Your homecoming from the war

[usmc2427765]

Veterans Day is coming up and I thought it might be a good idea to give veterans a chance to tell their story of the homecoming they experienced. I don't care which war it was, just tell what you are comfortable with about your return. I will post my own experiences in a few days. Thanks for your willingness to participate in this.

Brian Jefferies
Sgt USMC 1968-1972
RVN 21 months

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Active duty Army 1968-1972. Vietnam 1969-1970, then back again in 1971, total 21 months.

First time coming home was normal DEROS (Date of Estimated Return from Overseas, end of 12-month tour). Processed out at Cam Ranh Bay, long airplane ride to Japan, then Anchorage, then Fort Lewis, Washington. About 15 days leave to get home, see the new baby, take the family to Fort Benning, Georgia for my next duty assignment. No particular problems to report, a few small groups of demonstrators at airports, some name calling nonsense. No available family quarters on post so I bought a 2-bedroom house for $9300, no money down VA loan, $88 per month PITI (scared the heck out of me at the time).

Second time coming home was emergency leave status due to my mother's death. 9 months into my tour, so less than 3 months left and I would not have to go back. Came out of the field, still in jungle fatigues with my rucksack, fast-track through out-processing at the unit, on the bird out late that night. About 30 hours later I'm at McChord AFB, Washington, still in fatigues with a ruck sack. Caught a MAC C-141 flight to Dover AFB, Delaware, then a Greyhound bus to Richmond, VA for my mother's funeral. Lots of staring from civilians after leaving the military bases and taking civilian transport, still in dirty (probably smelly) field uniform. Uncle picked me up at the bus depot, I probably spent an hour in the bathtub, crashed out for a half-day or so. Went to the local J.C. Penney store and bought trousers, shoes, shirt, sport coat for the funeral service.

After the funeral I bought a 1964 Plymouth Fury, drove back to Fort Benning to pick up my wife and son, then on to Fort Carson, Colorado. No family quarters available on post so I bought a brand new 3-bedroom house for $17,700, no money down VA load, $182 per month (scared to death again).

In 1972 I went in to see the career counselor, learned that I was scheduled for a 2-year unaccompanied (no family) tour in Germany if I re-enlisted. Decided to take advantage of "Project Transition", went to the local community college for my last few months of active duty, then joined the police department. Stayed with Army active reserve for a few more years.

Lots of ups and downs, and in betweens, ever since. For 30 years or so the Purple Heart and a buck-and-a-half might get you a cup of coffee (maybe), now Colorado gives me a free set of license plates every year. The VA takes care of most of my medical needs. We are pretty comfortably retired, about as worry-free as we can be with 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren (annoying and expensive little critters I can't help worrying about).

Veterans Day, November 11th, will be my birthday. If I start counting now I may be able to finish up by then (missing a chunk of one finger so counting accurately is always a distracting chore for me).

 

[Frank46]

Was at the Pjiladelphia Naval Shipyard waiting for my separation papers for transfer to inactive duty.Would go home on weekends so Mom would get her cigarettes. Last day on my home bunch of hippies start spitting and calling me names like baby killer. The of the biggest NYC transportation cops told me to get on with my business while they frog marched away the hippies. Stopped of at the local deli and the owner asked if I was home for good. Yes sir with a big smile on my face. Walks back to the cooler and hands me the biggest Heiniken bottle I ever saw.. Mom's all happy and were waiting for dad to show up for supper. All I got from him was "oh your home now" gee thanks .Popped open the beer and my mom asks if I'm going to drink the whole thing at one sitting, yes I am. If she only knew a sailors like for beer. Dad kept waking me up each day asking when I was going to get a job. Can't catch a break. Told him I've been away a little over three years so go bother someone else. Never had a good relationship after that. Frank

 

[rwsmith]

I apologize in advance......

...for any of my countrymen that gave homecoming soldiers taunts, spitting or 'baby killer' epithets. That was among my worst memories of my 65 years.

