I was a combat medic in Vietnam in 1970, 25 th inf. I have just written a book on my experiences in The CuChi , Tay Ninh Provence. The book to be released in October.Tropical Lightning.God Bless to all who have served…::
I was 17 years old when I got to Vietnam-1966 through 1969 (My mom had to sign a waiver for me), I grew up fast and learned a lot, good and bad. (I am now 73 and still learning). I was stationed on the USS Providence and also stationed in Country at a place called "Monkey Mountain" close to DaNang,. I spent 3 tours of duty in and around Vietnam. 3 of my high school friends were killed in Vietnam, I was spared. I participated in the TET Offensive in Feb 1968, that was bad. Somewhere along the way I was exposed to Agent Orange (Nasty Stuff) I am now on disability for the effects of agent orange. When I was discharged and came home to the States we arrived in San Francisco, and there were a lot of protesters spitting on us and throwing rocks and eggs and called us baby killers. That was our welcome home. I tell you this to say to you, that whatever your position is or was on the Vietnam war, it was not the veteran who got us into the war, most of us went because we were patriots and loved our country. Blame the politicians, yes, but not the veteran. To all Vietnam Vets out there, you are not forgotten. As a previous combat Vet myself, I salute you my friend.
You cannot tell anyone especially a country to not blame the veterans that raped, mutilated, and murdered innocent civilians like in My Lai. No one asked you to be a patriot in a country that was not your own. Yes there were some good veterans that had good intentions, but there were a lot that didn’t. Just keep that in mind when you tell your story, that the story of my people matter too. You lost men. We lost our own as well. You lost friends. We lost family. Babies were killed. The My Lai massacre is something to not be forgotten when talking about the Vietnam war, that was a war crime. So before you say don’t blame the vets, think about that event where we have every right to blame the vets as well as the US entirely.
@@laurentran2728 You have it backwards. SOME had bad intentions, most did not. And they were asked, by the South Vietnamese, who did not want to be crushed by Communism. You blame those that committed the crime specifically. Not all Veterans, Lauren. You need to realize that. You don't blame an entire group for the actions of a few.
@@laurentran2728 As much as I despise how my country fought Vietnam, the Vietnamese weren't perfect either. Both sides committed atrocities, some justified and some not. While we shouldn't forget what happened, we _should_ forgive. I am sorry for what some of our soldiers did in the war, but we should not let the past interfere with peace and prosperity now.
@@laurentran2728 War is cruel. My aunt was an interpreter of Japanese language in Hoc Mon. Viet Cong came to her house at night and take her to somewhere. My mother had to raise her children. We still have no idea what happened to her.
I am Vietnamese, I was born when the war ended, but the pain left by the war for our country is still there. Most Vietnamese families have loved ones killed or injured in the war. My grandfather and my father both joined the war. I hope peace will be forever in our country
@@personofsomething6205 if u dont feel conscript that was FORCED to send into vietnam then something is wrong with u. there is reason why vietnam war protests are one of the largest in history.
@@QWERTY-gp8fd something is wrong with you, people who rejected going to vietnam were sentenced and fined. Only coward will choose to kill instead of going to prison for 2 3 years. REmember Mohammed ALi?
amen...it was a war for personal gaining powers through the lives of these courageous and brave men...they were serving nothing but only the coffers of those in power...rip for the ones who died and for the ones who survived...they have our consideration and thorough respect
Respect for all Vietnam citizens🙏🙏🙏👍. suffering from that insane war. Let,s PEACE and LOVE and UNDERSTENDING, preveil and be our guidance for generations to come! ❤❤❤😇🥰 🙏. From Danmark.
The guy on the ground dying was my Godfather, Marine Corps Major James JJ Carrol. He sacrificed his life to save his platoon. He was my father's best friend growing up.
I WAS A VIETNAM VETERAN. I SERVED ONE YEAR FOR THE U.S. NAVY IN DANANG SOUTH VIETNAM FROM JUNE 1968 TO JUNE 1969. I MISSED THE TET OFFENSIVE BY FOUR MONTHS. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I KNEW ANOTHER SAILOR WHO GAVE ME A JOB MAKING PASSES FOR THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE. I WORKED SIDE BY SIDE WITH THEM. THEY WERE KIND COURTEOUS AND POLITE. THANK GOD THEY CAME TO THE U.S.TO ME WAR IS AN ABOMINATION TO GOD.IT IS SUCH A WASTE OF LIFE. SOON WHEN THE MESSIAH RETURNS WE WILL HAVE PEACE FOREVER.
Sean O'Mara, I served (70-71) in a XXIV Corps, Army Heavy Artillery Unit (8th BN, 4th Artillery, A Btry) on Fire Support Base JJ CARROL along the DMZ. It was accessible on Rte 1 just north of Con Thien, above Dong Ha, above Quang Tri - in northern I Corp. That had been Marine turf until the Army came in after Tet in 68. There weren't that many FSBs named after someone; we knew only he had been an heroic Marine. So now I see him, mortally wounded, in your first photo selected. Bless you all! Welcome Home!!
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis a Seán. That means "May he sit a the right hand of God", Sean (as Gaeilge) in Irish. Sorry for your loss, Mr Harrington look after yourself. Take care lads.
I'm almost 74 years old and I'll never forget being a Marine in Vietnam. We had the Army 101st Airborne temporarily attached to us. They were a great Soldiers. When they left us they shook our hands. They were class
@Ивар Бескостный They were brave men to fight off communists who were killing vietnamese people if they didn't conform to a brutal totalitarian communist regime ! My uncle was kia mid March 1968 at tail end of TET! It was 10 days before my 11 th bday!
