Lt. Calley has died

[Retired W4]

As I remember, his platoon had receive several WIA, KIA out of that village. Sadly, there is no excuse for breaking military discipline. RIP Lt.

 

[SMSgt]

Also remember rejection by VFW in the 70s-80s. Much different these days.

Because they ran out of WWII and Korea Vets to support the rent on their chapter facilities. So now they are more willing to "scrap the bottom of the barrel."

The VFW was supposed to assist me in a disability claim. The only time I heard from it was 5-6 years after my claim was processed. It was a letter thanking me for allowing them to help and could I send a donation. Got no use for the VFW.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The Americal Division reported that one of its units killed "128 of the enemy in an all day battle" and received a "well done" from MACV HQ.
Medina sent the troops ahead under Calley while he stayed at the LZ to "coordinate the support." Several soldiers testified that when the troops under Calley made contact and radioed for orders Medina said "I want those people wasted !"
The senior commanders-Barker, Henderson, Koster-were all present at the time-yes, 1500 feet up in their helicopters.
When the story broke, they tried to blame it on artillery, then Air Force.
In one of the Time-Life books on Vietnam they tried to blame the troops, saying too many were from "McNamara's 100,000".

 

[grover99]

A member of my church kept trying to get me to join the VFW. Telling me what great things they do and how much fun they had. So I forked over my dues and joined. Once my check cleared they wouldn't even give me the time of day. Didn't even know where the
VFW hall was and was never invited to anything. The guy who got me to join suddenly didn't know me.

 

[Walkin Horse]

I went to Vietnam as an 18-year old Private First Class, when I left I was a 19-year old Sergeant responsible for a dozen others. Went back to Vietnam and returned as a 20-year old Sergeant with two combat tours, Combat Infantryman Badge and Purple Heart medal along with several other decorations. Still too young to vote or step up to the bar for a beer in most states.

My mother insisted on taking me, in uniform, to the VFW post where she was an auxiliary member. Vietnam vets were not allowed to join because we hadn't been in a "real war".



Around military bases many apartment complexes and property managers refused to rent to military personnel. Many restaurants and clubs had signs posted, usually some version of "NO DOGS. NO SOLDIERS". Popular TV shows and movies depicted Vietnam veterans as drug addicted psychotic killers. Wearing the uniform off-post frequently drew insults or ridicule.

Many employers refused to hire Vietnam veterans until Congress passed the Veterans Reemployment Act providing tax credits for doing so.

Many of us learned it was best to not mention the fact we were veterans at social gatherings or nice parties.

VA medical care was a sorry joke. Go to the VA clinic with an appointment (which takes months to obtain), wait half a day to find out they couldn't get to you so come back next week, then show up a week later to find out you had missed your last appointment so you had been dropped from enrollment. Over a decade after coming home I needed minor out-patient surgery to remove a bit of shrapnel from my knee. Show up at the VA hospital, wait for 4 hours, then I was introduced to my surgeon AND HIS INTERPRETER (he spoke no English). Learned that proper licensing or graduation from accredited US medical schools were not required to work in the VA system (literally, a doctor could be under suspension or revocation by state authorities and still hold a position with VA).

Thankfully, today the VA has changed and now provides excellent (although limited) medical care with good staffing. Still a bureaucracy, but not unlike most modern American hospitals or clinics.

Enough ranting for today.

If there was one I'd give you a sad face. What I read and thinking about my friends that were there made me cry.

 

[Greyman50]

Until I got a lawyer the ashe lohs at the VA turned me down since the early 80s when I first filed a claim for hearing loss. I joined the local VFW since most " in charge" are RVN Veterans.

 

[steelslaver]

I went to Vietnam as an 18-year old Private First Class, when I left I was a 19-year old Sergeant responsible for a dozen others. Went back to Vietnam and returned as a 20-year old Sergeant with two combat tours, Combat Infantryman Badge and Purple Heart medal along with several other decorations. Still too young to vote or step up to the bar for a beer in most states.

My mother insisted on taking me, in uniform, to the VFW post where she was an auxiliary member. Vietnam vets were not allowed to join because we hadn't been in a "real war".

Around military bases many apartment complexes and property managers refused to rent to military personnel. Many restaurants and clubs had signs posted, usually some version of "NO DOGS. NO SOLDIERS". Popular TV shows and movies depicted Vietnam veterans as drug addicted psychotic killers. Wearing the uniform off-post frequently drew insults or ridicule.

Many employers refused to hire Vietnam veterans until Congress passed the Veterans Reemployment Act providing tax credits for doing so.

Many of us learned it was best to not mention the fact we were veterans at social gatherings or nice parties.

VA medical care was a sorry joke. Go to the VA clinic with an appointment (which takes months to obtain), wait half a day to find out they couldn't get to you so come back next week, then show up a week later to find out you had missed your last appointment so you had been dropped from enrollment. Over a decade after coming home I needed minor out-patient surgery to remove a bit of shrapnel from my knee. Show up at the VA hospital, wait for 4 hours, then I was introduced to my surgeon AND HIS INTERPRETER (he spoke no English). Learned that proper licensing or graduation from accredited US medical schools were not required to work in the VA system (literally, a doctor could be under suspension or revocation by state authorities and still hold a position with VA).

Thankfully, today the VA has changed and now provides excellent (although limited) medical care with good staffing. Still a bureaucracy, but not unlike most modern American hospitals or clinics.

Enough ranting for today.

The change of attitude towards members of the military and veterans, plus the improvement in the VA health care are about the only positives to come out of the gulf wars.

Like everyone else from that period I felt alienated by most. When people started saying "Thank you for your service" I was stunted. I am not bashful or the quiet type by any means, but I never knew what to say. It finally hit me and now I just say "Your welcome"

 

[Kinman]

Well sir...It was in no small part the results of Lt. Calley's efforts that was responsible for our terrific welcome home we were treated to. I came home from Nam in July of '71 and decided from that day forward I would not fly in uniform unless I had no other choice. They seemed to have a sixth sense for homing in on use Nam vets, later I learned it was our red, white and blue sword patch that gave us up.
I make a point of trying not to judge folks and understand the nature or question of exactly who was your enemy. The guy in the rice paddy behind a water buffalo could wait for you to pass then fire upon you. I learned to keep the "slicky boys" a good swinging stick distance away.
Calley probably was a scapegoat, someone had to pay and he was the lowest ranking commissioned officer involved...its been going on like that since Christ was a Corporal, very few guilty people will step up and take the hit, especially career troops.
There is a special place in hell for people that indiscriminately cause grievous harm to innocent people or animals for that matter. Unfortunately war brings out the worst in bad monkeys.

 

[Greyman50]

A few RVN Veterans discussed the war, most said flat out, you could Not Trust any LN's. Bottom line was all the enemy did not wear uniforms. I' ll leave it at that.