 

[vonn]

My main memory of coming home is that they sent us from the field to Bien Hoa (spelling ?) and took away my 16 and I spent most of the night awake hoping nothing would happen. Put us on a plane to Oakland the next morning and in less than 24 hours I was discharged with a new tailored uniform with everything on it and lots of cash in my pocket. Got on a plane in 2 or so hours and was back in the world. Couldn't believe how light it was at night outside. Got out 12/14/1968 same day I left Nam. Buried it in my mind as best I could but it pops up every day especially when I use the VA or get some other reminder. Was contacted a few months ago by fellows I went to Ranger school with and they have been sending a lot of emails and that has made me think about things that I had completely forgotten. Get a disability check monthly, free medical , got a house loan,college,And land loan for my service and nowadays people Thank me for my service but for years we were treated like scum of the earth and were considered dangerous by most people.

 

[jimmyj]

Was at the airport with my dad (former Cavalry-horse soldier) when a group of returning Soldier came by. My dad stood up on his cane and saluted. a hippy standing next to dad spit on one of the soldiers and my dad knocked that hippy unconscious with his cane. I hustled dad away before anyone (but the Soldiers) knew what happened

 

[Ziggy2525]

Was at the airport with my dad (former Cavalry-horse soldier) when a group of returning Soldier came by. My dad stood up on his cane and saluted. a hippy standing next to dad spit on one of the soldiers and my dad knocked that hippy unconscious with his cane. I hustled dad away before anyone (but the Soldiers) knew what happened

100% old school.

 

[johnt671]

When I got back to the world after a year in Vietnam, the customs guy that checked my seabag was a former Marine and a Korean War vet. He saw that we had had some of the same decorations and told me when he was done with me to go out a door at the rear part of the room. I saw others leaving through another door and asked where that door went he told me it it came out in a hall way that went into the lobby. He said the protesters weren't waiting at that exit, but were waiting at the other doors. Because of him I was spared being spit on and harassed, but I always felt bad for the others that had to go through the harassment. I also felt like a criminal sneaking back to my country.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The one time I encountered some hostility they quickly changed their attitude when they realized this guy has done IT and wouldn't hesitate in doing IT to THEM.
Flying home on Christmas Leave from Germany in 1970-in uniform-I had a layover in Copenhagen, I found the Danes pretty friendly, WWII and the liberation had been only 25 years in the past for them.
Started college in the Fall of 1972, I encountered mostly indifference, no hostility.
When I got back from Vietnam I had 29 months left on my enlistment, hence I was in a milieu where my CIB and fruit salad meant something.

 

[CQB27]

My first return home from deployment was Feb 1988 from El Salvador. Straight from El Sal to Peterson Air Force base on a C141. No body knew then (and many don't know today, lol) we were even involved in a conflict in Central America. So the homecoming was wives and kids on the tarmac waiting for thier men. I was a single 23 year old 2nd Lt, so I just pushed past the hugging/kissing/crying to the 5 ton trucks that were there to take us back to our unit at FT Carson.

Second time returning home from Desert Shield/Storm I flew on a contracted airliner, Flying Tigers I think, straight back to Pope Airforce Base. Again lots of wives and kids waiting for their loved ones. I was still single so again I was bypassing the love fest and trying to make my way to a fellow 1st Lt's car for a ride back to the BOQ. As I was walking I heard this sweet voice saying "young man" repeatedly and louder each time. I look over and see a group of about 5 nicely dressed, like church dressed, elderly women (probably in thier 50's, but to me that seemed elderly at the time, lol) that were USO volunteers waving me over. I walked over and they each took a turn thanking me for my service, then they each gently cupped my face with their dainty little hands and softly kissed my forehead. When I made it to the car, my friend busted out laughing and said "What the Hell happend to you!" I was confused until he shoved the rear view mirror over toward me. I took a look and my forehead was covered in red lip shaped imprints. We both laughed all the way to the BOQ.

