Lost Generations 

I’m a veteran of the Vietnam Nam War . When I arrived home at the airport no body gave a dam about what I’ve through. I was nineteen years old when I got drafted . It was my first time really sent away from home. It was one hell of experience. My friends at home had nothing to do with me when I came home. My only friends are veterans to this day because we all have something in common to matter what branch the are from. Thanks for your vlog and have a Merry Christmas stay save my friend.

This is the most well balanced channel for young people I have found. You’re not over the top with your takes, you’re not driving a flashy car and you’re not selling any e-courses. It’s nice.

My father was an angry abusive drunk. So was his dad, and his dad’s dad, and so on. I don’t hate my father for. I feel sorry that he went through that and didn’t know better. I am breaking the cycle with my own children.

My daddy was real quiet. Passed away in 2017. He’d married a psychopath. He stayed & stayed. Only now with internet, I figure it all out. I feel so bad for him, because he basically just lived in his bedroom because she’d humiliate him in all kinds of ways. It breaks my heart. I loved him the most, he showed me peace, and the beauty of nature, and provided it all. He got took, and stayed. He didn’t have a clue the reality of the abuses he was in. It’s hurts.

Fifteen years ago I was sitting at my desk and my 18 year old son came in and sat down. I asked him what he wanted and he told me that he wanted to go into the Airforce and become a medic who jumps out of a hovering helicopter on the battlefield to treat and rescue the wounded. For a moment I couldn't breathe. I felt horror come over me. I remembered my time as a crew chief and door gunner in Vietnam when I was 18 years old. In an instant I recalled raising him from an infant and again, terror filled me. I was speechless and I saw him sitting there looking back at me waiting for a response. As odd as it seemed to me at the time, the only thing that came out of my mouth was, "Do you want to end up like me?" He said no. He went to college instead. Dewayne, I don't know how you ever picked up on this topic or how you know so much about it. You did good here. Thanks.

My buddy got shot in the back in 1967 half paralyzed him in both legs, a year later a drunk driver ran him over in his wheel chair took his right arm off. He later raised 2 great kids, had many companies, he was my friend. He was one of the strongest person I knew. Much respect too everyone.

Dwayne , my dad wasn't from a lost generation , he was a member of the Greatest Generation. I've wrote to you before about him , he was a real "Cowboy" born in 1918 , lived in Indiana on a farm/ranch and he went through WW2 as a platoon leader (2nd LT) in the Philippines fighting the Japanese. When he came home he got his journeymans license as a machinist , raised a family of 2 sons and 1 daughter. He smoked and drank a little bit but what veteran didn't in that era. He never showed signs of PTSD although he probably had it to some extent being a combat vet. He passed away in 1971 and there's not a day that goes by that I don't think of him and I'm 61 now. He was a great man from the "Greatest Generation".

When I was about 7 or 8 I remember being at a family Thanksgiving party and my uncle woke up back in Vietnam. The most blood curdling screaming you ever heard. That was maybe 18 or 19 years ago. A long time after he was there. Gave me a huge respect for the folks that fight for us. After he calmed down he went outside with my dad and his cousins and was telling stories I wasn't supposed to hear. The man saw and did awful shit. All in the name of country. I couldn't imagine the pain he lives with.

My uncle (my mother's brother) served as a ships surgeon on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific in WW2. He made it home, raised four boys and ran a successful medical practice. Don't know how he did it, because getting him to talk about his war experiences was very, very hard. He was trying his best to forget and carry on. That taught me something about respecting others.

I often think about all the trauma people experienced through the ages that was never recorded. Up until the last 25 years or so you would've basically had to write a book if you wanted to get your story out. Imagine all the stuff people suffered alone with. Not even having the language or concepts to articulate it. Bad things happened, and that was that. Imagine all the trauma that's been passed down through hundreds of generations. It makes sense why things are the way they are today. But individuals have more power now than ever before to share kindness and compassion. It'll probably still take a while, but I hope I live to see that overcome the pain people are consumed by.

