Your homecoming from the war

[Old cop]

I was coming through LAX on my way home from eleven months in Nam when I encountered a bunch of Hippies. They started calling me baby killer when one got in my face screaming @ me. Thinking he was going to assault me I punched him, and he went down. The cops came and escorted me to a small room in the airport. Their sergeant asked what time my connecting flight was, then told me to hurry so I didn't miss it. (HM3, US Navy '64-'68)

After return to civilian life I knocked around at some dead end jobs before I saw an ad in the paper saying the local PD was hiring w/a preference for veterans. They swore me in in 1968 and I retired almost 30 yrs later. Married 52 yrs, two grown daughters and four grandkids. Life is good.

 

[mckenney99]

To this day I hate it when someone says "thank you for your service".

F4phantom, I hate that you feel this way, but I do understand. Many of us are unable to find other words to express our honest gratitude to ALL of those that have and still serve.

I grew up during the 60's & 70's and didn't come of age until VN had ended but still had a tremendous respect for those that served in VN. I saw first hand the damage done to those that served and to the families back home. My first bosses had just lost their son in VN as a Helo pilot. My best friend had an uncle that was a Marine who was severely wounded (he was returned to VN to complete his full combat tour after an extended recovery). My friend had another uncle who was in the Army who was injured (broken leg) and sent home.

 

[pmanton]

I was med-evacued to Japan. When I was discharged I was returned to CONUS on a plane full of ex hospital patients. This was late 68. We landed at an Air Base in Calif. No one said boo to me. I reported to my next duty station.
I never returned to RVN. Off to Germany for reforger. As soon as I got back, off to Korea--back to CONUS for a short stay then back, to Korea-this time accompanied for 2 years.

As my 20 came up I was selected for W3. This would be about a year until the promotion, then 2 years required service after the promotion.
Enough time for one possible two more overseas tours.

Enough!!

I retired with 20 in Sept 75.

 

[ancient-one]

I am truly sorry that some people treated the Vietnam veterans so badly. It left a blemish on the history of this wonderful land that will never be erased. My son-in-law served two tours there and was badly wounded on the second one. It took several surgeries to make his life livable.When he was wounded he was a CC and I know that in the years that followed, he spent many hours trying to get his men the medals that they had been recommended for. He succeeded in some cases. He would never talk about Vietnam unless asked. Some of the conditions, water, the rice fields, tree lines and openings in the forests gave an idea what our people endured.
The man that I am going to speak of may be on this Forum, I have no idea. My son-in-law had a really slick M-14 that one of his men had seen, I think at a reunion, anyhow, Dutch had promised to give him the gun. He kept it for several years but did ship it to him around 2009.
Dutch built AR's in about every cal. available. I should have had him build me one. He would keep one for maybe a month and sell it and build another.
I know that some of you my not want to hear this but I do truly thank you for your service in a war that in my opinion, we should have never been involved in.

 

[hoosierone]

My brother in law, who never served (medical) once thanked me for my service. I told him no big deal, I was never in any danger. He said "yes, but you could have been."

 

[Shooting Padre]

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.

I did not go through combat and I cannot know what it was like. I served as a Security Policeman trained for whatever came. But those who did not serve in some of the harshest and dangerous situations do not have a concept of what our guys went through, good or bad, it just don't fit in their world. I was called a liar when sharing things we did that were somewhat outrageously funny, so there ya go! God bless all vets.

 

[Kinman]