A week later I went on a 30 day leave. I spent the first week in Georgia visiting my parents, then a week in San Diego and and 2 weeks in Hawaii. The whole country was so patriotic everywhere I went. It was an amazing thing to see. On my flight to San Deigo, as I boarded the plane the flight attendent at the door stopped me and the guy I was traveling with asked "are you two active duty military?" then asked us to stand aside in the entrance way until everybody boarded. Then she took our coach boarding passes and escourted us to two first class seats! After we settled in she returned and handed each of us a voucher for first class trip anywhere Delta Airlines flew and said "On behalf of Delta Airlines I want to thank you for your service and everything you have done for us. We love you guys." We put those vouchers to use immediately, that's how we ended up in Hawaii for two weeks!

Everywhere we went those three weeks in San Deigo and Hawaii we almost paid for nothing. There were signs at almost every venue that read "Military Members with Military I.D. Free". I shook so many hands, accepted so many "thank you for your service" statements, drank so many free beers and asked for my check at dinner only to find somebody already paid it, there was no way to keep count. Years later, as I got older, I wondered if all that overwhelming over the top outpouring of patriotism wasn't the countries way of making amends for the way our Vietnam Vets were treated. I think it was.

 

[steveno]

every time I flew on Braniff and United they always found room in the first class section for me when I was flying in uniform.

I should probably have added how many remember the brightly colored airplanes of Braniff? I remember the green , yellow and blue. I think there were a couple of more

 

[vytoland]

51 years ago, today, i was honorably discharged from the USAFSS. my new bride and i got on a big silver bird, left RAF Chicksands, England, and headed towards the land of the BIG PX.....the news media was telling everyone that military people were evil baby killers.....so it wasnt easy to find work , when we got back to the land of the free.....

 

[Shooting Padre]

I came back from Okinawa July of "68 and things weren't too bad then. We had more problems with the commies protesting our B-52s bombing from there than here at home. It was before a lot of bad stuff happened here. There was some anti war and hippy stuff going on in California so I changed into civies and paid full fair home. I spent some time with a friend on the MN Campus and saw a lot of anti war folks sitting around not doing anything useful, let alone working or supporting our troops. I even talked with some of my graduating class and found nothing they had to say interesting or meaningful (the protesters that is). Thank you to all vets who served our nation, in combat or not, you stood up when asked. I am proud to have served with YOU!!!

 

[ancient-one]

It has been 75 plus years since I was discharged from the Navy. We were treated very good upon our return. The ones that we had to watch for were those that tried to screw us financially when buying a car or renting a place to live. When you saved up enough to pay down for a home the GI Bill was a Savior.
We married yery young, had nothing but my military pay, so had no money when I was discharged. I did have a decent job but it took until 1949 until, with a loan for down payment from my folks, we were able to buy a house.
I wish that I knew how many bank or credit union loans that we had before I paid cash for appliances or cars, it was a bunch.
I have thanked the Lord many times that I ended up with a whole mind and body when so many did not.

 

[Retired W4]

50 Years to the Week...Freedom Bird Home

November 11 always comes with a tear in my eye. Can't help it. After my son's four tours in Afghanistan flying the Warthog I now tend to think about him. Things sure have changed.

As for my homecoming, I don't remember much of it.

 

[usmc2427765]

I grew up in a small neighborhood of G.I. houses that my parents purchased in 1949. Nearly every family were veterans and all of the kids, me included, would play whatever games we could come up with in the street or vacant lots . The attitude of our idyllic neighborhood began to change in 1965 with the Vietnam war. Some families were against the war actively assisted their kids in avoiding the draft, it was slowly destroying the fabric of that little street.

I returned from 21 months in Vietnam on a cold December evening and was met by my mother and some cousins at the airport. My father had taken his own life some 12 months earlier because he did not think I would come home alive. I was an only child and well that another story for some other time.

We pulled into my driveway and I looked across the street and noticed that the girl that I grew up with was getting married. Her dad was an Iwo Jima Marine, so I decided to go across the street to say hello. When he saw me walking across the street, he went inside the house and I never saw him again during that leave. Most people would only wave hesitantly as though I had returned from some hospital where I had been treated for some disgusting disease. No one, save my next door neighbor, searched me out to say welcome home.

