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Comments: JD, as Jerry said, you have no need to apologize. For those who experienced it, your words rang true. For those fortunate not to your word may bring a better understanding. For years I have listened to, mostly, talking heads and politicos talk about "lessons" we should have learned from Vietnam. In my humble opinion, there are only two. You can't run a war from Washington, don't try. The President is CIC and has decisions to make, but congress being involved just causes problems and accomplishes nothing. And if you involve the military, tell them what you want accomplished, give them the resources to get it done and then get the H*ll out of the way.
Comments: JD, You have no need to apologize. Being there for you when you need to post is why we are all here. After your experiences it is understandable that Veterans Day would be a tough day for you.
Comments: Please accept my apologies. I should have never placed my burden for all to see...I appreciate your comments...but my problems are just that...mine. I consider all of you my friend and wish nothing but the best for all. Don as always you make me think...but my last post should never have been placed, it was late and Veterans Day is always a little more tough than other days. Again, please forgive me.
Comments: Just found the time to check the GB. JD , please accept the thanks from all who have acknowledged the tributes you place on the GB for our classmates. Don thanks for saying what a lot of us feel about the veterans in general and JD in particular. It is not possible for those (like me) who were never in the military to fully understand what those of you who were went through, especially those of you who were in combat. Suffice it to say that we all are proud to call each and every one of you "friend". Finally, as KMD said it is really a privilege to live in a country that has so many young people ready and willing to stand the line and protect our way of life. Congrats to Ada on hanging in through her treatment. HB belated BD to those who recently celebrated.
Comments: JD - I came in from my free dinner at Applebee's this evening - it was delicious, especially the non-free Shiner draft. I flipped on the Military channel to see what was left of their all-day marathon to pay tribute to those who served. I managed to catch 2 programs, back to back, regarding Medal of Honor recipients. The 2nd program was about 'Corpsmen & Medics'. I thought of you just as it came on, but didn't think to call & let you know it was showing. I hope you saw it also. They said approx 245 MOHs were awarded during 'Nam & about half were given posthumously. One Navy Corpsman commented that he felt very humbled for simply doing his job - providing battlefield first aid & comfort to help save lives. He also felt guilty for not having saved more, in spite of being severely wounded by gunfire, mortar shrapnel & damn near bled to death during an ambush. His legs were in such bad shape, he had to crawl along the ground to treat the wounded. And, whenever he could manage to recover arms & ammo from the dead, he provided them for those who could still fight. He said there were undoubtedly many more who should've received this award, instead of him, but that they probably perished with their troops & no one lived to provide the documentation of their heroism. Others, like yourself, performed similar selfless deeds for your fallen troops, became wounded as well, received Bronze Stars, & were fortunate enough to make it back. We will never fully comprehend all that you felt & sensed without having been there. But, I'm glad that you continue to try & never let us forget. Welcome home, again, dear friend. ~ Don
Comments: Jack, Susan, Linda & Richard...Vietnam was the only war in the 20th Century that people (mainly the draft age students and the Hollywood idiots) claimed they felt we should not have fought. I personally don't feel that way even though I now dislike all politicians since they felt they should run the war and actually caused more American lives than would have ever been lost had they listened to their Generals. And I have true repugnant feelings for all Vietnamese for the same reasons Jack does... But I may hate Americans more because of this instance...I came home the first time to some two bit whore of a hippie spitting in my face, which turned into about 10 of her friends doing the same. I was never so humiliated and hurt...and why...because I was being hand carried on a stretcher and couldn't do anything about it and did not believe I deserved that type of treatment. The war was initially fought for the correct reason. However, it became a political war because Johnson didn't want to be the first U.S. President to lose a war and his ego got in the way of doing the right thing. We had the right men and women. We had superior weaponry, we has superior tactics, wee had superior intelligence to do it right. But because of the politicians and the restrictions placed on the men and women doing the fighting we were strangled by the politicians. And, please don't let anyone tell you we lost the war...the Vietnam Veterans who fought the war, never lost a single battle...not one the entire war...yet the Liberal media still writes that we lost the war. BS, the politicians lost the war! To this day I can still smell the rotting bodies of Marines decomposing because we could not get them off the mountain at Khe Sanh while they lay in their body bags when the temperature was 115 degrees and not in refrigerated locations to protect them for their proper burials. Many Vietnam Veterans were buried with their families never being able to open the coffins and see their child because of the decomposition of their bodies. I can still smell the artillery fire and hear the rockets leaving their tubes or artillery rounds as they approached our combat base...an average of 1200 to 1300 a day for over 70 days straight. I lost some 400 Marines that were wounded and died because I couldn't save their lives...try and sleep with that every night for over 40 years. Jack, you were lucky, I wish my grandpa would have been alive when I came home...he might have been able to help me as your dad did for you and your brother. If it wasn't for Don Lincoln telling me I was a good man...I'd still be in hiding. And I can not come anywhere near any type of oriental food...I gag and throw up when the smell hits me. My family loves all types of oriental food...but the eat it when I'm out of town our of respect for me. So, please Richard...I can understand the men of war not liking Japanese cars, or Oriental food, or even German, French or Italian food...its just part of our history...and in most causes...never leaves us. Enough said...and thank you for your comments regarding the tributes...but they were really done so we won't forget Bob Hook and Victor Noah...so please use your praises for them...I'm just the messenger...not the hero. As this Veterans Day comes to a close...may God Bless each and every military man or woman living or dead as they have earned his blessing so we can have discussions like this. And please go to sleep tonight knowing that some young man or woman sits in a fox hole in some desolate place in the world guaranteeing out liberties. I love and respect them all, as I've been in that fox hole...more than once. I love all of you...even if it does not always appear as such.