I came home from RVN on July 3, 1971. It was very similar to Lobo's experience. I do not remember encountering any civilians until I got release from Ft. Lewis. The only reason I got released early was that I had someone who could pick me up, my uncle lived in Tacoma. The rest of the guys that could not get picked up had to wait for "fresh greens" to be issued on a holiday which wasn't going to happen. Bonus one for me, secondly my uncle and his family were my favorite family members, we had a great fourth overlooking Puget Sound. I had learned prior to leaving for Vietnam was that if you could avoid it, fly in your civies, the hair cut usually ratted you out but you could avoid a bunch of fuss by not wearing the uniform that most of us were proud of. I did get special treatment once coming from Virginia to Washington St. , the stewardess moved me up into 1st class and got me drunk...she did not take advantage of me though.
I did not get back into uniform until I needed to report for oversea duty back east then on to Germany, Germany was very cool at that time, they loved our money, I blew it all. When I got out and came home in '73 my class A's had the Vietnam sword emblem which was like a homing beacon for protestors, I remember a few taunts and certainly nothing resembling a warm welcome home. I put the uniform away and after some encouragement from my wife tossed it to Goodwill last year, I could still fit the jacket, a little tight but fit. I pulled the patches and emblems, put them all away except the sword patch, I put that on one of my gun bags that accompanies me to the rifle range, a few guys have commented on not seeing one for years.
I have zero complaints with my treatment concerning medical coverage for a number of ailments attributed to exposure to Agent Orange, I received a VA loan for my first house and had the opportunity to use my G.I. Bill until Reagan took that away by making the decision that you had to use it within ten years of departure...fair enough, but I was looking forward to getting in some history classes after I retired.
It doesn't irritate me when people say "Thanks for your service", I just hope that people came to the realization that those that serve this country do so for varied reasons, right or wrong it was not our personal decision to carry out missions we were trained for, it came down to discipline and following orders. Obviously some troops went down a path that resulted in wrongful deaths and injury, bad people exist everywhere in the world. Most of us went over with a pre-concieved notion of what we were going to do and I have to believe that shortly after arrival came away with a totally different opinion. In my case I tried to do the best I could with what I had, I had a decent MOS that kept me out of the jungle and on the water. I have the utmost respect for the guys that slogged through the rice paddies and humped over hillsides and were in the #### and saw the elephant. For every guy that performed that task there were at least four times as many people supporting them, why is it that you never run into a vet that worked as a clerk typist? I was happy to see our guys coming home from engagements like the Gulf War and getting treated like human beings with no anger from protestors. We should always greet our homecoming service people with open arms, welcome back into the fold. I guess people are at least a little more compassionate today, I just hope we can all find something to gather around following this upcoming election to help form some sort of balm to soothe our enflamed skin regardless of what color it is. We need to get back to the work of restoring this country to something we can all be proud of.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I was called a liar when sharing things we did that were somewhat outrageously funny, so there ya go! God bless all vets.

It is amazing how rude our society has become! Both before and after WWII, calling a man a liar, was how you ended up bleeding on the floor!

My condolences to all that have endured the pompous asses of the world!

Ivan

 

[df06]

100% old school.

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

Good for your dad!

 

[Turn4811]

I was Commo for Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and the never-ending Afghan war. I was in the rear with the commo gear that provided the 15 minute moral calls, target mission messages, CentCom Messages, and had the 93 or 94 SatCom dishes that were always a long range targets. I came back via Mil-Air on a C141 or C-5 to a military base that resembled the "Heartbrake Ridge" return from Granada but to a much lessor degree.

I played a minor part. I provided Comms to the real heroes. I made sure my links back to Germany and McDill were up 100% of the time.

JCSE & 283rd CBCS

 

[LLOYD17]

Coming back from first full deployment with wife and family waiting. I'm in the jet on lead's starboard wing.

I hit my PRD on the next deployment and got comm air back from Dubai. That was a nice quiet reunion with the wife and dog at baggage claim.

 

[walkin jack]

I was in Vietnam but came home in '66, well ahead of the spitting and rude behavior. My reunion with my family and friends and neighbors was tearful and joyful and my neck hurt for 3 days from all the hugs and kisses. I was never treated badly.

Later it hurt my heart to see so many Americans mistreating and disrespecting returning vets. It was the first foreign war that Americans failed so miserably in supporting their troops. I never ever expected a thing like that to happen in this country.

 

[Frank46]

I'm really glad all of you took the time to post your experiences on your home comings from the various wars this country has fought. Your experiences has led me to believe that while some returns went peacefully others did not. I don't think that I ever told my Mom what happened in Grand Central station going from the train from Philadelphia Naval Station to getting on a subway train to Queens New York. I don't think she would have understood. She was old school and most likely couldn't comprehend something like that happening to someone who had served their country and get spat upon and called names like baby killer. Anyway the free beer I got from the owner of the deli more than made up for that bit of unpleasantness. My dad when he came home just said "your home now?" To this day I never really had a heart to heart conversation with him about my time in the navy. Maybe this would have lessened the mutual dislike that existed between us. But the real thing that gets to me even to this day is the "thank you for your service" and the fear and in some cases downright disgust when they you had served during the vietnam war. Heck they didn't thank the vietnam vets when they came home with injuries and possible drug problems. So why over 50 years later are they thanking us. Too late as far as I'm concerned and that horse has left the barn a long time ago. So to my brothers I can only say, Thanks for a job well done. Frank

 

[steelslaver]

I got my orders to Vietnam in the summer of 1970. Went through staging and went to Okinawa. But, I was held there as 1MEF was transferring its computer stuff to Okinawa and combining it with 3rd Marines. So, I was TAD to a small base on Okinawa. All I ever saw was a bunch of riots and protests as the Okinawans wanted the Military out. Worst thing I had to do was run the daily personnel files, because I figured out that the computer cards that fell out in one slot were KIAs. Really bugged me running that program and loading up the cards and waiting to see how many and who was going to fall out in THE slot. Other than that and guard duty on the gate during the riots and protest I had a good time on OKI.

