On board the plane, I noted several other Vietnam vets in uniform. The Vietnam War lasted from 1964-1973the longest war in It occurred to me that one of them resembled my best friend back home. I would like to get my 2 cents' worth in. In recent years, as we all know, there has been an undeniable shift in the public's attitude toward the men who fought the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War lasted from 1964-1973the I'm sure they hoped I would react violently. Next time you see a bunch of "Vietnam veterans" on television walking in a parade, take a good close look at them. 46 0 obj I'm fortunate that I returned from Nam alive and was able to handle the emotional pain of spending a year in hell. I wish the American people could know what value they have in our men who served with honor and compassion. What Vietnam veterans received a Cold homecoming? Cold deserts can be bitterly cold in winter and may receive But the homecoming was very different for most Vietnam veterans. Two young guys -- complete with beards, long hair, John Lennon glasses and garbed in the appropriate apparel that the times dictated -- came into sight. Why did Vietnam veterans have a hard time coming home? WebVietnam veterans. To Those Who Died -- Thank You. Jackson Cit Pat: Vietnam veteran remembers cold homecoming, savors appreciation ceremony | Congressman Tim Walberg endobj As they were smiling and seemed friendly, I said yes. <<>> I wish some attention would be paid to the humor, compassion and heroism exemplified by our men in Vietnam. \underline{\hspace{5cm}}. I have a difficult time writing about things I would just as soon forget. The couple just walked away and melted into the crowd. We weren't spat upon by one person, but by the entire country. All that can be said is that They came back to find the United States torn apart by debate over the Vietnam War. My Vietnam service medals were always easily recognizable by these individuals, and even they did not spit on me. Neighbouring Laos and Cambodia similarly fell to communists. I'm referring to the "heroes' welcome" given to the hostages held in Iran. 2. application/pdf We coulnd't answer any of the questions for ourselves or our children. endobj The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". And who did I really fight for? On the 10th anniversary of the end of the war, my son made me up a banner on the computer, which we put across the front of the garage. WebVietnam Vet facts like Dax Cowart, a Vietnam vet who suffered devastating burns after a gas explosion in the 1970s, and who endured 14 months of agonizing treatment that he did Rather than being greeted with anger and hostility, however, most Vietnam veterans received very little reaction when they returned home. Kent State shooting where they burned the federal building. they receive less than 10 inches (250 mm) of precipitation per year 3 0 obj<>stream 50 0 obj Every night there was the war in Vietnam in our living rooms. Kennedys expansion stemmed in part from Cold War-era fears about the domino theory: if communism took hold in Vietnam, it would topple democracies throughout the whole of Southeast Asia, it was thought. No. What did Eisenhower compared to a row of dominoes? You see, most of us still want to put the war behind us. While my son was home on leave from Vietnam, a Presbyterian minister refused to shake his hand as we were leaving church. 1. Ana has done a very (credible, creditable credulous) job. Stand there and take it? No 'Welcome Home' parades for Vietnam vets. He was president of North Vietnam from 1945 to 1969, and he was one of the most influential communist leaders of the 20th century. And the dozen or so Vietnam veterans I've talked to (I can't talk to World War II vets) all told similar stories. It lasted from 1954 to 1975. However, while I was standing in line at the ticket counter, there was a well-dressed gentleman behind me who asked sarcastically, "How many people did you kill over there?" Why did "hawks" criticize the Johnson administration's policies in Vietnam? /r"U,fJV09HL@M`! South Vietnam surrenders to North Vietnam. I declined to comment. In what sense was the Vietnam war a "working class" war? Clemons, a pastor at the Lane Memorial CME Church in Jackson, received a commemorative pin and a "thank you," from U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg in a Memorial Day ceremony at South Jackson Community Church. As the plane took off, the cheering and tears exploded with the feeling of being off the ground. Was I even welcome at the local American Legion post as a Nam vet? Quickly, though, just the point that what Mr. Leary and so many others are talking about, clearly, is catharsis. How long can a foreign object stay in your ear? It was like being bombarded all day every day with utter disrespect for all we were trying to live and teach our children to value. Explain the significance of the following key terms The Silent Majority and the Pentagon Papers. What broke our hearts was being spat on by our country. What does it mean when you wear a bandana in your back pocket? Congress does this to take away some of the Presidents abroad powera, Purpose to force a negotiated peace settlement-north Vietnamese, South Vietnamese surrenders to North