I was a combat medic in 1968 it was rough wasn’t prepared for what I had to go through,I did my very best help a lot of guys make it back home by the grace of God .
Was a medic/EMT in 75 and my first partner on Ambulance Crew was a Vietnam Veteran ( medic). I can't imagine what you went through trying to save lives. I know the soldiers over there were glad that you were there. I'm glad you made it back and Welcome Home!
The soldier they called Lurch defiantly accept what Ronald Spiers said. “The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function: without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it.”
Many nights, laying in the dark, it all seems like yesterday. The sounds and smells of gunfire, exploding artillery, men screaming, choppers overhead. The adrenaline rush of bailing out of a helicopter, hitting the ground running for cover, then waiting for the first shot. Nothing in my life has ever come close to it or the bond with your brothers. And now living with what we did.
@@CODMASTA No one loses. Political issues determine a wars outcome. Soldiers go to combat and after a time it’s how do they survive. Politicians pick the opposition no soldiers do. If considering an outcome looking at who politicians pick. Vietnam Afghanistan went to the people there who said yes to Dod and corruption fostered by it. To believe it look at the outcome in Eastern Europe The outcome will depend on the politicians and the determination of the population not soldiers. So saying soldiers lost depends whether you participate or stand on the side lines. I can stand on the side lines can you?
My big brother Dennis g warfield was KIA, in the jungles of Vietnam, ben hoa , BIG RED ONE, DELTA CO, RIP BIG BROTHER, God bless all who SERVED in Vietnam
@Michael Stratton, was watching this video and reading the comments. I went to thewall-usa.com/ and looked up your brother, i see he was from Pontiac MI, i am from Michigan as well, very sorry for your loss. I hold Vietnam Veterans in the highest regard, especially the 58,276 Men and Women whose names are on the Wall inDC.
I relate very much to everyone's story here. I myself served in Vietnam 1968/69 first as an 0311 Grunt Rifleman, then a M79 man with Hotel Company,2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division. Later after 2nd Heart, I was transferred to 5th Marine Headquarters Co, Scoutsniper Platoon. As a Scoutsniper I work with Mike, Indian Co 3/5 & Echo, & Fox Companies 2/5. and in between I volunteered to work with the local anticommunist Vietnamese militiamen the RF and PF forces who protected their own villages and Hamlets.
Mortars scared the hell out of me. You never knew where the next one was going to land. Then when they found the range they would start walking the rounds in on ya
what's so heroic about invading countries and killing civilians, spraying agent orange chemical weapons high above from the heli? I guess your mamma didn't teach you the difference between cowardice and heroic. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vZmNF6_rhNc.html
Every veteran starts as an FNG or “Cherry” my dad served two combat tours in 68 and 69 the advice my dad gave me when I was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant was good he told me to always listen to your NCOs especially senior NCOs because they’re the backbone and I have to give credit where it’s due the reason I was a successful commissioned officer because I served with great NCOs through my career.
My pop was a mustang officer much respected by his men, especially the NCOs. The military didn’t see it way however and he retired after 20 as a light colonel. Good on you sir.
My grandson is a 1LT ABN guy. I told him to make no decision without input from the NCO's. I was a SGM back in the day. Viet Nam 65-66 Infantryman/Interpreter.
Damn brother. Hell I only did 3 tours in Iraq and that fucked me up to this day. Almost 15yrs later. At the time I was numb to it all and didn't honestly think I had issues. As time went on I got worse. It's a vicious cycle. I get all worked up and then get pissed because I cant control myself from getting worked up. It's draining. Best of luck to you and thank you for clearing the way.
I will always have the NAM Vet’s back with much love thank you guys. When ever I see a man wearing a Vietnam Veterans I wanna shake his hand and give him a big hug.
Your fellow countrymen and women owe each and every Vietnam veteran a huge debt of gratitude. I was born during the war,, and I would like to Thank each of you for your sacrefice. Someday, I hope I am well off enough to have a beer or coffee with each one of you. You are all heroes!
Cold War era vet here. MAD RESPECT AND HONOR to the Brotherhood of the Viet Nam War fighters. You were my Cadre during my enlistment and the stories I heard were both inspiring and pitiful.
