A Thank You to all Vietnam Vets

[mustang652]

Got this from a fellow member of the Vietnam Security Police Association. We served at different bases but came back with the same bond and the same respect for all our brother branches of service, with special note to both the Army and Marine ground forces who on more than one occation helped bail out our perimeters.


A Thank You to all Vietnam Vets.

A guy gets time to think over here and I was thinking about all the support we get from home. Sometimes it's overwhelming. We get care packages at times faster than we can use them. There are boxes and boxes of toiletries and snacks lining the center of every tent; the generosity has been amazing. So, I was pondering the question: "Why do we have so much support?"
In my opinion, it all came down to one thing: Vietnam Veterans. I think we learned a lesson, as a nation, that no matter what, you have to support the troops who are on the line, who are risking everything. We treated them so poorly back then. When they returned was even worse. The stories are nightmarish of what our returning warriors were subjected to. It is a national scar, a blemish on our country, an embarrassment to all of us.
After Vietnam , it had time to sink in. The guilt in our collective consciousness grew. It shamed us. However, we learned from our mistake. Somewhere during the late 1970's and on into the 80's, we realized that we can't treat our warriors that way. So ... Starting during the Gulf War, when the first real opportunity arose to stand up and support the troops, we did. We did it to support our friends and family going off to war. But we also did it to right the wrongs from the Vietnam era. We treat our troops of today like the heroes they were, and are, acknowledge and celebrate their sacrifice, and rejoice at their homecoming ... Instead of spitting on them.
And that support continues today for those of us in Iraq . Our country knows that it must support us and it does. The lesson was learned in Vietnam and we are all better because of it.
Everyone who has gone before is a hero. They are celebrated in my heart. I think admirably of all those who have gone before me. From those who fought to establish this country in the late 1770's to those I serve with here in Iraq . They have all sacrificed to ensure our freedom. But when I get back home, I'm going to make it a personal mission to specifically thank every Vietnam Vet I encounter for THEIR sacrifice. Because if nothing else good came from that terrible war, one thing did. It was the lesson learned on how we treat our warriors. We as a country learned from our mistake and now we treat our warriors as heroes, as we should have all along. I am the beneficiary of their sacrifice. Not only for the freedom they, like veterans from other wars, ensured, but for how well our country now treats my fellow Marines and I. We are the beneficiaries of their sacrifice.

Semper Fidelis,
Major Brian P. Bresnahan
United States Marine Corps

[tncruiser]

well said but a certain part of our society is still against anything military
think of the colleges that dont allow ROTC while accepting federal funds
every day there is a news story about the flag or pledge or national anthem being disrespected
as a vet and not wanting to sound arrogant it appears to me that many of those that have not served dont seem to care as much about our God given, government protected freedoms
brianj
rvn apr67-nov68

[JimmyLeggett]

Very well said.. Thank you and I would gladly do it again.
Viet-Nam 68-69 3/5th Cav, 9th Inf Div

[Sequim Guy]

mustang652,

Thanks for posting that, made me feel a little prouder.

tncruiser,

"For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know".

Jimmy,

Did you work out of Dong Tam? I was 6/31st Inf.

[JimmyLeggett]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sequim Guy mustang652, Thanks for posting that, made me feel a little prouder. tncruiser, "For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know". Jimmy, Did you work out of Dong Tam? I was 6/31st Inf.

when I was there, the 3/5th Cav was OPCON to the 1st Cav, then 101st. After I was wounded, re-assigned to MACV in the delta and saw a lot more of the 9th ID than when I was in the cav.

[tncruiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sequim Guy mustang652, Thanks for posting that, made me feel a little prouder. tncruiser, "For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know". Jimmy, Did you work out of Dong Tam? I was 6/31st Inf.

yes 19 months in dong tam when arrived in late apr of 68 a few large tents and a couple's of wood office buildings and corp of eng everywhere,we installed a 9 position a switch board and all the support necessary for land line commo, i was later assigned to the MARS station and was asst station chief,if you google "ab8az" you will find a lot of pix of the base as it was in late 68 including an aerial where you can close up many of the facilities,if you were ever lucky enough to call home via MARS you will know the pride i had in doing a small support mission that was a feel good day for troops that used the service
welcome home
brianj

[Shellback1]

Very well said! We were treated like we started the war. Draft dodgers and Jane Fonder got more respect than us. It took until 3 years ago at a rest area for someone to first say thank you for your service to me. Her husband was a viet nam vet also. I hope we never treat any others that way for serving their country. Now, let's bring back the POW's.

[KC1BUD]

I always knew we did the right thing, but the dodgers and Hanoi Jane should have been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Those that went to Canada should not have been allowed to return.

Today the only thing that bothers me is when someone says we lost the war in Vietnam when we never lost an engagement or battle. We didn't lose we quit. It isn't the same no matter how many times it is said.
Vietnam was a still divided country, when the American fighting troops were withdrawn in 1973. The side we fought for was still in control at the time of our pull out. How is that a loss?

In the end it was the South Vietnamese that lost the war.

As for people coming up to me and thanking me for my service, I feel very uncomfortable because I wonder about their reasons for it.

[Sequim Guy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC1BUD As for people coming up to me and thanking me for my service, I feel very uncomfortable because I wonder about their reasons for it.

"Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar"



More than once a person has seen the stickers on my car or MH and thanked me for my service. I just quietly say "Thank You" and let it go at that, they seem sincere enough.

[JohnRR]

They owe no more to me than I do to them...

[w6pea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC1BUD I always knew we did the right thing, but the dodgers and Hanoi Jane should have been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Those that went to Canada should not have been allowed to return. As for people coming up to me and thanking me for my service, I feel very uncomfortable because I wonder about their reasons for it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnRR They owe no more to me than I do to them...

Very Well put.

If We Can't Haul It.....You Don't Need It ! Motor-T

[mick]

Somehow, I always seem to disagree with these post about "Welcome Home". IMO, no civilian has the right to tell me that. No civilian has the right to thank me for my service.

That time passed many years ago when it would have been their right and their obligation. Many times I have people say Welcome Home and when I ask if they served and the reply is NO, I simply turn my back and walk away. Dont dirty my world with your guilt. Your obligation was thirty years ago plus.

And No, I wont appologize for my beliefs.

[shadrack]

Mick,
X2. Went to my 45th class reunion a couple of years ago when talking with former friends (?) who asked what I did after school. Said I went into Marine Corps. They asked if I went to VN. When I said yes they turned away. Well, they can kiss my a$$ and I'll be damned if I go to my 50th. Trading 'Welcome homes' with fellow servicemen is all I need. The rest that didn't have the gonads I don't need. Yea, I'm still bitter the way we were treated and still, sometimes, are treated.

[bsirby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick Somehow, I always seem to disagree with these post about "Welcome Home". IMO, no civilian has the right to tell me that. No civilian has the right to thank me for my service. That time passed many years ago when it would have been their right and their obligation. Many times I have people say Welcome Home and when I ask if they served and the reply is NO, I simply turn my back and walk away. Dont dirty my world with your guilt. Your obligation was thirty years ago plus. And No, I wont appologize for my beliefs.

Mick, I totally understand what you are saying. We have noticed that alot of the people thanking my husband are young people who were not the ones that turned their backs on the VN Vets. We were eating lunch one day in a hamberger place and when we got up to pay found our meal had been paid for by a young man sitting behind us, who had already left.

I personally cannot understand why you were treated as you were, but Thank You and all Veterans for your service.
Our daughter has a bumper sticker on her car that reads 'If you can speak English, thank a teacher. If you love your freedom, thank my Dad.' It seems like her generation gets it.