49 year old Vet here. I have been saying this for 20 years and it still leaves me broken hearted every time I walk into the VA and see the continuing casualties. The generational void is vacuous and we continue the madness. Thank you Dwayne. This is a real service. I have my own experiences to reconcile and I still live with Viet Nam when my father cries and screams in his sleep, reliving the horror of what he saw and did EVERY FREAKING NIGHT. I cannot describe the feelings this engenders in me. Pray God we find peace and reconciliation.

My father is a Marine that fought in Vietnam and was badly wounded. He came home, made a family and raised 6 kids pretty much on his own. It was a crazy life we came up in, but he did the best he could. The respect I have for him is and will always be beyond explainable. He's 76 now and I'm 43 with a family of my own and I owe a lot of who I came to be to him. Strongest man I know.

Thank you for this video. Generational trauma is not talked about enough. It effects so many people, especially the "Boomer" and other older generations. When there was zero mental health understanding.

Good words of wisdom. We can all and SHOULD put forth the effort to build each other up instead of all this tearing apart that’s happening today!! God bless everybody and god bless America!! 💪💯🇺🇸

My dad came home from WW2 and I was 3. He was a stranger. And we never bonded. It wasn't until much later I found out that there is an entire generation who had a stranger for a dad. I enjoy listening to your thoughtful and compassionate talks, you're a thinker and you make me think more. Thank you.

Great respect from Russia, sir. The worst thing is that wars will go on and humanity will never learn from its mistakes.

There are so many facets of this story to be told. I had the pleasure of befriending an old timer a few years back who passed away recently with dementia. He was a big tall strong fella and I can only imagine the strong character and force of nature he was as a young man fighting in Korea. He came home to his wife and children and went on to try to raise them, finding out much later in life that at least one of the children was not his own. He struggled to provide for his family and "do what was Right" to stay and his wife continued to be unfaithful. He stayed until all of the children were raised then divorced and went on to live alone for the last half of his life. I would stop by and have coffee now and then, as this big kindhearted fellow lived close by. I remember how he trembled at times telling me these stories of his life with deep sadness and anger still in his heart well into his 80's. Please spend more time on this subject Dwayne. So many need to hear it. Thanks for all you do on here.

You’re spot on Dwayne, I grew with the WW2, Korean and Vietnam veterans. They were my uncles, supervisors and best of all my friends. I inherited my work ethic, compassion and love of family from those men.

My grandfather was in the navy during Vietnam and was a gunner during the Cuban missile crisis. His father used to beat the hell out of him and in turn when it was my grandfather's turn he used to smack around my dad and uncles. It was less than what he got as a kid but he still did then when my parents had me my dad swore he would never lay a hand on his children in anger and he never hit me or my brother. Now my old man wasn't perfect by any measure but my family is slowly breaking the cycle of raising damaged children.

My great-grandfather was in WW1 and was discharged for what back then they called shell shock. One day he walked into the woods and was never seen again - still has not been found. His son, my grandfather, had bullet wounds in his back from WW2. He would never talk about it, and would sit alone in the dark and drink. He shot himself when my father was 19. The effect of all this on my father was obvious to me as a child. This trauma is generational. Great video on a topic that is too rarely discussed.

As of Vietnam vet Dwayne thank you thank you for saying the truth my father was a world war II vet he wasn't quite right me as a Vietnam vet I wasn't quite right I'm 75 now and I believe I'm beginning to get a little right I appreciate your thoughts and what you're doing and what you're saying the truth will always set you free and Merry Christmas to you and yours 🐝

Man, Duane, if anything ever NEEDED to be said, it was this! This was powerful. Thank you!

I've honestly never thought about why older generations are how they are. It's not just the people who've been to war, but those raised by people who were sent to war. I really needed to hear this, thank you.

Very thoughtful video sir. When calling older individuals "boomers", it never crossed my mind that these people have had much harder childhoods than me.

Your are absolutely right about having grace, I prefer the term respect. I’m a 22 yr veteran, my dad was a veteran and so was his. Most everyone I know is a vet. And most all of us have seen things and experienced things no one should ever have to. But freedom ain’t and we are men. And just because I went through something’s doesn’t relieve me of my my duties to family, friends and community. We all have our demons. The real question is whether or not we choose to let them make us victims or we choose to move forward

100% hit the nail on the head. Europe never really recovered from the loss of human potential from ww1. I say ww1 specifically because all the decent good men where the first ones to sign up for it because they didn't know better.