Comments: On this Veteran's Day, I am grateful to live in a free country, and humbled by the bravery of our men and women in uniform, past and present, who have made it and continue to make it all possible for me and my fellow countrymen to enjoy. God Bless Our Heroes! Great tribute, JD. Thanks for posting it.
Comments: Wasn't trying to push buttons Jack. I just said I hadn't heard that from the Vietnam vets...until now.
Comments: Thanks, JD! A job well done!!
Comments: Richard, I know I'm easy, but you really know how to push my buttons! My dad fought in the Pacific, didn't talk about it till I came home from Vietnam. He asked me what I saw and told me what he saw. He just wanted me to know that it had happened and been seen before by others and they felt the same...I wasn't alone. I didn't know until then he had done the same with my brother when he came home from Vietnam. Dad made our living selling American auto parts to auto parts stores and warehouses. He was upset with me when I drove up in a Toyota until I explained it was a company car. Said he hoped I was looking for another job. I won't speak for others, but I can't forgive the Vietnamese for what they did to our dieing, dead and captured. I can't forgive them for what they did to their own people. I'm glad some can and sorry I can't. We can fight wars humanely, but apparently there are a lot of cultures in the world (like the ones we are currently engaged with) that can't.
Comments: Susan, again let's pretend we're 30 years in the future. JD's begging his grandson not to buy that Afgan import, the "Taliban 350GL with camel-hair bucket seats." After thinking about it, I went from Japanese to German cars. If I can ever find a way to buy a Maserati, I will have completed the Axis.....I think your Dad (and my mother) would both throw rocks at me.
Comments: A couple of years ago, I was in the market for a new car and was considering a Toyota. Daddy (yes, I'm 62 and I still call my father Daddy) practically begged me not to get a Toyota. I got the feeling I was slapping him in the face and trampling on what he did to save our country. I felt really bad! I wound up getting a Buick!
Comments: Richard -- My husband was in the AF, and went to Vietnam, Thailand, and Germany. To this day he will NOT eat any kind of Asian food (he will eat at Bennihana's b/c you can see what's cooking). He always says that you don't really know what is cooking. I have known other VN vets and other than they might say they served over there, they will not discuss any details. Don - sounds like you had a great birthday.
Comments: Today, I'm thinking of Bob, Vic & all our SOC vets; The Wall, our parents, and all the young folks who stepped up & are taking a turn in defending our nation around the world. I pray for & salute you today, inlcuding all who support our vets - many thanks & may God bless you! Current & former Veterans' Day posters from our VA website: http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/gallery.asp
Comments: Many thanks to all for the b'day wishes. Kathy made me offer I couldn't refuse this past weekend. We headed down to San Antonio Fri., spent the night in a suite at the Omni (they're everywhere) & had dinner at the TX Land & Cattle steakhouse - one of my favorites. Took in an airshow at Randolph AFB on Sat., where we met-up with a former CG pilot I'd been stationed with in San Juan back in '71 & where Greg was born. Great to get caught up after so many yrs. Saw lots of current & former military aircraft, including some WW-II war birds & an aerial demo by the USAF's newest addition, the F-22 'Raptor' - what unbelievable maneuvers it can make. |
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