When I was 5 my mom had a Time Life book that showed some of these same pictures. As a kid I thought the soldiers looked old. Now that I am an old man they look young. Some pictures never left my mind. The one I remembered is the woman crying over her husband wraped in a plastic. Always felt for her even as a young kid.
When I was in the Army and in combat I thought we looked old enough, you know....grown up. I look back at the pictures today and wow, did we look like kids.
@Common Sense Realist Buddy, I kow exactly how you feel. I got out as a Staff SGT (E-6) Infantry Airborne. My son is the first in 3 generations to become an officer, he is a 1LT and still looks like my little boy. Yes it is strange, scary and sad all one by one, once you think about it. Big hug to you and you and your son, from me. Notionally, of course. Stay safe!
We, as Vietnamese people, were taught so much about the history of the country and the consequences of war, that we all loved peace and wanted to cooperate with every country in the world. The war has taken us too many but enemies in the past can always be Allies and be developed together!
Someone old and wise once said "how can we be friends with a country , when we are arming to destroy it" ? Viet Nam never deserved that war, and the U.S are ashamed of it , and by it!
The biggest empire ever was great Britain, not the UK Scotland Ireland and Wales were of the British empire. lost many wars and fought won many unjust ones as well as some very just ones, My point is every country has a history they would like to sweep under the carpet of time Vietnam is still new when it comes to history-making screw-ups but it will become a thing that happened when we still used real people to fight wars and not just drones.
Sorry I can't speak English. I am using translation software from Google. I am so sorry for your family's loss. War is painful. We hope that we will live in peace forever so that the children can always be happy with their father. greetings from Vietnam
Meco, your words brought immediate tears to me (and I don’t tear up very much). Please know that your father wanted everything for you, your mother and your family. Treasure your mom and dad. Make your life count and be that special person doing good. That would make your family proud and your dad’s short life worth every minute he was alive. Make life count!
@Idk Idk why vietcong go to hell, both vietcong and us troops are in heaven now, they serve their country and sacrifice. The one who wrong here is the us goverment. The way you said prove that you know nothing, just a jerk comment shit on internet or a kid borrow mom's phone.
My heart goes out to everyone in the Vietnam War....My father Javier Ulloa Gonzalez was there 1967-1969. He ended up at Tripler Hospital for 1 year, wounded leg. His leg was at risk of amputation. Luckily, it didnt get amputated...he lived with a nail in his ankle and was able to walk, run...He shared his experiences at war with me. He said it was horrible to see his friends wounded, & pass away. He also saw vietmanese women crying along with hungry children. So much pain on both sides. My father received 2 purple hearts. My mother said he suffered from PTSD. My father passed away in 2000. My father was a respected loving husband, and grandfather. I miss him so much! RIP Papa. I will never forget all the stories he shared about vietnam. All respect to Military of all branches and that served at War & currently serving. ❤
As long as Vietnam is still ruled by the oppressive and exploitive Communist regime, her potential remains greatly diminished. For any 1% that wants to stay, 99% of the population wants to get out, and many have risked their lives doing just that (for example, 39 doomed lives found in UK container truck recently on the news, and that's only what's been reported), unfortunately. Yet another shocking and also recent example is that during the Covid pandemic when almost all countries assisted their citizens with financial aids in one form or another, the corrupt and murderous Vietnamese Commie regime saw it just another opportunity not to help but to exploit its ruled citizens even more, essentially making money over the corpses of its citizens by presumably killing at least 30K of them, due to misdiagnosis and being and cramped into barbwired unhygenic living quarters for isolations, so that they had to sleep on the concrete floors, with inadequate food, water, or medicine, like animals, with the fake nostril Covid test kits, mislabeled as approved by World Health Organization (WHO) in Việt Á scandal, colluded by at least 4 different government agencies (Y Tế , Khoa Học, Công Nghệ, Quân y) and the top Politburo members, including Nguyễn Phú Trọng, Phạm Minh Chính, Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. Murderous Vietnamese Commie regime even had a thug murdered Christian pastor Giuse Trần Ngọc Thanh, like it has done with many other pastors across the nation. There is a reason why the current Commie Vietnam ranks at the bottom of the world in freedom of speech and freedom of the press, barely above Commie China and Commie North Korea. Similarly, its passport ranks at the bottom, 89th out of 111 countries for a reason, barely above North Koea 104th rank. even below many African nations. For comparison, South Korea 2nd rank. That's what Republic of South Vietnam would have likely been ranked among at least the top 10 had it not been invaded and occupied by the North Vietnamese Commie terrorists, aided by Commie Soviet and Commie China. Travelers to Vietnam in her current form (not at all like this before the Communists took over) should keep this in mind. Behind the beauty of the land and smiling faces at popular tourist destinations, there are a lot of darkness and sorrow, horror, and sufferings all over the country.
My great uncle fought in Vietnam. He had a toothache and had to get it pulled. Turns out that when he was gone, his entire squad was wiped out from a VC ambush. So I guess it's not that important to brush your teeth.
My father died on July 5th of this year. He did two tours in Vietnam in 65 and 68. He was Marine infantry. He was a proud Marine served 26 yrs in the corps. Never talked about Vietnam much. Thank you to all that served and sacrificed. Semper Fi!!!
I served in the 23rd Inf Division in Vietnam from March of 69 until October of 70. This brings back a lot of memories both good and bad. I still miss being in Vietnam.
@@angkhoanguyen6114 So if you went through hell, watched friends die, the fear of death at all times and the most disturbing sites ever; would you return?
