting me in that position and I'll never forget the protesting pukes who now apologize for not supporting the troops back then.
Merry Christmas and Welcome Home.
Bruce
On Christmas eve 1970, the platoon leader of 2nd platoon, A company, 1st/327 Inf was lost or misreported his location. When my battery fired on a "safety cleared" target, we dropped two rounds HE on them. Nine men killed, three more died of wounds. It still hurts so much! Christmas & Vietnam are not good memories for me.
Thank you for the greeting. I did my year 1970 - 71. I was AF but was stationed with the Army. At the time I was just getting it done, looking back was glad I was there.
Had three tours in support, one in Thailand 1974-1975, and one in 1968-69 on Guam supporting Arc Light.
When people say "thanks for your service". I just say "thanks".
Had three tours in support, one in Thailand 1974-1975, and one in 1968-69 on Guam supporting Arc Light.
When people say "thanks for your service". I just say "thanks".
Even the people that were drafted unless they accepted severe penalties were made to feel and were treated like criminals for their service.
And to all a good night.
luangtom
US Veteran
Thanks for the wishes. Two Christmas Days in the S.E. Asia Games. Each unique in themselves. Hand-salute to all that served.
GB
Member
To all who slept in the jungle, the sand or the snow to make our lives safe. Thank You!
Quoting from the last line of a poem in the back of an old AMU manual:
"The Man with the Rifle Knows"
Quoting from the last line of a poem in the back of an old AMU manual:
"The Man with the Rifle Knows"
I was in the era, I went in 1972 which they was sending some over there then but not too many went then. I had a friend that went to boot camp he went but I didn't. Thank you but I did do twenty-eight years and came out as a MSG.
I saw Ann Margaret in 1966 at Chu Lai. Bob Hope wasn't there though. Stood about two feet from her. Pant Pant.
Christmas in the Nam
I was lucky I only spent 1 Christmas in country.I did extended
tour for early out. Started out MR-1/ XXIV Corps/ 1/44th ADA,
Chi Lai then MR-2/ 4/60th ADA/ Pleiku, then ended up in 54th
Security Detail out of Da Nang. I remember Christmas Eve 1971.
They had us on a ammo dump outside of DaNang,lumes dropped
all night. You could hear cases dropping into paddies. When sun
came up there was a 122 sticking in paddy outside of wire. Dud,
EOD had to deal with it. Two weeks later I was sucking down a
draft in Seattle.
Merry Christmas to all !
No Bic! No Bic! No Bic! GI number 10: call of Hooch Maid bird
I was lucky I only spent 1 Christmas in country.I did extended
tour for early out. Started out MR-1/ XXIV Corps/ 1/44th ADA,
Chi Lai then MR-2/ 4/60th ADA/ Pleiku, then ended up in 54th
Security Detail out of Da Nang. I remember Christmas Eve 1971.
They had us on a ammo dump outside of DaNang,lumes dropped
all night. You could hear cases dropping into paddies. When sun
came up there was a 122 sticking in paddy outside of wire. Dud,
EOD had to deal with it. Two weeks later I was sucking down a
draft in Seattle.
Merry Christmas to all !
No Bic! No Bic! No Bic! GI number 10: call of Hooch Maid bird
lonejacklarry
US Veteran
Anyone get this close?
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carpriver
US Veteran
I arrived in country at Cam Rahn Bay December 15, 1968, turned 20 9days later. I spent Christmas recovering from being beat my VC that captured me and two of my team members. Christmas is not my favorite time of year. I was in the air force at Detachment 8 14th Aerial Port SQ. Cam Ly air field outside Dalat City in ll corp. Like many others I was disrespected when I returned home in December 13, 68.
Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year to all my Brother at Arms and all other forum members.
Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year to all my Brother at Arms and all other forum members.
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