I was born in '67 and still remember when we found out on Christmas Eve that my uncle died in Vietnam. I watched my wonderful grandmother grieve for the rest of her life. Fortunately she was still around when I named my son after my uncle. More people need to be watching these stories so we don't get too caught up in the " glory of war" and let our government send our young men to fight regardless of the will of the people.
I KNEW a simple soldier boy Who grinned at life in empty joy, Slept soundly through the lonesome dark, And whistled early with the lark. In winter trenches, cowed and glum, 5 With crumps and lice and lack of rum, He put a bullet through his brain. No one spoke of him again. . . . . You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye Who cheer when soldier lads march by, 10 Sneak home and pray you’ll never know The hell where youth and laughter go.
When I was 5 my grandfather lived in an old hotel in downtown San Diego. My father said to me that the 4 old men on the couch in the lobby where there was a community tv were soldiers from the civil war. To this day I like to link my history from seeing civil war vets to our current vets. History has become my hobby and I was lucky enough to see someone who was part of history as I was in Vietnam. Our military is the backbone of our freedom.
The Vlet Nam War....The finest military force ever created wasted on poor leadership by our government.No it is and will cont. to be the most important war we ever won by losing it.The effects of the Vietnam war changed man's total society and beleifs to an enlightenment and elevated consiousnes .The war was a huge lesson learned that probably saved man from destrloyingj himself.
All you Vietnam Vets thank you for your sacrifices , I was stationed at Edwards AFB also CAMP JOHN HAY Philippines during Vietnam Nam war as a dependent .
These comments...heavy and real...my Uncle Chuck died in Vietnam...my Grandmother went insane from grief. He was 24...such a huge loss for all...you never know what might have been... Thank you for sharing your stories... you are heard...
Us Army Fort Polk 5th inf 79 - 81. Never saw any battles. I consider myself blessed. But I still served. And thank you to all my brothers who served and fought. God bless you men and women.
Every War is crazy in its own way.My Father fought in the Korean War.They call it the Forgotten War.Watching my Father have flashbacks as a young boy,I know it is everything but forgotten.
My grandfather who was a sole survivor in ww2 told me join the navy and see the world,join the army and dig it up, so 22 years in the navy was my payment for his sacrifice.
Them Marines were something else ...Much Respect for Devil Dogs they'd fight the enemy to the death with a Rock or stick tooth and nail...Marines Never Die they go onto Guard the gates of heaven and hell
My father served 101st Airborne 63-65. many of his friends died over there...i wanted to join when i was 18 n he didnt let me. 22ys later and i regret not joining..I'm very angry .the most i can say i did was work on ground 0 in my city of NYC doing the clean up......Hats off to all who served💪
I can understand. I'm about to turn 46 in two weeks and to this day, I regret not serving my country. Considering I was somewhat shy growing up and had bad eyesight, it just didn't occur to me to enlist.
God bless all the young men who were there .how the he'll did you get through all the pain and heartache ? You all should be put on the highest that there is .god bless you all .
Loved the Jungle couldn’t stand the Mortar Magnets inside the Wire must admit being cold and Wet 24/7 and starving was a little uncomfy...India 3/26 O311 I Corps 1968
That is about how I remember Vietnam. 2ndBatt,4th Marine Regiment.I CORP. Way up north. I was a grunt medical corpsman in Echo company. Wounded in Dec. 1966. Evacuated to Naval hospital in Yokouska, Japan.
It was hard but so were we . I have always been proud of my time with the 173rd , it has made me the man that I am today . God bless the Hurd . A Co. 3/503. 67-68 .
I was too young to go, born in 69, but I had uncles and cousins over there. I served later but all my life the Vietnam war intrigued me. I read books about it from people who were there. My father and uncle went to sign up and volunteer but they wouldn't let my dad in because he had flat feet. My uncle was an Army medic and did 3 tours, and another of my uncles did 2 tours. I have twin uncles that both went into the Navy, one served on a Destroyer and the other was on a crash crew on Midway, the half way point to Vietnam. I have mad respect for all soldiers who served in this war. America owes you all.