@@thichchoigame1378 okay lemme translate, my English still bad but i think you can understand by the way, his grandpa had 4 kids in military, after war just only a kid that his father today but he lost a hand during the war We are VCs because we love our country, killing civilians by VCs is mistake or lying by Western Media, things we neva know.
My old man was a Marine in the Vietnam War..my entire life he never said one word about it..he was a rough and tough bastard of a man..but he loved his family more than anything in the world. Even when he struggled with a huge drinking problem that he eventually gave up in his later years he still loved my mom and us kids. To this day and I'm 47 now, he never said a word about it and we were told as kids by our mom not to ask about it..he took those memories to his grave when he passed a little over a year ago.. he's finally at peace with it. I loved my father more than I was allowed to show him..I miss him and one day we will meet up again..God Bless our Marines and Soldiers.
My grandfather is buried outside Belgium Germany at Henry Chapelle cemetery with many of his comrades I have nothing but love and respect for all veterans of our nation God bless you and for those suffering with PTSD. Thank you for all you gave and all your sacrifices we are forever indebted.
My grandfather died in Vietnam and I have all is memoirs. He was a pilot and captain. Died by a lightning strike after landing about a mile away from base. I am an OIF/OEF veteran that served in an air assult/medvac unit with UH-60's. And all I can say is that is a completely different style of warfare. Thank you to the Vietnam vets for all they did and for carrying on with a lack of support. There are things about such experiences that not many will ever understand on both accounts. Your sacrifice was not in vain.
Your Grandfather was a BA. And so are you. ⚔️🇺🇸⚔️ PS: publish Memior. Combine your at end. SHOW PEOPLE Your Truths. Son don’t let his journal gather dust. Yours either. I think/ believe that would be a Hit. 2 Gens in Different Battle yet 🇺🇸
@@N2Mtns2 That's a fantastic idea! I will get started with making a combined story of our experiences in full. Thank you for the advice and genuine way to honor him further. I appreciate you!
@@indiGlo_myco my dads brothers from South Vietnam served during Vietnam, one of the piloted the Hueys and one of the served as an MP. After the VC took over Saigon, my dad flee’d on his boat and decided to go to America. He could’ve served in Vietnam in the military but he was lucky enough to not serve in Vietnam and I was glad about that😀
powerful music accompanying these photos really brings the emotion to the fore of what a terrible period this was.... my whole childhood and teenage years were swamped with the news from Vietnam... I finally visited in 2019.
My cousins husband went off Vietnam did two tours in country.My mom has 8mm camera and filmed him in his uniform getting in a taxi.I was 6 years old the morning he left and I was wearing one of his tshirts as a gown and crying my heart out as he got in the taxi and drove off.He was also my elderly babysitters son so I’d known him all my life he was like a second dad to me.He survived fortunately.but like a lot of young men came back a changed man.
Me being only 37. My dad 75 was in a line in the army. His commanding officer wront numbers on their helmets. Either 1,2 or 3. Ones went to Vietnam, 2 went to Germany and 3 went to someplace else I don't remember. My dad was I person away from Vietnam. When you see any veteran out there do what you can to show you appreciation. I always say thank you for your service. They deserve more than what they have right now. Great video and pics. They were graphic but they showed the truth
@@drgeoffangel5422 Yes Trump, Clinton and Bush jnr too! Whether it's getting family doctors to sign you unfit, fleeing to Canada, or "serving" in the Texas Air National Guard it's always the poor who fight and pay at the sharp end.
My great uncle served in the army engineers. Charlie company. I never got to meet him but he was an awesome person from what my grandfather told me. He saw a lot during the war and he struggled with the memories after the war. God bless all the men and women who served. ❤
Had a Sgt. that served in the 173rd, he fought in the korngal Valley, Afghanistan. Sgt. Savage was his name, good NCO. From one veteran to another, salute.
I was one of the last to get drafted in the early fall of 1972, my lottery number was #93 and at that time they called everyone up to number #95. Luckily, Vietnam was winding down by then for the USA involvement, and after AIT, I was sent to Korea. I served with a lot of Army guys that spent time in Vietnam, and their stories are still very vivid in my mind. Thank you Vietnam vets for your service, you are not forgotten.
My great uncle wasn’t in these pictures, but I’d thought it’d share the short story of my great uncle My great uncle served in the Vietnam War and him and his platoon were taking down enemy troops and were being shot at by enemy fire, when his platoon and him were running back to the helicopter to escape and get away they were getting shot at so my great uncle turned back at the enemies and shot at them until his platoon boarded the helicopter and escaped, he sadly lost his life when he was helping his platoon escape.
I joined the Army in 86' when I went thru any kind of training and was freezing, hungry, in pain, or exhausted...it was these images that reminded me it could be worse. It helped get me thru tough times. later after my time was up and came home the Vietnam vets that I admired never respected my time in service or me as a solider. The hate they carry never seems to go away. My respect I had for them has diminished and I always keep my distance when I hear "they were in Vietnam.
Will you have to understand only a certain amount of US and Marines were actually combat veterans in Vietnam or any other war or conflict some or better came home better than others but you can't layer hat on just one handful of people that did you wrong or were assholes get that straighten your head and you're talking to a jared it seem more s*** than most people could ever imagine Of course that was an Iraq and Afghanistan I'm bitter about some things but I don't throw it on people when I came home
Well buddy, 57000 of my friends and fellow soldiers died and over 340000 wounded. I am a Vietnam infantry vet so I suppose you don't respect me either. You were talking to the wrong VN vets, if they were really Vietnam vets. No one has more respect for the current soldiers then someone who has already been there. It seems to me you are the one without respect, for yourself. You were in the Army in a time of relative calm and no one was saluting you. Well, I think I can speak for most Vietnam vets, I would have gladly traded places with you. Spend one week in that jungle and then come back and talk to me.
