3-29....Vietnam Veterans Day.

There is a woman who owns a small RV park in the small town near where I live (pop 2,000). When she was a young teen, she "adopted" an MIA in Nam. She still wears the string-type bracelet. Every evening, at dusk, she plays the Star Spangled Banner on outside loud speakers. You can hear it across the whole town. Most people staying in the RV park step outside, either salute or place their hand over their heart, for a moment of respect for all Vets.

Every fall, she sponsors a Veterans Ball, a formal event with dinner and dancing, in a local venue. I went one year and it was really nice. Several old guys came wearing their old dress uniforms and one or two young current military guys also came in uniform.

Some months ago, she purchased a lot on Main Street and built a memorial for all Vets, especially 'Nam, with benches to sit on, paths to walk on. It's really impressive for such a small community.

I still have my late husband's DD214.
 
GoodEnuff said:
When she was a young teen, she "adopted" an MIA in Nam. She still wears the string-type bracelet.
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I did the same. Madison Strohlein... still missing. Vietnam Task Force Advisory Element TF-1AE. I'll never forget him.

"On June 22, 1971, he and three other U.S. soldiers parachuted into their mission area in South Vietnam to conduct a reconnaissance mission. The men became separated during their jump and were unable to link up on the ground. Sergeant Strohlein was injured during the jump and radioed to request a medical evacuation, but radio contact with him was lost before rescuers could reach him. When contact was lost, enemy forces were moving near his position. When a search team managed to reach the area the next day, they found SGT Strohlein's weapon and signs of a firefight, but could not locate him. He remains unaccounted for."
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My kid’s dad was in Vietnam and had nightmares his entire life. He lived in a town of 2k people and his childhood friend was stationed on a base a short distance away. His friend was due to go home one morning so the night before he drove a jeep over to my husband‘s base to say goodbye and he hit a land mine and died.

We lived in that little town for two years and although his parents did not blame my husband, it was really painful for my husband when we would run into them. I’m much younger than my husband was and obviously didn’t know him during that time.

I did have a penpal that was in Vietnam and I can’t remember how I got his name. I wrote him letters regularly and my mom baked items to mail to him which he was very grateful for. I never got to meet my penpal. My husband and I took the kids when they were teenagers on a trip to Washington DC and we did get to see the Vietnam memorial wall.

I remember watching the news with my parents as a child and seeing all those body bags being taken off the airplanes every single night. I really hope that our country is never in another war that causes the death of so many young people. The returning soldiers endured so much when they got home as well as having physical issues and PTSD for a lifetime.
 
BJintheUK said:
I have a copy of Chickenhawk by Bob Mason, and I recently also bought the sequel, Chickenhawk, Return to the Real World. Both amazing books, and a testament to the damage the war did to so many people, both American and Vietnamese.

Let's hope there's never a repeat of the Vietnam war, for anyone.
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The Middle East.. newer generations, more casualties.. 😢
 
Each Vietnam Veteran has their own view of Veteran's Day and now Vietnam Veteran's Day. I prefer to recognize November 11th each year honoring all veterans and their service. As a Vietnam Combat Veteran the separate day of recognition falls short of its well meaning intent.

We weren't welcomed home and that won't change. But in today's calendar happy naming a day for everything from New Year's Day to meat eater's day a day for Vietnam Veterans is almost the same insult that we felt 50+ years ago. It just gets lost among the earth day and and whatever day routine. My opinion may not be appreciated but I feel that we each earned the right to form our own opinion on this subject. I'll stick with Veterans Day November 11 even though my thoughts quite naturally settle on my fellow Vietnam Vets.
 
Rider77 said:
Each Vietnam Veteran has their own view of Veteran's Day and now Vietnam Veteran's Day. I prefer to recognize November 11th each year honoring all veterans and their service. As a Vietnam Combat Veteran the separate day of recognition falls short of its well meaning intent.

We weren't welcomed home and that won't change. But in today's calendar happy naming a day for everything from New Year's Day to meat eater's day a day for Vietnam Veterans is almost the same insult that we felt 50+ years ago. It just gets lost among the earth day and and whatever day routine. My opinion may not be appreciated but I feel that we each earned the right to form our own opinion on this subject. I'll stick with Veterans Day November 11 even though my thoughts quite naturally settle on my fellow Vietnam Vets.
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I'm glad you made it home safe. It breaks my heart for the ones who didn't.
 
Australia has a Vietnam Veterans Day on August 18, being the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
Given the nature of that battle I don't think it's perceived as being anything less than respectful.
Australia and the USA had very different experiences in Vietnam. I believe some US units had losses as high as 300% per annum.
 
Rakaia said:
Australia has a Vietnam Veterans Day on August 18, being the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
Given the nature of that battle I don't think it's perceived as being anything less than respectful.
Australia and the USA had very different experiences in Vietnam. I believe some US units had losses as high as 300% per annum.
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I agree that other countries may hold other dates with special significance as they should. Veterans Day in America honors veterans of all services in all areas. The significance of the date is that it is the 11th day of the 11th year as related to the ending of WW1. One tradition I also like is the placing of flags on the graves of all who served. When you see such a display on Memorial Day as at Arlington or Normandy it is truly inspiring.
 
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