Fate is a strange thing. So glad I missed out of the whole affair. In high school wondering what's going to happen. Will the war end? It seemed like it'd been going on forever and not going to stop. A friend of mine got a draft notice but I did not and then it was "over". Never did get a draft anything. My friend still carries his draft card. At first I felt like I'd missed out of an adventure even ignoring my dad's total opposition to the war. He was a rifleman in Korea with the 7th Inf Div and that experience turned him into a total isolationist. Over the years I ended up talking with several hundred Vietnam vets, mostly combat. I finally realized how fortunate I was. My hat's off to the guys who went.
I was a shotgun rider on a Huey in Vietnam. Me, my crew chief & the peter pilot used to sing “Fortunate Son” by CCR while we loaded our weapons before we lifted off on a mission. It really freaked out the FNG/Cherries we were transporting to their LZ, my crew chief said he saw one cherry pissing in his new crisp starched fatigues, HA! I know we ALL started out as FNGs, but it’s fun when you’re not one anymore. (only my opinion, chill) SGT. M.S. “Archangel” Smith, M-60 Door Gunner, Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) An Khe, Vietnam, Republic of -1969-
Welcome home! Live your life the way everyone of you hoped for when you came home. THAT'S how you address that kind of guilt. And when you do, think of those guys and imagine they are with you and see if you don't crack a smile. It's like make-believe when we're kids. You knew there weren't really magicians and dragons and such, but you pretended to fight those things. Now, every time you cast your line into the water on a fishing trip, just imagine those guys are there too.
I feel you. I served in Iraq and survived some absolutely stupid shit, and I'm still here. I think of my family: both my Grandfathers and my oldest Uncle were WWII vets, my step- father was a Korea vet, 4 of my uncles are Vietnam vets, and my oldest cousin ( son of my oldest Uncle) are Vietnam vets. Growing up, I never doubted them nor questioned their still being with me. I was thankful to have them in my life and making me the man I am today. YOU are that Man to your family. You, my Family, and even me... we owe it to our Brothers to be the best goddamn Men we can be. We show what Love, Responsibility, and Duty looks like to future generations. I'm sorry if I haven't explained myself well enough.
Matthew Stewart, our cousins down under stood firmly with the GI’s in nearly every dust-up we took part in. Good troops, tough bastards. Taught me repelling from a chopper. I love the way they started off an evening patting you on the back and ended the evening patting you on the nose. Too right, Mate.
Robert Mills if there’s one truth out of all that we were ever told it’s certainly this one “ you take the boy out of the battalion but you’ll never take the battalion out of the boy “ ! Airborne Death from above Old Faithful 👍
I served with G/3/11 1st Mar. Div. I Corps Vietnam. 1969-1970 Golf Battery 105mm Howitzers and we supported M/3/7 and other grunt companies from Hill 10 and other fire support bases in I Corps. As a new guy i was shown every thing one needs to know about fire missions. I learned and admired all the guys on our gun crew as they had much more time in-country. There's a learning curve on how to act and be able to perform at all hours and days during fire missions. A 24/7 work day/nite. There was a saying:"don't worry they can only kill you once." And, there it is. I took every task and did the best job i could. One was judged on their proficiency every day. We flew out to LZ Pony and LZ Bushwhack during the summer of 1969. Our guns were accurate and ours was made At Rock Island Arsenal 1942! I am proud to have served in the USMC in Vietnam. Our guns saved many 0311's grunts from ambush gone bad to danger close fire missions. Semper Fi...
After serving 2 tours in a SOG my best friend came home and was met at airport by two CIA suits looking to recruit soldiers with a special talent. He said no thanks, I’ve done enough killing. Love the Warriors Hate the Wars
@@troyseals8646 Special Operations Group. Spent a lot of time in Cambodia and Laos doing what his country asked him to do. Suffers from PDST but won’t deal with it although I’ve tried to help him these past 50 plus years. It’s amazing he lived through the situations he was involved in.
