November 6 Will Be 50 Years I Ended Up In Vietnam. Next November Will Be 50 Years Came Back.

[TheMastersNemesis]

My how time flies. Cannot believe I spent a year in the Vietnam war zone during one of the worst years. Many experiences are as clear today as the day they happened. Time has not erased the memories. And it is amazing that we have not yet come to terms with that war.

If I have learned anything from Vietnam it is that there is NO REASON to feel guilt for having to participate in a war that was forced on you through the draft. It is so sad that so many vets feel guilty about what they did in their service. And what most people who have never served do not understand and never will is that in war there really are no rules except how to survive.

No one can predict how they would act under such duress as immediate and palpable danger. And you cannot know what it is like to need a diaper suddenly because you are so damned scared. And nothing outside of war and immediate threat can help you appreciate Winston Churchill's most famous words.

Churchill was once asked what thrilled him most in live. His reply is that "Nothing is more thrilling in life to be shot at without result."

[furtheradu]

1. Thank YOU.

I thank You.

[samnsara]

2. now I feel old! :(

[Freedomofspeech]

3. Thank you for your service...

You have no reason to feel guilty.

[nocalflea]

4. One of my uncles and one of my cousins served in Vietnamn.

The only guilt they feel is "survivor's guilt". The name-calling back home was certainly painful to them , but they knew the truth and couldn't imagine not serving when called.
So thankful all 3 of you made it home. Thank you.

[democrank]

5. Thank you for your service. I'm glad you made it home.

~PEACE~

[hamsterjill]

6. Thank you for your service and for this post.

Happy Memorial Day!!!

[Greywing]

7. Thank you so much for your post and your service ....

glad you were one that made it home. It seems people have forgotten the big lessons that should have been learned from Vietnam. I worry so much for our vets.

[Kaleva]

8. Rec'd

[jack69]

9. Churchill was right. 70-71

[FM123]

10. When I was young

I remember wearing a p.o.w. bracelet but my soldier never came home. I am so glad that you did.

[leanforward]

11. Thanks for the Churchill quote.

Thank you for your time in country. In November '67, I was out of RVN and the Army. I'm thinking you were in the middle of the Tet Offensive. In late May 1967 I was planning with buddies for our R&R to Hawaii. Things have happened around me "without result."

We made it home.

Today was Rolling Thunder. We know what Rolling Thunder is about.

I don't hold draft avoiders in highest esteem, especially when I'm down at the wall or mingled in with the Thunder or any other Veterans support activity.

I am a loyal/american/patriot in opposition to pRezident dRumpf and any GOP lemming.

Follow the money.

[jaysunb]

12. I posted the same thing last year.

Seems like a forever ago and yesterday at the same time.

Welcome back to the world my Brother.