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While some choose a day to remember the men and women who served in Vietnam, I remember them every day.
Thank you my elder brothers and sisters.
I'll never forget you.
The musings & rants of 3 retired military (2 USAF, 1 USN), 1 former WSO, and 1 AF brat. Old AF Sarge, Juvat, Tuna, LUSH, and Beans.
A friend of mine from work remarried a Vietnam Vet who had been exposed to Agent Orange in-country. A quiet salt-of-the-earth couple, didn't doubt what little he related about his time there. Miss them both........ah.....Sarge........
ReplyDeleteI know...
DeleteI had no idea. Rest easy Steve, you too Clifton. I miss you guys...,
ReplyDeleteWe must remember them, who else will?
DeleteI’m missing a couple of friends from high school.
ReplyDeleteAny number of things can trigger thoughts of that conflict.
I am grateful that my cousin mostly survived two tours over there.
"Mostly survived..."
DeleteThat speaks volumes Skip, applies to a lot of combat veterans.
Hey Old AFSarge;
ReplyDeleteI know and remember them, my Dad is one of them, he did 2 tours and I had blogged about that conflict. People don't remember especially the young how they were treated when they came back compared to how the soldiers of today are treated. When I cane back from DS we were feted and that is totally different than how my Dad was treated. The lessons of Vietnam can't be forgotten and that is what is going on. People now think that war is like Desert Storm and later and how "sanitized" it is. We did good in DS because we had learned the lessons of Vietnam, but the new generation are starting to forget.
Our military did so well in DS because we had politicians who let them, unlike Vietnam. But, unfortunately the good politicians got overridden by the bad politicians and we didn't continue the mission, and then dribbled away any gains.
DeleteThe lessons of going full bore and then stopping are the next set of lessons to be learned.
Two tours MrG? My hat's off to your Dad, and those like him.
DeleteBeans - You've got a point, of course the objective was also very clear, that helps.
DeleteBut if you're not going in to win, don't go, period.
They are disappearing from around us, these veterans of a great war that we as a nation forgot. I try to thank everyone I see wearing the ribbon (in one way or another.) Thank you all out there who served. And thanks to OldAFSarge and juvat for bringing so many who survived (but since passed) to our notice.
ReplyDeleteSame, but moreso with veterans who should definitely be remembered on July 27th, seeing as THAT war has many more veterans, making more every day.
I always thank the 'Nam vets and the Korean War vets, neither group got the laurels they richly deserve.
DeleteI meet them every time I am out at the VA. My neighbor is one; a helicopter mechanic who (because of the need) was also a door gunner. Imagine fixing the helicopter for 8 hours or so, then going up in it manning an M-60.
ReplyDeleteWhere my father is buried at the VA cemetery the mgr there told me an interesting thing - that the Vietnam generation is "dying like flies". That is me and I think you Sarge (I am 68).
I asked my neighbor why this is so and he had 2 words: "Agent Orange".
Said they would literally dump it on you when you were out in the field.
I think sometimes people attribute too much to AO but OTOH....
He has a disability of diabetes because the VA determined it was AO...
What I find someone ironic - those guys were treated horribly when they returned - now everybody wants to be a Vietnam veteran.
I a couple of years behind you William, but yes, it was really our generation and the one before who served over there.
DeleteMy Korean brother-in-law did a tour in Vietnam, AO messed him up badly. It's probably what's killing him now, lots of medical issues that his docs think stem from AO.
I am a Viet Nam era veteran. But I never got to go to SEA, just help train men who did. Just as I didn't go to the middle east for DS/DS. Just a REMF am I.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post.
Paul L. Quandt
The guys at the sharp end of the stick can't really do the job without those folks in the rear. Sure, some of them are a waste, but not every grunt is Audie Murphy either. Need both. Logistics ya know.
DeleteYou trained the ones who went, think of those who may have made it based on the training you gave them. That means a lot Paul.
Thanks.
DeletePaul
Paul, there are warriors who are left behind to train other warriors. Sometimes its due to being the wrong age at the right time, too old, too young. Sometimes it is due to unique abilities that need to be taught, like what you have.
DeleteFrom what I gather, not actually being in the military, there is a distinct difference between soldiers who serve in rear areas and REMFs.
I think juvat calls some of those soldiers who never get to the sharp end 'fighter pilots' because that's an expression of their soul.
I wouldn't want to have ever met you in a dark alley when I was doing something to truly annoy you. Because you have the soul of a warrior, or a fighter pilot.
I've met REMFs in a dark alley. Usually they're the ones annoying me and they didn't enjoy the experience. Because, well, REMFs.
You, sir, are a soldier, a warrior.
You are most welcome Paul.
DeleteAnd yes, what Beans said. (In his inimitable way!)
DeleteThank you, Andrew.
DeletePaul
Good man there.
DeleteHowever, I am proud of the two National Defense Medals I have earned. The only ribbons ( well, one ribbon and one cluster ) I would wear if I were to be in uniform again.
ReplyDeletePaul
As you should be!
DeleteI think of the guys every day. Some more than others, but always someone. We had such a comeraderie. Not like the Marine and Army guys who died in each others arms, but we flew together, often with a minimal briefing for such a complex thing. We knew each other and laughed at each other for the stupid things we did (that never got told outside of three martinis). Funny, isn't it, I never made anyone's acquaintance in the subsequent "driving" business (as opposed to the earlier "flying" business), save one, who led me to Christ (he was a Navy Spad pilot).
ReplyDeleteAh, those Spad drivers, saving people in so many ways.
Delete