Your channel just randomly popped up in my feed. I’m so glad it did. I love the way you say things and the points you make. You’re a good, genuine person unafraid to boldly and kindly speak Godly truth. It’s so refreshing to see. Thank you

I've always been one to judge and have absolutely been the one to say "ok boomer" and just write stuff off because of someone's appearance or how they acted without thinking any further. this video has definitely been something to think about in my life. I used to be super into far right politics and racism etc. about 3 years ago. I stopped and have been much happier just not getting involved in any politics or conflicts whatsoever. Recently I've been through some life events that have left me completely broken and unable to function because my depression hit me like a truck and I've got ptsd from it. definitely makes me rethink what I assume of people at a first glance and I realized everybody's got something going on too or has had something happen that really affected them as well.

“Some people meet some mentor along the way, they find what they need and get through it” You sir are that mentor to a lot of people, keep posting your advice us young folks need it! Love from UK

Thank you. I've often reflected on this subject and realize the brokenness each of us face. May God give us the grace and compassion to treat each other better!

I truly believe that anyone, at any given time, can find strength to stop the wheel of pain. We never know the consequence of our actions, so we never know how much a simple "how are you?" might make a huge difference to someone. You are making the world a better place, Dwayne. Thank you for this video!

Empathy….. imagine yourself in the other man’s boots, then imagine walking through the trenches in those boots. This is what this world is lacking. Everyone is spending so much time trying to make their voice heard, they spend no time trying to listen to what the other persons is saying and really trying to understand it and feel what they are feeling. Love your videos! Please keep speaking your truth so we all my learn by it.

Man! Spot on! Thanks for the understanding. Being a real man isn't popular, but thank God for having heroes to look up to and be our role model I m almost 65 years old and have seen a lot of life. Keep up the good work. You're making a difference. God bless you and yours!

I took care of my dad for 20 years In the home and I was glad to do it saved his dignity and his life to let him have a good one he died October tenth and im between jobs he did best he could and I did too

It’s true, our generations lack proper thought. I was fortunate enough to meet an elder who was part of the Vietnam war. I consider him like my grandfather, since I never really met my own. The perspective and knowledge you gain just from talking is immense. Truly love talking to older generations. Not only for life insight but their experiences and stories spark me up knowing what their world was like. The more we talk the better we can be.

Your like a grandpa i never had, i listen to you on some hard days. love from India

I am on Hospice, I am expiring too. I am dying because of a US Navy fund command site with exposed chemicals. Three feet behind me is the bad that I will be laying on when I meet my Heavenly 'Father'. I have two boys that will not have a father. That's what scares me. This video is truly anointed. This video is what I needed. Thank you.

Thank you for this, I'm 33 and I needed to hear this message of forgiveness and compassion. It's been a real strigglento find an angle to have this understanding lately. My father worked all this life, hard and I feel he carries himself heavy, from the burdens and challenges, and the struggles he sees my brothers and I face alone, because he doesn't understand this world anymore. This made me want to really reach out.

I appreciate the video, Dewayne. One important thing is that although everyone has a cross to bear - for example, being raised by broken people and ending up broken because of that -, it doesn't excuse, past a certain point and age, replicating bad behaviors. And these are precisely your thoughts, just in my own words, about the 'not excusing' people. Having empathy can help you understand why a man might spout hateful and racist words, for example. And empathy will help you understand why that man's son is likely to do the same someday. But a man isn't really fully grown until he sits down, reflects, studies, and realizes that he was raised wrong and needs to fix it. We all have some fixing up to do inside ourselves, I think.

Every Generation of men ( including myself ) has served dating back to the Civil War to the Iraq and Afghanistan war that I served in. I totally understand what you are saying. I sometimes get totally immersed I'm my work and won't talk to my Wife about what's truly going on in my head. I will start. Thanks for the words!

As a female I greatly enjoyed listening to this as you can take much of what you say as a poignant analogy that actually fits many females in my life. Great philosophical speech as usual my friend, you’re a living legend to me.

