RIP Joe, Vietnam Veteran USMC, August 22, 1949 - July 1, 1992

[Dystopian]

This is the full picture. Many recognize him as the Jesus or Ted Neeley sticky.
I waited until it was August 22 to post the last sticky.... on his birthday.
I took this photo of him in 1972 when I brought our daughter to visit him in drug rehab.





I went to the The VA hospital with his mother. He promised to clean up to save our marriage. He begged me....told me he do anything to keep me and our beautiful baby girl. The VA would not accept him for treatment because he wouldn't cut his hair, so he ended up in the state hospital for six months. There was no treatment for PTSD and addiction in a state hospital. I tried to help him. I couldn't. I had to flee for my life with two babies.

We reunited twenty years later. He was clean. It was supposed to be the greatest love story ever told. Our children and I had him for the last year of his life. He went back to the needle.....then he was gone. Heroine overdose.

The Moody Blues song....when we were young...he said it was our song. I was an eighteen-year-old little girl. I thought it was just another love song. Years later...I understood the words. I cry whenever I hear it.

Dream Weaver...the song we danced to after we reconciled and rekindled.

There is so much more to this story....
My heartfelt thanks to pinboy3niner who showed me the way to get disability for our daughter's Agent Orange birth defect....She has four, but he guided me through the process for the one that the VA would cover....it's ongoing. There is another Vietnam vet who also helped me. We are so very thankful to both of them....

I was going to write a tribute today...but I'm a mess, and this was the best I could do.
Today is his birthday....I'm going out tonight to listen to the blues...and drink....while being thankful for our beautiful children...
And our grandchildren....they only have his picture.

The tragedy of war goes on for generations...

*I have gratitude and thanks that I owe many people regarding posts from this week.
I promise to acknowledge....when my head is together....*

peace & love to all~

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. Dystopian,

if there is ever anything I can do....anything at all.

[TygrBright]

2. Thinking of you, Dystopian.

And of Joe.

You're not alone.

warmly,
Bright

[Crabby Appleton]

3. R.I.P. Joe

Peace

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Peace Joe... addiction and PTSD

are at times the same thing... may he find peace

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Thank you for sharing your story. *hugs* You are right. The tragedy does go on for generations. :^(

I hope he is at peace now.

[WinkyDink]

6. RIP Joe, fellow '49'er. {{Dystopian and DD}}

[Stinky The Clown]

7. ....

:hug:

[Irishonly]

8. I am sorry for your loss

:hug:

[livetohike]

9. R.I.P. Joe

and :hug: for you and your daughter Dystopian. It's a beautiful tribute...and Joe will live in your heart forever.

[Smarmie Doofus]

10. Contemporaries. I remember. Peace. K and R. nt

[Desertrose]

11. RIP Joe...from another 49er.

:hug:

Those were dark times...so many returning in such great pain and no where to go with it.

Blessings to you and your kids & grandkids, Dystopian.

:hug::grouphug:

[JohnnyLib2]

12. Hugs for you and R.I.P. Joe.

The terrible trio--drugs, PTSD, and Agent Orange illnesses--have hit so many families. It's heart warming to hear that Vietnam vets helped out, and yet tragic that the support systems weren't in place. Thumbs up to those you mentioned.

:hug:

[City Lights]

13. My heart goes out to you...

:hug:

[Tom_Foolery]

14. Beautiful tribute!

[pinboy3niner]

15. I'm so sorry you and your daughter lost Joe, Dystopian

Yours is a moving and heartfelt tribute--you did it eloquently. And what beautiful photo of Joe with your daughter! Thanks for sharing it.

May your daughter have her VA case resolved soon. She shouldn't have to go through her ordeal without the VA assistance and support she deserves. She is a casualty of that war, too.

Thanks for the thanks, but I know that you're the one who really did the grunt work and got things moving with the VA. I'm sure your daughter appreciates how lucky she is to have you in her corner.

VN vets are intimately familiar with the challenge and struggle of 'anniversary dates.' You'll get through this, as you have had to so many times before. My thoughts are with you at this difficult time. :hug:


Love & Peace,
pinboy3niner


R.I.P., Brother Joe :patriot:

[GiveMeFreedom]

16. Ready, salute!

Day is done, gone the sun
From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky
All is well, safely rest
God is near.
Fading light dims the sight
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright
From afar, drawing near
Falls the night.
Thanks and praise for our days
Neath the sun, neath the stars, neath the sky
As we go, this we know
God is near.

Order, arms!

RIP Marine

[mahina]

17. Aloha e Dystopian, aloha e Joe.

You really touched me.

We'll talk one day. We have a lot in common.
The wars come home, that is for sure.

With love and gratitude and aloha to your family.

[Dystopian]

18. Heartfelt thanks to all...

It's a new day...

Yet in this moment, I am still in 'that space'.....
An individual reply to each of you is what I want to do...
What I want to do, and what I can do are entirely different....
I'm still much too emotional...

I have posted that sticky before....and read posts about it..
Always Jesus...Ted Neeley....
And it makes me smile inside....

About our daughter....
Although she will need neurosurgery in the near future...She is still able to work.
Like Joe's mother....she's a nurse.

She worked at a nursing home....and now is a hospice nurse.
I could never do what she does...
She has her father's strength....and my bleeding heart liberal compassion....it makes sense to me.

I can't count the times that I've slept with her in her hospital bed...all I could do was hold and comfort her...It's been a long road....
And she lives life to the fullest...

Recently, when I had to see her at the nursing home, she unlocked the door to let me out.
"Nicki, I don't know how you can deal with this....death all around you"
She smiled at me, gave me a hug and said, "Mom......death can be beautiful..."

I walked to my car in wonderment....

Joe would be so very proud...
Here is a recent photo of her as she returned home from work...
While still in hospice training....


Once again...heartfelt thanks to all...Your words helped me though a difficult day....
Taking the time to send words of condolences, love and understanding .....
Each of you gave a part of yourself....a treasure.
I am going to send this thread to Nicki....

peace & love to all~

[cliffordu]

19. Words fail.

:hug:

[JI7]

20. it's the perfect tribute

[friendly_iconoclast]

21. I saw what PTSD and substance abuse did to an uncle of mine.

RIP Joe (and Bill, too- you are not forgotten and never will be)
Peace to you and your family, Dystopian.