@@troyseals8646 His military records were off limits and secured by our government for 20- 25 years. That alone speaks volumes of what and where he was.
like the first time I was the projectile man on a 5 inch gun. An E4 gave me about two minutes worth of instructions and we were off and gunning targets. No one yelled at me, so I must have been doing it right. )
Listening to these stories really put things into perspective. You meet a new guy at work, and he’s a headache. These guys meet a new guy, and he’s a headache that could get himself or somebody else killed. All the respect in the world to all the servicemen and women and to the veterans.
I never had the chance to be an FNG, I came in as a replacement 2 days before the battle of Dia Do when 2/4 went against a whole NVA Div. Three days late and around 50% of us dead or wounded I was an old guy.
As a 70 yr old Vietnam veteran i have a dream that when a war is started that all parents, grandparents, everyone will stand and say no,there's been enough blood shed, guess as a old man i can dream on.
I did a jungle warfare exercise and really patrols in Belize jungle. Respect to these men its hard going. We lost 5 men to disease and fatigue in one week. As a british infantry soldier one of the most challenging places to soldier. I can see why all british infantry units get sent to train in the jungle, its a special skill. I think because of Malaysia and Burma wars in the past where we won us gorilla warfare, we continue this process. It would of been good to see british troops in vietnam supporting the Americans. We could of bought that knowledge. Respect to these guys 🙏
Excellent , just an excellent job on this film . If any vets see this , " Welcome home and thank you " . Dad was a WW II POW and got home after everyone else , no parade , no thank you and no one cared . I know from my dad how that feels .
The 173 Airborne Brigade was one of the first deployed to Vietnam and also one of the first to return (1971) under Nixon's "Vietnamization" of the war. The 173 Airborne saw a very large amount of action over the course of its deployment.
I have served 22yrs in the Army. My hero's have always been the Vietnam Veterans! When I was with 5th Special Forces we had some Vietnam vets come in and speak to some of our ODA detachments. I had tears when they finished! My father served in Vietnam also with 5th group. You guys are true American Heros! I just finished my 8th tour in the AEO this will be my last. The words of those Vietnam vets got me through the fucking hard times. I love and respect all you men who fought in that hell! Forever you are my Heros
Hey you are supposed to leave that past there and relive the past that brought you misery so you can learn from it and move forward with your life I have 2 regrets in life treating the beautiful women in my life with no compassion.until it was too late.
My heart goes out too all those that served and made it home and prayers go out to the family and friends of those that did not M.L.L.H.and Top RESPECTS.
Everyone is an FNG when they first arrive in-country. It is not like you had permanent old guys and permanent FNG's. It's a cycle. With time, the FNG's that make it, become the old salts, and the old salts rotate back to "the world". If you were an old guy, you just prayed the FNG didn't get you killed before he got broken in enough to know what he was doing, and the FNG is praying he doesn''t killed for the next 365 days--or 13 months if you were a Marine.
Bread, that is an excellent way of identifying the usage of the terms. However, "Old Guys", would eventually give way to "Short-Timers" (30 days or less remaining). That is how I recall it in the USMC, 68/69.
The American fighting man in Vietnam we will never forget he has earned our respect with his blood and asked only for our friendship and understanding in return. Thank you all for your service !
Really??!! In what way they are Heroes?? please explain more... I respect a fellow Veteran but I don't think that they were Heroes in any way, unless killing villagers and raping little girls is your concept of being a Hero.
We served proudly! I thank God that I came back without a scratch. In our company we had 60 % walking wounded.. The real heroes are the ones that gave all RIP. Bco. 2 Battalion 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. 173rd Airborne Brigade VN.
Very true, much needed & appreciated. But it would have been better to have received them while out on an operation rather to have them waiting for you when you got back to the CP. Oh yeah, PLEASE don't send us Fruit Cake!!!!!!
I would love to see the look on your face during contact. I know you weren’t there if you can make a statement like that. You somehow think it was the right thing to put still another human through that meat grinder. Why? Valor? Glory?