Well said, once again (and with such deserved emotion.) Thank you Dewayne. “No one’s bad when they’re born, but they can grow up that way. And we really don’t know what they go through each day.”

I am 20 years old and I respect everything you say, the old ways are just so lost but your videos bring me a lot of joy sir.

I am from different country but I can relate to this. My both grandfathers fought in WW2. After the war they did not talk about what happened there and drank heavily in their free time. My father was very distant too and drank too much at his freetime. Now I drink bit too much too but I am very much involved with my kids and interested about their life and spend a lot of time with them. It may take many generations to heal from wartime traumas.

Thank you for saying this, I served and proudly. "No one really knows" is the truest of the true sayings. Thank you sir 💪🇺🇸💪

Great message filled with compassion. My uncle was a paratrooper in WW2. He was a Screaming Eagle in the 101st airborne and came home a paraplegic after the Battle of the Bulge. He didn't talk about the war. Years after he died I read 'Kurrahee' and was stunned to get a glimpse of what he endured. PBS put us there with some great documentaries like The Civil War and The Great War. You are on point, Dewayne. Explains the generations that should never be forgotten and the demons that haunted them if they were fortunate enough to come back and raise a family with some sense of normalcy. Post-war children had to be greatly affected. Thanks for your insight!

4 generations of duty and struggle. We faltered but eventually we all stood and passed on to the next what it was to be a man and a human. Unfortunately, I see little if that for the next generations. Thanks Dwayne

My 82 year old dad had nightmares for decades from Vietnam. This past year he finally seemed more calm than I've ever seen him....cause he's loosing his memory.

I’ve always had a loving father who always made sure we were raised right. Taught us how to be a responsible accountable man. I’m glad you are putting this content out because I know way to many friends who weren’t taught how to be a man.

Hello Dwayne from Greece🇬🇷. I really appreciate your content and it gives me so many life lessons. You remind me of my grandfather... Stay strong and keep up your good work❤️

This video hit home. Without making this a novel I'd love to tell anyone who'll take the time to read about my grandfather. My mother was 15 when she became pregnant with me. Dad left as soon as he found out... My mom waited 6 months to tell my grandparents out of fear of what they would think. From what she's told me they understandably weren't very happy with her. Regardless they tried to support her. My grandfather expressed he thought I should be given over to an adoption agency, thinking it was the best shot I'd have at a stable life... My grandparents were at a rough point in their marriage, and my mom was 15, what sort of stability would that bring? So I was born, 2 and a half weeks after my mother's 16th birthday, her "belated birthday gift" as she affectionately calls me sometimes. My mom told me the moment I was placed in my grandfather's arms, he broke down crying and said something along the lines of "we are not giving him up". I became my grandpa's little follower around the small hobby farm. Riding on the tractor on his lap... Later mom would find 3 year old me playing with the small farmall tractor toy backing it up and exclaiming "oh Sh*t" over and over again... Grandpa had backed the tractor up a bit too far that day and dented the side of the shed, a few choice words came out and little toddler me picked the not so good ones to add to my small but growing vocabulary... As I grew I eventually joined my uncle on the hay rack, struggling to hoist the bails up but boy was I proud when I finally was able to stack them just like my uncle. Splitting fire wood, feeding the cows and chickens, cleaning up the dinner table after a meal, working on tractors, cars, and things around the farm. That was my childhood. I was always with grandpa, almost like his little duckling. My mom met my stepdad and married when I was 8. But I'd still come out to my grandparents almost every weekend. I loved being out there. Early on I found my "chores" with grandpa maybe not fun, but rewarding. The time I spent with him learning to become a decent man, well I wouldn't trade it for the world. Now, here's we're the video hits home. I'm 25 years old now, got a house, a stable job as a supervisor, a girl I can count on, I've grown up. Over the years as I've matured my grandpa has told me bits and pieces of his life growing up. My grandpa has always been a bit rough around the edges. A tender caring side but sometimes he was quick to anger. I remember him slamming the door and storming out to the garage a few times, and you knew you didn't follow grandpa then. He rarely said I love you, and I only saw the man cry twice... At his mother's funeral and the night I sang my first solo at my church's Christmas service. His father was in Vietnam... He came back a very changed man. He turned to drinking and his already short temper got even shorter. His dad only talked about what he experienced over there once according to grandpa and what he described wasn't very pretty. The drinking became more frequent, grandpa's mom even turned to the bottle after awhile as well. Both parents were angry drunks and my grandpa and his brother being the oldest of 5 children.. would take the brunt of these beatings. As I've looked back with that new perspective I find even more respect for my grandfather. He wasn't perfect, but he did the best he could. He'd leave the room as to not raise a hand against his loved ones. Family was so... so important to him, every night we ate at the dinner table as a family, and every night we'd work together to clean the table and dishes. He didn't say I love you but showed it in everything he did, dropping whatever he was doing to help any of us... He worked as an electrician and the years of climbing up and down ladders has slowly destroyed his hips and ankles... But he never let us see that growing up. He did what he could to put food on the table and tried his best not to make us worry. Grandpa is retired now.. he's getting older, his joints and muscles are slowly starting to fail him. It's hard to watch him silently struggle to do tasks he never had troubles with before. Getting off the ground, climbing onto the tractor... He's getting slower. Years are catching up to him. But for all the years he has shown me nothing but love, I still go out when I can to see him. I silently pick up the slack when needed, I offer help when I can. But I don't draw attention to it, I respect him to much. I don't tell him I've noticed how slow he is to stand up, he knows.. he doesn't need to be reminded, I just offer a hand so he knows the help is there if he needs it. I still love to sit on the porch and talk about life, tractors, cars, the latest recipe he's going to make for dinner... I just love spending time with him. And I hope when I'm finally ready to start my own family I can be a father my son or daughter can look up to, a pillar of support and comfort. I don't know what I'll do when my grandfather passes on, and I hope there's still many years before that comes to be... But I know I'll take a part of him wherever I go, I wouldn't be the man I am today, if I didn't have that man to guide me back then.