@Jack Snow guilty as charged. Guilty in having enough courage to go because I still believed it was the right thing to do. Guilty in being able to understand that sometimes our personal comfort is secondary to duty to your fellow countrymen. Hardly a person I met in Vietnam wanted to be there, myself included. Funny, I don't feel guilty. If I had fled to Canada or someplace and hid out for a few years, I would feel guilty. Did I do anything in VN that violated my personal morals? No. Did I do anything in VN that violated the laws of our country or Vietnams. No. Well, if I think of any reason to feel guilty, I will let you know. Until then I will sleep good every night
Jonolinger, the chances are that these so called Vietnam Vets never saw true combat. I served 18 months in Vietnam with the 23rd Inf. Div. And all the combat veterans I know have great respect for all veterans. Thank you for your service.
The eyes are always haunting. I keep praying that no one ever has to go to war again... But we never seem to learn. To all who served... Thank you. Your sacrifice is remembered and honored.
Americans keep saying " we never seem to learn" yet go on glorifying their war criminals as heroes. Until the day when Americans are tough enough to call a spade a spade, there will still be men and women sent into dumb and pointless wars for the sake of heroism, against people that never threaten American's freedom. We don't see any German (outwardly) call the nazi heroes, because they had enough shame to not do so
All these beautiful young men are now in their 70s and 80s, forever haunted by their experiences. I am one of them. More than 50 years later I am now hearing sounds I remember clearly from those days. My uncles (Marines who fought in the Pacific) said this would happen, and they were right. It never goes away.
Had an uncle that served in what he call security operations. Has never talked about it with no one, not even his own kids. But during his time there, he sent home pictures taken of him at his post and job, with orders on a bulletin board, and shortly after my grandmother received them, certain members of the CIA and army intelligence arrived at her home and took all of them, because nothing yet was declassified as it is today. And one other uncle who served as a combat loadmaster on a c-130 aircraft, plus many other Vietnam vets I worked with and for as well as in the North Carolina Air National Guard with many Vietnam Vets there as well. They never got the recognition they so much deserved.
All I can say is I never sent any pictures home from Vietnam with dead VC.I never wanted my mother to see this stuff.Her and my father were very upset I joined the Marines.I had a camera and sent my film home to be developed and kept there.People that have not been in war can never understand how it changes your out look on life for ever.Semper Fi.
My dad was a swiper on the helicopters. And that is all I was ever told. He never spoke about anything from the war. I imagine things that he didn't want to do. This breaks my heart for both sides. Thomas n. Bourn is my dad.
I would very much thank your dad for his service, certainly doing his part in this eternal battle of good against evil. A lot of sacrifices were made toward the noble goal of world peace against the evil force of international Commie movement. By the way, please never let the leftist anti-war narratives gotten into you. Military interventions, by US or any forces for that matter, should always be judged on its intention and not the outcome which can never be 100% guaranteed to be desirable. US did the right thing by trying to protect Republic of South Vietnam from being taking over by North Vietnamese Commie terrorists, just like it did the right thing to defend South Korea from being taken over by North Korean Commie terrorists, backed by international Commie giants Soviets and China. Communism has always been a global movement, back then and now. Current Commie Vietnam terrorist regime has been Commie China's puppet for decades. The Zionist globalists and their Judeo-Bolshevik terrorists actually created and spread Communism worldwide, and these same globalists and their puppets now became America's domestic enemy even before they stole US election 2020, unfortunately.
I don't know what the word "guilty" is supposed to imply, Mr. Snow, but it doesn't do anything to help the young lady in her seeking the truth. Next time, try to be a little more helpful in your reply! ajh @Jack Snow
Eerie part about this is a lot of pictures were dating in 1968, the year I was born. Just seeing so many different pictures that happened during my birth year is just something to take in.
I was born in 64 and didn't realize life wasn't fairy tales and lollipops and all things sweet and comfortable like you at a later date I found it extremely disturbing what really go's on
@@sillygoose2508 My uncle was kia in SouthVietnams Central Higlands at tail end of TET, MID- 3/1968 , near Pleiku. It was 10 days before my 11th bday. Like it was yesterday !
My Dad's slides are from 68. Used to have travel to go through them just to see if by chance they were in it. So they could prove where they were at. Messed up.
My grandfather told me a story about a solder from Arkansas that was ahead of him claiming a hill and he stepped on a landline and was blown to prices. RIP
At the time, after looking into the situation my Wonderful Father said he had a better idea for me.. Join the National Guard and stay home.. A lot of riots were going on.. Yes, I went to a few of those.. I joined the Military Police and when it all said and done I was in charge of the Honor Guard in my 4 town area.. We did at least 3 funerals a week in which I gave the American Flag to a grieving Mom or Wife..Its a long story but I think you get the point.. God Bless my Dad..
I salute all Viet Nam Vets! What they had to face, endure and survive both "in country" and back home was no small feat by any means! Most unpopular war in the history of our country, but fought by men and boys we should forever be in debt to! I had 2 cousins who served and made it home, but experienced a living hell through the PTSD they suffered from throughout their lives. They're gone now, but NEVER forgotten! I ❤️ you, Benjy and Joe Mahoe (Nanakuli, Hi. The pride of Mano Avenue!) 😘😇
Nope! We are not in debt to them. The only ones who owe to them, are the ones who pressured them to go there. I am greatful for the ones who had the courage to leave off to Canada and for the ones who had to courage to speak out against this unjustifiable slaughter.
