Vietnam God Bless Us.

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ghost19

"Have I run too far to get home?"
Sep 25, 2011
8,926
56,578
51
Arkansas
My dad's father had some chilling stories about WWII. He was on a destroyer that took a hit from a kamikaze pilot during the battle of Okinawa. He was a gunner on a twin .50 cal anti-aircraft gun. Their ship was sunk. The ship he served on, the USS W.D. Porter has a very interesting history. Was the only ship to ever accidentally fire a torpedo at a USS Naval ship that was carrying....the President....Roosevelt was observing naval drills aboard the USS Iowa...the Porter somehow launched a test torpedo which headed right for the Iowa. My grandfather said it was an interesting day with most of the officers being arrested upon return to port. He said the "Willie D" was the unluckiest ship in the Navy. His stories were usually punctuated by at least a half a case of beer...or more....lol
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
My brother that is 2 years older than me will not talk about his experiences over there to this day..
Yup. My dad did two tours, one as a foot soldier in the Army and one in the Air Force, a Purple Heart for each tour, and NEVER talked about it, except in very general terms. Mom says he was a very different person afterward than the guy she married. My only memory of him saying much at all is when I sneered in my 17 yo arrogance that they wasted their time there--he got pretty apoplectic (understandably, I think now).
 

Sigmund

Waiting in Uber.
Jan 3, 2010
13,979
44,046
In your mirror.
Good evening.

The Viet Nam war. :blue:

The fallen soldiers and those who returned were treated so cruelly and disrespectfully. :sad:

I hated the war but loved those who served.

May I share a story please?

My husband and I attended my little cousin's wedding. We were seated at a table with lots of other guests. I happened to overhear a conversation and it happened one of the men had served two (three?) tours in Viet Nam. I quietly got out of my seat and went to the gentleman and asked if he had served and his face...seemed to ..shut down. Blank. He answered, "Yes, ma'am." No eye contact. I said, "Sir, may I shake your hand? Please?" I put out my hand. He slowly raised his head and looked into my eyes. I'm not sure what he saw in my eyes/face but ... he squared his shoulders and stood up straight and shook my hand. In a soft voice I said, "Thank you. Thank you very much. I'm so sorry." He squeezed my hand.
When my husband returned from the bathroom this gentleman went to my husband and introduced himself and shook his hand. Philip, my husband, asked what had transpired and I asked him what/why. He said, "That man shook my hand and said, 'Your wife.'". Have mercy. Those Viet Nam vets came home and were called baby killers and spat on.

One more thing. My big brothers best friend, Raul* was my first *love*. I was the little, pesky baby sister who insisted on following my older brothers and his friends. Raul was one of them. When my brothers would shoo me away and try to send me home Raul picked me up (I was a little kid.) and said no, let her stay. They had a little transistor radio and the Ray Orbison. "Pretty Woman" was playing. Raul told me, "See, they are singing about you." Cool, huh?

Raul served several tours in Viet Nam. He was on his way home. At last. Before he made it home to his Momma and Daddy he was hit and killed by a drunk driver.

I will never forget him.

Peace.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
I am a Vietnam vet. I served on the ground in-country from 1966-1967 as radio-teletype support to the South Korean Marines.

John
Thank you for everything, John! Everything!
My Dad was in WWII. He would not talk about it. My Mom said he was a very affectionate man, always happy and laughing, before he went to the war. She said when he came home he was the opposite, a different man, quiet. I only knew him after he came home so I have no memories of his 'happy' times.