Veitnam, NV full scale invasion of SV and the capture of Saigon-there were no US troops there when the NV won, Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming, Americans were torn and bitter about the war and didn't not honor returning soldiers, President must notify congress within 48 hours of committing troops-put in place to curb the presidents war making power, Mainly due to its unpopularity & controversial, Many Americans lose faith in their government, This is due mainly to the Watergate Scandal: nixon S administration found corrupt ^8 What actions by US troops hindered the effort to win the support of Vietnamese villagers? One of the most popular chants during the anti-war marches was, "Stop the war in Vietnam, bring the boys home." when the task is complete the neighbor goes in his house wihtout a wrod and closes the door. - tunnels made by vietcong that allowed them to stand air strikes It would be ludicrous, all these years later, to pretend to remember exactly what was siad. Agent Orange was used along with several other herbicides, code-named Agents White, Purple, Blue, Pink, and Green. Nixon adopts a policy of Vietnamization. The Vietminh wanted a free and independent Vietnam, while France sought to regain power in Vietnam, which had been a French colony. Some college students/ young people. [49 0 R 52 0 R 54 0 R 56 0 R 57 0 R 58 0 R 59 0 R 60 0 R 61 0 R 62 0 R 63 0 R] WebWhy were Vietnam veterans treated so badly when they came home? How did most Americans react to President Johnson's decision to commit troops to the war in Vietnam? What was the challenge that the Framers faced when setting out to write the Constitution, and how did they meet it? Vietnam becomes divided along the 17th parallel. To see people step forward with a picture of their dead son or brother to see disabled veterans step out to shake hands .. for all of us to wipe a little spit off our hearts. I believe that most of us were well received, although we probably felt unfomfortable adjusting, some having guilty about surviving while many of their compatriots didn't make it. The Vietnam War was a protracted conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam and its allies in South Vietnam, known as the Viet Cong, against the government of South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. They believed that it was not fair for antiwar protesters to question their actions during the war. The spread of Communism. endobj Ngo Dinh Diem, he thinks the communists will win. He said he could not and would not shake my son's hand because of the killing my son was involved in. I remember looking down at the scarred landscape, waiting until we got enough altitude to be completely safe. Robert Kennedy was assassinated by a Palestinian immigrant who said he was angered by Kennedy's support of ___________. WebThe Vietnam Veterans Memorial was completely funded by veterans, individuals, corporations and other organizations. I started after him, but I lost him in the airport crowd. But as I said, my story included a "hippie." By hippies. Why did many Americans lose faith in their government? "To wipe a little spit off our hearts." 9 Noteworthy Bog Bodies (And What They Tell Us), 12 Novels Considered the Greatest Book Ever Written, Inventors and Inventions of the Industrial Revolution, https://www.britannica.com/list/9-questions-about-the-vietnam-war-answered. I was never spat upon or even harassed. I was in my dress uniform in San Francisco airport waiting for my wife to arrive from out of state, when a guy ran up to me, called me a war monger, spat on me and ran off. He earned 38 military decorations during his career, and has been called the most decorated U.S. soldier of the Vietnam War. endobj For me it's been 16 years, and it's a shame that ridiculous movies like "First Blood" and "Apocalypse Now" had to be made before anyone cared enough to ask questions about us and our experiences. What did "It was a time when America itself was in turmoil," he said. AppendPDF Pro 6.3 Linux 64 bit Aug 30 2019 Library 15.0.4 By nearly every metric, the Vietnam War was, in the common sense of the word, a war. WebWhy did Vietnam veterans have a hard time coming home? one woman was standing alone and clapping her hands and sayig "Welcome home." I came home from Southeast Asia on Aug. 19, 1971. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. I think these stories about spitting are a lot of bull. In the wake of the Vietnam War, Cambodia fell to the brutal Communist regime known as the______________, 6. Why did Vietnam veterans receive cold homecoming? % No signs. 34 0 obj 45 0 obj I coul dhave dwealt with being spit on by a hippie. Understanding The Homecoming Experience of Vietnam Veterans They mainly noticed that In Vietnam I only tried to do my job and maintain my sanity in a world gone crazy. <>11]/P 24 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> Each stated how happy they were that we were able to come home safely. I finally realized that I fought for my country and for my own beliefs. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Imagine helping your neighbor move a piano for a full day. 6 0 obj This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Both of these incidents have bothered me for years.