@@garypedigogaeu5787 none of those reasons you stated. Because your country called, that simple. Your right I wasn't in Vietnam I was 5 when it ended. My father was killed in country in 1970. I was orphaned that same year. So watch what you say about it. There's no greater thing anyone can do than defend those who can't defend themselves. I don't really believe communist would have taken over everywhere but I do believe Vietnam played a huge role in the cold War and helped keep governments from using nukes. These proxy wars were just enough to keep the two big dogs from going head to head and probably fucking us all into oblivion. I grew up one of three white kids in my class, Detroit may not be Nam but in the 80's it was the murder capital of the USA, and I dodged more than a few bullets just getting home from school. Anyway, it's just my opinion I'm not forcing nothing on anyone. Take care. GOD BLESS AMERICA
Jeesuz, between my dad as an infantry machine gunner in Guadalcanal and me as an Infantry paratrooper in Panama you all did a hell of a job in a shitty decade! Big airborne salute to you all Vietnam Veterans for sure and heartfelt too. Rock on Big Green.
Lifers. With a low probability of surviving but better than the less trained. You either learned fast or died even quicker. I was in the Navy as a gunners mate. 72 to 74. USS TRIPOLI LPH 10. Concussion destroyed my brain and I had to grow a new one. My hearing is comprised still.
After 6 months of training and fully equipped, I went on my first patrol and was going up the trail when I realized I had no idea what to do, no one in front or behind said a thing, I felt completely lost. Ambushed the first day, dusted off the second day and all I could think was, I have 350 to go. And the Kool aid thing, people at home thought I was kidding when I asked for it. I made the bugs you swallowed taste a little better.
danbeau, My first night on guard with my new company, I was in a bunker doing perimeter guard in an LZ before first CA into the field. I sat there in the dark on wondering if the concertina wire 30 feet in front of me was all that separated the enemy from myself. Surely there had to be something else out there between us. lol. No. I was a grunt. There was nothing else out there to protect us, but us grunts.
The best part s of this, to me, are the personal snippets left. Please write these down for the future generations, it's important to keep it alive. I can see the emotions in your words. Thank you.
US Army, 1968-75. Consecutive on the ground.... III Corp Nam.69-71.. I was with IIFFV ... D-71st Quad 50s and attached to B Btry 5th and the 2nd Dusters( "Nickel Deuce") . I don't read much poetry but one poem always stuck with me. It is over 100 years old and written by Kipling..I want to share it with ALL who served...no matter the war.. Rudyard Kipling Tommy I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer, The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here." The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die, I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I: O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away"; But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play, The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play, O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play. I went into a theatre as sober as could be, They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me; They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls, But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls! For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside"; But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide, The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide, O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide. Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap; An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit. Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?" But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll, The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll, O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll. We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too, But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you; An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints, Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints; While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind", But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind, There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind, O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind. You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all: We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational. Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace. For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!" But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot; An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please; An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As true today as then. Today I am 71 and am 100% disabled but...always given the chance I would serve again. I joke with the Youngsters and tell them... set me at a point with one "Ma Deuce" and a pile of ammo with plenty of places to piss and I will hold them off LOL... I can still handle "Beans and MFers"
I have a uncle who was in Nam. During family reunions I'd sneak out on the porch and listen to him talk with my great uncle who was in ww2 and fought in the battle of the bulge and my mom who was in the air force during nam and see him crying and my great uncle consoling him. When they seen I was there my mom would jump my shit then send me away. She'd later explain to me a bit of what he went thru and that great uncle Richard was the only one he'd truly open up to about his experiences. Love those men hard core tough guys. God bless all the men who have seen combat true horror.
I love the fact Big and Rich made a story about these guys and this unit. 173rd Airborne! By watching this clip, and learning about a few of these men, discovering "Lurtch", and hearing his job as The guy who could get you through the jungle, as he experienced 3 years in it, and to hear him discuss how he felt about it, is very moving. Him and these men, ARE true heros of America. THEY served and protected this country's values, and believed in helping other nations do the same. Thank you for your service guys. You are our heros, for sure.
RIP Uncle Jim, wish I could have met you. I’m glad God gave me the opportunity and ability to visit the Wall in D.C. It was raining very hard that day and I was getting frustrated that I couldn’t find your name but I eventually did. I’ll never forget that day. Looking forward to meeting you one day in Heaven. James “Jim” Reynolds 3/5 Marines, Mike Co. Died 1968