@Jack Snow Shhe-hit boy, I don't feel guilty about anything I had nothing to do with. That includes slavery and the Viet Nam Conflict. No white guilt here boyo.
Shout out our troops, on both sides. They died for their families. Not matter what political standpoint.. someone lost a son, a father, a mother, a daughter. Just because they weren’t on our side, doesn’t mean they’re our enemy. I hope peace overwhelms our planet. God bless our veterans
It was the Vietnamese who died fighting to protect their families and to gain independence from the colonial rule and puppet regimes of capitalist countries. The Vietnamese did not invade the US, the US military invaded Vietnam. The families of the American soldiers would have lived in the safety of the United States. The U.S. military intervention in Vietnam began in earnest in 1965 under the pretext of preventing Vietnam from becoming a communist state, In 1976, the "Socialist Republic of Vietnam" was established as a unified state, and in 1995, the U.S. normalized diplomatic relations with Vietnam.
My grandpa was a Vietnam veteran he died 3 weeks ago I remember all the funny scary and epic story's about his time thare Ps thank you to all the vets out thare your legicey and sacrifices will never be forgotten
Sorry for your lost. My dad was in the war too, remember he telling me all about it. He pass away a couple months back. He always tell me he miss his American soldiers friends( yes, my dad was one of the people who help the USA out in the war). May all the soldiers who lose their life do to the Vietnam war and help out may they rest in peace 🙏
Sorry about your loss.... But if a soldier who had weapons and were licensed to kill whom ever he pleased could develop symptoms as bad as your grandpa did.... imagine the victims... all the innocent villagers in Vietnam had to go through in the hands of the likes of your grandpa!
I served in Vietnam with the army in 1969. Severely wounded on December 14th of that year. I came very close to being in one of the body bags and coffins shown in those pictures. The number one goal was to stay alive and get back to the 'world' in one piece.
Amen to that brother. The goddamn Navy assigned me a seat to go to Vietnam in 71. I would undoubtedly have my assigned seat on the plane taking me back to the States again! But not in an aluminum box! ajh
I was a young man of 18 years old when I was sent to Vietnam. My years in school did not teach me anything about what was happening in Vietnam. I knew nothing about the government of the north or south. All I knew was that my country needed me to go over there and kill. They taught me well. I spent 2 years there and luckily I made it home. I lost many friends over there and I left that all behind as best I could. It wasn't until many years later that I came to realize that I needed to reconcile what I had experienced and come to grips with my actions. I have read and researched all sides of the issue and it didn't take me long to realize that the US Government had it all wrong. Ho Chi Minh could have been our ally instead of our enemy. He was a nationalist not a communist. All he wanted was for other countries to stay out of the Vietnamese business. We and they lost so many for nothing. I am sorry for that and will take that to my grave.
Pray to God and ask for forgiveness if you feel guilty of anything you may have done at anytime during your life and in Vietnam. God forgives ALL sins except rejection of his Son and our Savior Jesus Christ, but you have to ask for forgiveness. God promises to forgive our sins, no matter what they are, if we ask for forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ, His Son. God bless you, sir, and welcome home.🙏
So you reenlisted for a 2nd tour, why? How is your comment not reported for misinformation and more? He was sent there, supposedly through the draft but didn't state it, which is for 1 year but he went back again. Anyone believe this?
To all who served.. You will never be forgotten,, you will be remembered.. my brother in law was a navy man and a medic.. he served in combat and also on a hospital ship.. all he would say was man can be so cruel.. he had seen enough stuff done to american soldiers that it messed him up for life..he had a routine every new years eve he did.. he would get drunk and have people hit him in the stomach with a bat.. mind you he was a huge man and tough as nails and it never hurt him.. after a decade he finally told my why he did this..survivors guilt it seems mainly.. he felt bad for those he could not save.. those he was trying to help with one hand and shooting at the vc with the other.. he repeated everyone of their names .. every single soldier that died on him.. he never forgave himself even though he knew many of them couldnt be saved period... so he remembered them and repeated each ones name and rank and date they died...and people wonder why vets have ptsd so bad and have such high suicide rates... my neighbor had to be committed.. he had it so bad.. had an ak round blow his shoulder and elbow apart.. was messed up.. then one day we were sitting outside chatting and having a beer and he flashed back.. was scary shit.. he pushed me to the ground and yelled VC 6 o'clock and pulled out a pistol i didnt know he had and started shooting...a truck in the neighborhood had backfired..man the things you would hear about from nam vets was crazy...they were given no respect and were spat on and called baby killers and lived through hell..i salute them all past present and future soldiers.. men and women... they do something that not manty do.. they sign a blank check with their life to their country to do as they wish with them to serve it..respect.. nothing but.. grandfather served as a glider pilot in ww2 and flew a little cessna as recon in korea.. he did some stuff in nam but mostly training new people to fly here stateside. he was totally against the vietnam war as was the most patriotic man i have ever known..he was old school and never talked about what happened to him in ww2 or korea or his brief stint in nam itself..just always said it was something we should have never been in and we never needed to have boots on the ground there..
My dad has 3 albums full of photos of his experience in country with 1st Cavalry Division 2/12th E-Company (14 months, 9 bases, LRRP patrol for 3 months then Mortar Platoon on bases mostly). He's the first to say it wasn't exactly like the movies. Many days would pass with no activity. Then you'd have chores to do more than anything. Occasional fire fights...if it was like the movies nobody would have made it home he always says. Someday I hope to put them on here with his comments. I need to get his wording for each photo.
When I was little in the early seventies, my dad had a coffee table book from LIFE magazine that was just a compendium of photographs from the 1960's...all manner of life art etc. A lot of these pics were in it.
