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Remembering Viet Nam





My husband’s cousin and his wife visited a few weeks ago.  The guys play down their war experiences yet the topic of Viet Nam pops up in conversation. 

Remember that war?

The rebellion of the 1960’s tells many stories.  I felt unrest as a teenager in that decade.

·        Young people trampled on traditional values and hippies emerged.
·        Street artists drew daisy flowers on everything.
·        Girls wore miniskirts and boys grew long hair.
·        Ugly politics surfaced.
·        Many smoked marijuana and experimented with LSD.
·        Folk singers and rock musicians wrote anti war songs.
·        Rallies beckoned many to protest the Viet Nam War.

Not all rebelled.

My husband and his cousin enlisted in the military.  We say “thank you” on these patriotic holidays and sometimes they respond “No big deal.”


Truth is, it is a big deal.  Ask their wives.  We wives are the ones who live with these brave men.  We know and can speak of the days our gallant husbands cope with depression and some suffer with PTSD.  We experience the health issues they face from Agent Orange and war injuries both to body and mind. 






This year commemorates 50 years since the Viet Nam War.   We remember the 58,000 plus Americans killed.  We’re grateful for their sacrifice.

A group of marines, including Tom’s cousin, spent two weeks in Viet Nam and returned yesterday.  I text message Tom’s cousin and say “Thank you for your service and welcome home.”

I await his stories of a place filled with memories and emotion about a part of the world he will never forget at a time when Americans did not welcome him home.

Father God, bless all men and women in the military who are sacrificing their lives so we can enjoy our freedom.  Keep them safe and pour out your comfort on military families who sacrifice so much for us so we can live free in this great nation.

Comments

  1. Amen! So sad that they were not welcomed home, so many young lives lost. I am glad returning soldiers these days are treated better in some ways. Thanking your husband, cousin, and so many more for their service, and for those that died while serving, grateful for them being willing to serve.

    Betty

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  2. Thanks to those who served in Vietnam -- and all of our service men and women -- for their service. I'm interested in Tom's cousins observations about his trip.

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    1. An ABC film crew accompanied the five veterans on their journey to Viet Nam. A documentary of their exploits will be aired on November 11th, Veteran's Day.

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  3. I honor your commitment and sacrifice. Thank you for all you have done and given.

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  4. This is such a great post and you have great insight. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.

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  5. Sounds like that era has no difference with what's going on in our atmosphere now. It is sad that many are not recognized for their patriotism and heroic sacrifices (not that they want to be recognized nor want praises, too). It is a BIG DEAL! Because freedom is not free. Thank you bro. Tom and to all those who choose to fight for our freedom. My husband was in Gulf War and so I can relate what you mean regarding what the left behind families have to go through. Very tough! But through those times, I know I'm not alone to realize that it is also a special time to allow our faith to increase knowing that God knows it so well. Blessings to you sister and thank you for remembering the HEROES. Sometimes, I have no words to say knowing how little they are recognized nowadays, my heart feels broken. God bless.

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    1. Thankful to your husband, Rosel, for his service. It's not easy on the families and they deserve our love and prayers too.

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  6. Oh...and prayed your beautiful prayer with you.

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  7. Beautiful prayer. I too remember the 60s and Viet Nam. Unless you have been in the midst of war, you never truly understand what it is like. Thank you for your post.

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  8. May God bless those who sacrificed and served in the war. Have a great day.

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  9. Mary, will you please tell your husband and anyone else you know how much I appreciate their service to our country? Truly, my words will not ever be enough to thank them for their sacrifice.

    Vietnam was a horrible war - (as all wars are). But this war in particular was terrible, for it was a war in which the soldiers were vilified and persecuted. Our CPA tells stories of being publicly hazed, having people call him a "baby killer." Breaks my heart.

    I try to make a point of thanking people when I see evidence that they've served our country in the armed forces. But I make a special point of doing that to Vietnam vets. They deserve to hear it, because they didn't always...

    I will always remember.

    GOD BLESS!

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    1. Thank you, Sharon! I also especially thank the Viet Nam Vets because I'm embarrassed that we as a nation treated them so bad. When Tom was discharged, he flew to Chicago, took a bus to the suburbs and people spit on him on that bus. A lady in Wal-mart approached him this weekend and thanked him for his service (he was wearing his Viet Nam cap) and he felt honored! It's not easy to approach the vets sometimes, they may be suffering physically or emotionally but they feel like worthwhile Americans when we thank them.

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  10. After returning from service in Vietnam, I learned not to mention that I had been there. In job interviews especially, I learned not to bring it up. The media in the 60's did a terrible job painting servicemen as evil people--and we were not. We did our jobs and served with honor.

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    1. I remember the hate, Cho. I am so sorry. Thank you for serving our great country and keeping us free.

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  11. Wow, you are surrounded by our modern day heroes. Please send them my thank you. :)

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  12. I can only echo other commenters. Your husband and his husband deserve our thanks. I was too young to remember anything about the war. All I know about it is what I learned in school and read on the topic. Please thank them for me for their sacrifice and service to our country.

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  13. Your post is memorial and thanks to your husband, and his cousin for serving. Our Son-in Law was there, and injured and no doubt was doused with agent orange. He suffers still, and the VA is taking care of his medical and emotional needs. Thank you for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.

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  14. A Big Deal, indeed. 'Thank you' seems so inadequate -- a little, too late ... but mine is heartfelt. Beautiful post!

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  15. I can remember being a little girl when the news came that my cousin had been killed in Nam. I still to this day think about the cries I heard from the family members. I am forever thankful for those that served and still are serving our country. Old Glory does stand! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  16. God bless all our brave veterans and their families!

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  17. Amen, Mary. Those are the men, like Tom, that make this country great. Funny, now with enough time passed, we don't look at the people who didn't serve with reverence, only the ones that did... Just as God designed it and us throughout the history of the world.

    We remember and honor the humble. The brave that lay down their lives to serve. The others fade, not the heroes.

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