Okinawa was full of Vietnam vets as that is where most Marines made the final jump to and from. So I flew back with a plan load ot them. we flew into San Francisco and there a who bunch of people outside the fence waving signs and screaming all kinds of stuff. Basically I ignored them. We taken by a bus to a regular airport and went through a line of THEM at the gate. At the airport in uniform nobody really bothered me but the Hari Chismas or what ever those white robed chanters were called.

Once I got home to my little Montana home town all was good. I spent the next year at Pendleton and on base and in Oceanside it was good, but when I went up to visit my good buddy in was stationed at El Toro in Santa Anna there were plenty of evil looks and step around. With a regulation Marine Corps hair cut in those days it was pretty obvious who you were.

I also remember getting bored and deciding to go surprise a buddy who lived in east LA. I drove up there and got lost, so I called him on a pay phone. He asked where I was, when I told him, he said "Get in your car, stay in your car and don't get out till I get there." I had figured everyone was eyeballing me because I was an obvious Marine. I found out from my bud, it was actually because I was a "blue eyed devil". After that I went up there quite a bit and on his word accepted into his circle.

 

[F4phantom]

Let's not forget the Korean War vets. They are truly the forgotten. Bless them all.

 

[Golddollar]

I am not a veteran. I do make an effort to thank those who do and did serve our country. As a member of the VFW Auxiliary and an officer in the Sons of the American Legion, I'm just trying to do my part to let those who did serve know they were appreciated. I know I've told this story before, but I was just floored when I thanked a Vietnam veteran for his service close to 40 years after the war was over and he said I was the first person who thanked him.

 

[SweetMK]

I am not a veteran. I do make an effort to thank those who do and did serve our country.

As a member of the VFW Auxiliary and an officer in the Sons of the American Legion,

I'm just trying to do my part to let those who did serve know they were appreciated. I know I've told this story before, but I was just floored when I thanked a Vietnam veteran for his service close to 40 years after the war was over and he said I was the first person who thanked him.

Heck, I am a Vietnam ERA veteran, I came off active duty with the USN in 1973.

I tried to join the local VFW, around 1990,, but, I was told, since I had not served in active combat, that I was not eligible for membership,,

So, now, each time I have to drive past that building,, I just shake my head,,,

On another , more humorous note,, I was released from active duty in Philadelphia PA.

Another dischargee and I decided to celebrate by going out, and ordering a pizza.
Well, that is a mistake,, in Philadelphia,,

The counter person, asked,, after we placed the order,,
"You two want an ENTIRE pizza!!??"
We looked at each other,, then said "SURE!"

Well the pizza came out, the table we were sitting at was 3 feet wide,,
the square pizza reached from one side of the table, to the other,,

We just laughed!!

The two of us were young, so we did put a dent in the pizza,, but, it was a great story,, We left a LOT of pizza behind!

It turns out, that pizza place normally only sold pizza by the slice,, and few people even wanted 2 slices,,

 

[Drm50]

I remember getting into SETAC late on a Saturday night. After they ran us through customs we stood outside under a bus stop waiting for the bus to take us to Ft.Lewis. I remember it being miserable raining, first of Feb. That was chilly on guys coming from RVn. We got into Ft.Lewis about 2 Am.
They gave us a cup of coffee, bologna & cheese sandwich. Then a DX blanket and put us in old Beetle Bailey barracks for the night. Got us up for formation and did give us breakfast. They hadn't made arrangements to separate us. Sunday, permanent parties and govt employees were off. We did limited out processing. Then they gave us a choice. Stay over or go home and report to nearest base to out process. Gave us travel orders and pay and bus to Seattle.

I don't mind young people saying thank you for your service. People my own age "class of 68" can shove it. I also remember how we were treated by public in general. Now these people are in charge of the country.

Somebody still owes the guys on my plane load the famous Steak Dinner.

 

[F4phantom]

Heck, I am a Vietnam ERA veteran, I came off active duty with the USN in 1973.

I tried to join the local VFW, around 1990,, but, I was told, since I had not served in active combat, that I was not eligible for membership,,

So, now, each time I have to drive past that building,, I just shake my head,,,
,,

I tried to join the local VFW about the same time. They told me I didn't serve in a declared war and not eligible. Now that all the WWII guys are passing they are looking for new people. I just laugh and shake my head.

 

[Golddollar]

Heck, I am a Vietnam ERA veteran, I came off active duty with the USN in 1973.

I tried to join the local VFW, around 1990,, but, I was told, since I had not served in active combat, that I was not eligible for membership,,

So, now, each time I have to drive past that building,, I just shake my head,,,

I just looked up the current eligibility for VFW membership on its web site. Maybe the requirements have changed, or the interpretation of them has changed. After all, only in the last couple years men became eligible to join the VFW Auxiliary. I suggest copying off the current membership requirements and going back to the VFW post and see if you are now eligible to join. I want to see everyone who served our country get the benefits they deserve.