When I was 8 1965 , my grade schools friends bro. Was sent there near the Mekong Delta with the Big Red One. Later the 9th ID took the Mekong area by early 66.
Currently in the army operating out of Eastern Europe 2CR, INF We often get to meet some of the people from our regiment (retired) who had served in the 101st qnd 82nd (*) during veitnam and the regality and professionalism of some of those men is truly inspiring.
What freedom? Worth it? It's only political game and our American GI diedn for nothing. My friends, my schoomates and my fellow soliders all died or curple for nothing!
@@romanng5516 What about innocent Vietnamese citizens who died during the war? What about the soldiers who sacrificed to protect their country? Did you know that during the war, many people were dying? You want to know what that freedom is? That freedom is the desire to unify the country of Vietnamese people, the desire to restore peace, and the hope that war will end and meet relatives again! "What freedom? Worth it?" You said as if all they had sacrificed over the years to get back what they deserve is just bullshit?? Didn't the United States themselves jump into to separate politics and the country of Vietnam? Didn't the United States stand behind that the Republic of Vietnam? Didn't the United States bomb Northern Vietnam? Do you want to review those images? Residential areas, hospitals, schools, ... just imagine you in that situation! Someone said that the US wanted to stop the communists.? The establishment of the Communist Party of Vietnam is not to confront capitalism. It was founded to regain the independence of the Vietnamese people during the French colonization. The United States participated not for human rights or freedom, all the Vietnamese people were "given" was just bombs and losses. That's why Vietnamese people called the war "The war against America to save the country", and took back independence. That is fighting for Freedom. You understand or not. But anyways, even the American soldiers who participated in the war at that time suffered a lot, they were not aware of the meaningless of the war at first. So I feel sorry for the soldiers, your friends and your families who were forced and reluctant to participate in the war.
@RobotfromouterfuckingspaceThe US entices allies Australia, South Korea ... to join the war in Vietnam. America bombed all over Vietnam. The US launched many military campaigns against North Vietnam. More than 10,000 American aircraft of all kinds were destroyed in the war with the Viet Cong. 85 thousands deaths of USA soldiers in Vietnam. And you say that this war is civil war.
I can speak of that 1st photo. It was September 1966 Operation Prarrie. The photo the black Marine was gunny Purdie, the Marine wounded laying down was unknown but he was alive at that time. The hill was named Mutters ridge or hill 400 on the map. Location was a few clicks south of the DMZ east of Khe Sanh. The Marines in the picture are from 3rd Bn 4th Marines. This hill was connected to another hill 440 via a ridge line. The NVA were from 324B who were present in this area of what we called Leatherneck Square. These two hills were constantly be fought over. We attacked them 66,67 and 68. We left they came back.
God bless all of those brave young men who didn't flee to Canada, who didn't protest those who did fight, and who gave up their youth and their lives for each other. All gave some, Some gave all.
@Rafael Pineda Those military heros.... WON.... the Vietnam War. The SAME people who just lost Afghanistan...also lost South Vietnam...The treasonous Demonicrat Party.
@Rafael Pineda The North Vietnamese refused to sign a peace treaty UNTIL "TRICKY DICKY" nearly leveled their capital city, Hanoi. They had no choice....BUT...to sign that treaty. The American military killed off the Vietcong during their 1968 offensive and American B-52's SMASHED their regular army during their 1972 invasion of the South. They had no choice BUT to end the war. IF Nixon had remained in office those same B-52's would have crushed their 1975 invasion, as well. BUT FOR the intercession of the Democratic American Congress, pulling funding for the South Vietnamese Army...IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 1975 INVASION...and that same Congress' refusal to provide funds for those B-52 strikes, in 1975...there would STILL be a South Vietnam. That anti-American military "theory" you propose is the result of anti-American military propaganda promoted by America's enemies (and I INCLUDE in that list of America's enemies...the Democratic (Communist) Party of the USA.
@Rafael PinedaThat was the SOUTH VIETNAMESE army...NOT the US Army. The South Vietnamese troops had no alternative when they ran out of ammunition because of the Demonic-rat Congress' treachery.
Proud about him? Do you know which terrible war crimes they committed in Vietnam.? They, the Tiger brigades are used by the USA as mass killers in many small villages in South Vietnam. 500 villages with killings like in My Lai.
I am Marine veteran who served one tour,thanks but I really wish somebody give the ARVN's some credit.They did do a large share of the fighting, and did lose over 200,000 men.
@Mike Zielinski and thats how a war criminal talks.. millions were killed and displaced, screw you and your country.. how many great civilizations were destroyed before, dont you ever learned??? Why are you so proud?? Freedom?? Bullshit, just admit its for the resources...
I’ve seen photos of this war that a friend of mine took while he was fighting over there in the early 1970s. Those photos could never be shown on RU-vid. They’re much too horrifying and ghastly for a child to see. A lot of terrible things went on during that war and my friend captured some of it on film.
I was still at school in England when the Vietnam War began, a terrible time, a terrible war. I remember how difficult it was for the American's to tell them apart, they just kept saying 'they all look the same' - no offence meant. I think everyone had it hard there. I always think of it as a war that had to be fought and a war that couldn't be won. I read so much about it and had sympathy for both sides and couldn't help thinking as I checked these photos, if I was looking at "dead" people, people who got lost or who somehow were unable to find their fellow soldiers? So many fathers, sons, brothers, friends lost and so young. So brave, few I think had any nerves or they would never have been able to continue. Only adrenalin kept them alive.
I like this music better than the other one. It is very fitting as it is a very emotional piece of music and it goes very well with the subject at hand. One of the main reasons I watch.