I contacted one of my best friends growing up and told him I was home and wanted to know if a beer sounded good to him and he said to come on over. He wanted to see me in dress greens with ribbons and badges and I told him it would take me about 30 minutes to change and get there. I arrived at the appointed time and was met at the door by his mom and dad, he still lived at home. I noticed several nervous smiles and was told that he left on an errand and did not know when he would return. I was born at night, but not last night and I knew they were lying to me and did not want me to influence him in any to serve his country. His car was there and he was there. I did not see him again for 6 years and he never served.

We have learned and we do it better now. We understand sacrifice, of veteran and family and we now honor the serviceman or servicewomen and not the war. My homecoming sucked however I survived and after 37 years as an LEO, I am retired with the same wife I started with and 2 beautiful granddaughters.
My wife of 49 years deserves a medal for helping me through PTSD and depression. I am a very lucky sinner.

B.T. Jefferies
Sgt USMC 1968-1972
"C" Co 1st Tank Bn 1st Marine Division

 

[Retired W4]

95% of my old friends did not want to hear about the incredible things I had experienced, good or bad. One friend, who I am still really good friends with, was raised by a father who was a Navy veteran (mustang) on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific during WW II. My friend was a Navy Corpsman in RVN. You Marines know what that's all about. We can still talk about our experiences to this day.

 

[Texas Star]

every time I flew on Braniff and United they always found room in the first class section for me when I was flying in uniform.

I should probably have added how many remember the brightly colored airplanes of Braniff? I remember the green , yellow and blue. I think there were a couple of more

On my way home from Dover AFB, a flight attendant on the Braniff plane was a sister of a girl I knew in HS.

It was a late night flight and after things settled down, she moved me to First Class and we talked most of the flight. And, yes, she was a beauty!

This was 1967, but I lived in Dallas, a conservative city, and experienced only indifference, no protests. True in airports and in college.

BTW, I knew a Braniff pilot at church. Nice guy.

 

[F4phantom]

Left RVN June 6th, 1968 after 19 months. I was a "winger", one of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children. In April MLK was shot. While waiting for the plane we heard that Bobby Kennedy was shot in CA. We all wondered what was happening back in the states. The flight was delayed. Around midnight we saw the 707 land and taxi up to the holding pens. We boarded and promptly left for Okinawa. Still remember the flight attendant and her perfume. I went to the back of the plane where the lounge was and she was taking a break. She asked me where I was from and what I thought about VN. Told her I hated the ******* place. My face turned red and I quickly apologized. Old habits are hard to break.
Once on Oki we got our stored gear and back pay. About a day later we left for San Bernadino. Some AF base there. Took about three hours to get through AF security. Apparently checking everyone's bags for weapons and pot.
Finally made it to LAX and got a flight to Ohio via Chicago. The folks in LAX were rude and generally a pain the behind. Managed to get on the plane later in the afternoon. There were about six servicemen on a nearly empty plane. They seated us about ten rows from the nearest civilian. We were lepers.
Made it home about five in the morning and picked up by my parents at a small local airport. I declined all parties and festivities they want to throw. Wasn't in the mood for a party. To this day I hate it when someone says "thank you for your service". If it wasn't for the Iraq war we still wouldn't be acknowledged. It all rings hollow for me, 50 years too late.

 

[straightshooter1]

I can't recall where we landed, but we went to Ft. Lewis and did the run around, new uniforms, money to home of record, etc.

What I recall is that it was raining on November 4, 1968, and I stood in the shelter of a wooden building smoking a Marlboro (any of my friends/family that see this would be shocked. "He smoked?!").

I was trying to decide-do I go home to the SW Florida Beach town where my family lived and become a police officer or do I go to San Francisco and see about some of that free love.

Fortunately, I quit smoking and went home.

Bob