Such A haunting war. My dad was a Master Drill Sarge. He served 2 tours of duty near the Southern part of the Mekong Delta. I was born in 1967. so many of these soldiers were just a year or two over being a teenager. WAR IS HELL.
My Uncle was a Sargent Major and did two tours of Vietnam . He didn't talk about it much . But you could tell it wore on him. He would only talk about the funny things like the pet monkey they had in the camp. He had nerve damage from the chemicals. RIP uncle Tom.
Seeing pictures like this, makes me know I was very lucky to be stationed on an air base…Chu Lai 68-69 1st MAW MAG 12. Sometimes I feel guilty about it but it was just in the cards that I got that duty. To those who came back, WELCOME HOME Brothers and Sisters. To those that didn’t, SALUTE and RESPECT.
mankind will never learn , being sent to the slaughter house by the ones in CHARGE ,( the buck stops here ones) by the way , the music is shockingly beautiful , gonna download it . thanks.
I truly believe that people in upper class and beyond will never understand.....we deal with small battles inside our own country and it absolutely relates....I'm soo thankful for my freedom but I also realize the cost way more than the upper echelons will ever know!!! That could have been us....
I was 18 years old when i arrived into the gulf of tonkin in 1970 aboard the uss John Hancock aircraft carrier man was it hectic even then i am a blue water soilor and damn proud of it !
Gunny Purdie ( RIP ) was my ROTC commander at Saint Pius X high school in Piscataway NJ. He was one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the honor to have known.
He passed away already? I wonder if him and his buddy in the photo ever got back together after the war. Nice that you met a hero in person. I too, met one....the American pilot that got shot down in Bosnia.
@@thehumanityoflife6460 he passed away quite a few years ago from cancer I’m told. He was my ROTC commander in 1984 - 1986 . I was told he passed from Gunner Jack C. Wing who was my other commander of that time period who I still keep in contact with.
My dad was in Vietnam in the Navy "river rat" devision. He told me alot of stories and so did his other Vietnam buddies. Shit sounded nuts and after looking into alot of what he told me is still nuts to this day. He told me how they went through Snoopy's nose and had one of the first flamethrower things mounted onto their boats. It was more like lava to burn the banks incase people were hiding out and he often talked how snipers would actually target the propane tank things that were on the boats. There was even a VHS that he made me watch to show how close they were actually fighting and what they did. Its crazy to think they were just cruising up the narrow rivers with enemies all around them. Also a story from one of his buddies that was crazy, is he was a chopper gunner to provide support for mainly the boats incase shit got too hot. Dad also showed me an (IMO) kind of an awsome band called Country Joe and The Fish. I catch myself singing the "all gonna die" song. I miss that bastard.
The first photo the Marine with the glasses is a ex coworker named Darrell, he told of some storys of the war. I couldnt imagine anyone going through. Especially a kid right out of High School.
Todays troops has all sort of protection and equipment not underestimating the equally lethal counter forces but these men were all bare and fought raw both in ww2 and later wars a testament to their true warrior spirit
My father and his brothers were in the Vietnam war. They were drafted from D’Hanis, Texas. His name was Jesus Valentine Frias. Unfortunately my father passed away when my mom was 6 month pregnant. I would love to know if anybody knew my father. Thank you for your time and sacrifice given to this country.
Life is not perfect. There will be war and rumors of war. God Bless the American soldier. I served as a proud Army Medic and chose not to run to Canada as many did. I can look in the mirror and not see a coward. If called upon, I would do it again.
I joined in summer 72 went to medic school and was stopped from going by Nixon he closed all the Army AIT schools on 12 /20/72. I graduated on 6 jan 73
Ok I was born in 63 I didn’t know about the Vietnam war I was young then I had met a vat from Vietnam who was burned from shoulder down the back didn’t know he came from Vietnam some years later I joined the army and my DI’s were from Vietnam I got the best training I ever got and I got to say is welcome home you all did a fine job to all the Vietnam vets
The marine in the river carrying I believe a mortar tube and shell. That was the same photo used for the book cover for the journal of Patrick. S Flaherty a marine in Khe Sanh 1968
My dad served in Korea in 1952 at 17 then Vietnam 15 years later. He was 30 years old! He served 1966 to 1969. He came home in 1970. I was 3 at the time. I was 8 when dad and I watched Saigon fell. That was the first and last time I saw him cry. I hugged him a long time and SAID dad you did your best The VC and: the NVA wanted the country as a whole. The South Vietnamese didn't want to fight for their freedom. He smiled at me and hugged me. I go your cousin made it home to in one of peace to.i was happy for that!12 years later I was in the Marines likes Dad and my Uncle to. 1987to 1991. I was a recon sniper I saw my share of crap to.
I could never understand this conflict. I was born late 65 but saw the movies later than glorified the conflict. I'm a Canadian and not pretending to know anything about it. War memorial says it all. 58000 brave souls.
Slimy politicians making decisions that only affect them in the ballot box. We were all duped and believed our government was "doing the right thing". I have never trusted the government since the Vietnam War. Last war we should have been in was WWII. THAT being said, it is no disrespect to the guys that were drafted and forced to go there, thinking they were actually being patriotic. That war changed us forever.
They sold it under the idea of sttoping spread of communism(too little to late) then it got drug around in to. a political war that they didnt want to win it would upset the bolshavics and the secret money people that where in the arms business right here at home who didnt want the war to end...cant sell bullets when you arent shooting them...my uncle was a sky soldier 173rd IBCT THE HERD. And 504 MPs gave three tours over there...hes🇺🇸🇺🇸👆 got a few buddies on that wall
My dad was a US Marine….a first day lander on Tarawa 2nd Marines Red Beach 2, seriously wounded….reassigned to the USS Intrepid, wounded again on 25 November 1944 on the day Kamikazes hit CV 11…..recovered and fought in the Okinawa battle…..he always had respect and reverence for the combat veterans in Vietnam…..he knew what they went thru…..
As a 17 year old Marine back in 69 I barely missed this, I know a few who didn't. Greatly appreciate the Reality which is so seldom seen, We had WW2, Korea & Vietnam from the 40s - 70s, We were susceptible to the Draft Lottery back then. War is big Business for the Elites thats why they start them. Not so much fun at the end of the gun barrel either end.
I was in a Veterans support group and all of us had served in Vietnam. One Vet said that we would have won if the enemy had fought it like a real war. When I told him that's what the British said about the Colonial army in 1776 he said that the Viet Cong drug off their dead and wounded so we couldn't get an accurate body count. All I could do was ask him how many of our wounded and dead did we leave behind. We lost that conflict and it stung our John Wayne all American pride. What we forget is that most GIs were only there for a year. A few guys volunteered for two and three years. The North Vietnamese and Viet Cong were there for the duration and were fighting for their home. We would do the same. Many Vietnamese still have to live and deal with the consequences of Agent Orange.
Puno- ahh was on a sheep farm in new zealand where agent orange was used in 1970's and we had too kill all the lambs as they were born with out any anus or vaginas. the spray got into the ewes food supplys
The United States sprayed the Agent Orange during Operation Ranch Hand. The U. S. Air force sprayed 11 million gallons of Agent Orange and 8 million gallons of other herbicides from 1962 to 1971.
"Thank you for your service." Why this statement? Where did it come from? This statement started to come about in the 90s after the !st Iraq War and numerous smaller engagements. People started making this statement of thanks to troops in large part due to memories of our poor treatment of soldiers that fought in Vietnam. Vietnam Vets didn't receive thanks. They were spit on. Feces were thrown at them. They were called "Baby Killers" and treated as pariahs. Every time I am thanked for my service, I think of the Vietnam Vets and the Korea Vets (Soldiers of the forgotten war). That thanks is for them. -Born in Saigon during the War. -Served in the US Army 82nd Airborne, 3-504th PIR C Co '91-'95 Thank you for your service.
They are baby killers, America has sent destruction upon 10s of countries post WW2. It's time to wake up, WikiLeaks have been working to declassify alot of documents that otherwise wouldn't have been seen. You've killed 1 million poor Iraqis alone, yet you're oblivious to why the world hates you and your America. Also honest question, what did the troops sacrifice their lives for? Freedom? really? Or did they sacrifice their lives because of a greedy government that has an interest in destabilizing half of the world. Time to take responsibility and have an honest discourse.
@@bluecat447 barely any Korean War vets did that, it's very ignorant to say all 1.8 million Korean War vets raped people. Hell most of them didn't even come in contact with civilians, most came in contact with Chinese and North Korean troops
@@manoflipful you know that only around 450,000 have died in Iraq, and 240,000 were civilians. But guess what, 120 thousand of them died when ISIS began making their mark, and it's reported that ISIS was responsible for basically every civilian death in Iraq in late 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. Which those years combines is around 100,000 civilian deaths, with late 2014 and 2015 having about 50,000 civilian deaths. That's just the ISIS insurgency, the Iraq War from 2003-2011 had around 120 thousand civilian deaths as well. But around 20,000 of those deaths were executions by Al-Qaeda, AQI, or insurgents. Around 40,000 died to suicide bombings, roadside bombs, and IED's. A mere 3,500 died to US airstrikes, and around 11 thousand died during small arms fire between coalition forces and insurgents. You're not even looking at the facts, you just looked up the death toll in Iraq (which wasn't even the right number, the total death toll from the wars in the Middle East add up to 1 million) and automatically assumed the US killed every single person.
I feel at that this war should have never happened. But it did. We lost so many men with promising lives. Families lost their love ones. Innocent young children. My husband lost one of his best friends in Vietnam. My heart goes out to everyone. I thank the soldiers for their service and fighting for our country. To the families who lost loved ones. God Bless you all❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💗💗
Every time I hear how Americans lost their loved one in that war I never hear not a single word of regret for killing thousands of innocent Vietnamese people. All Americans regret is they lost that war. That's why I can't feel sorry for your losses.
I am very sorry to hear that you feel that way. It is sad that slot of Vietnamese lives were lost. I undetdtsnerstand the losses were great and that was a tragedy. But you need to und
That this is American soldiers that fought to keep us safe and protect us so no harm would come to us. We need to respect what was lost Americans men and women. I believe that during the war and after the American military provided medical schooling plus much more to the Vietnamese people. They were not forgotten. They were helped by people who cares. Everyone is entitled on how they feel. I just wanted to share how the Vietnamese families were not forgotten.
First of all the war should have never taken place. A lot of lives were taken on both sides. I am not making excuses for anyone. Are soldiers had to do what they needed to do to stay alive. The American soldiers didn't know who was a n innocent person and who was Vis Kong. The Via Kong used the innocent men woman and. children to help kill the American soldiers. It was heart breaking for the children but it is also no excuse for the American soldier to just to kill for the heck of it. Not all American soldiers did that. As far as I am concerned the American soldiers did what they could. From running water. Medical care etc. We will always have different opinion s about the war. It is sad that it happened
Jack b beers was my great uncle. He was killed in action in vietnam in 1969. The radio guy was fatally wounded and my great uncle already having been shot crawled to the radio and continued calling in airstrikes until he was fatally wounded. He and his platoon were ambushed. The screaming eagles helped his platoon get home.