My Dad was drafted at age 18 for ‘Nam. 101st AB. They had me 20 years after he came back. He was damaged. Not physically. PTSD, a laundry list of mental issues. He was spat upon when he returned, he tells me. He didn’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. He was unable to always control those demons and my Mom & his sons suffered for it. He was a self deletion (for YT reasons I use that term) threat and also a threat to us. He told me when I was 6 that I’d die alone. Always said odd stuff. A child cannot understand these things. When I became a man and of course now had my own laundry list of my own, I prayed hard and forgave him. 1,000lbs of bricks I didn’t know I was carrying fell off of me. Re-established a Father Son bond. Respect at least, as men. We even joke about who is crazier these days. When you see an old man walking down the street, it’s ok to stop and ask if he needs help. He’s seen and been through things you might not be able to imagine. Respect. Agape. “Love one another as your love yourselves.” I’m 6’5 so at the grocery store just about everybody asks me to grab something for them. It makes you feel good to do good. Gets your mind away from the bad thoughts. Hold those doors for people, especially older ones. Help them with their groceries if they need it. I try my best to do these things to break the chain so my boy will grow up knowing how to be a true man. It ain’t easy. Sometimes your mind plagues you. Sometimes my Dad calls and curses for no reason. Then it passes. Better he curse on a phone then do something violent. Then that passes and he’s sorry. He genuinely is…I’ve seen him spin around when hearing fireworks- flashback. I guess I could’ve just said you can’t control everything, but you can try and in trying you’ll become better yourself. God bless you sir for this video. I hope many guys women too see this. Gotta get back to basics. If watching an old lady cross the street to get her mail to make sure she doesn’t fall makes you late for work then so be it. He’s right. Respect is the only way out of this mess online and in real life. I wish anyone that read this far too long comment the absolute best.

You remind me of my dad so much. What a beautiful message. Thanks for sharing ❤

I am so glad that you made this video! It was fantastic! You are putting words to a very deep wound for many MANY men! This also helps some of us ladies to have more compassion for the male struggles. As a daughter of a military officer is was very difficult for the rest of to see and feel how my father changed after he went through combat. The night terrors, the anger, the very private tears. My father was profoundly changed after combat. Thank you again for your compassionate lesson! 🤗

This 18.09 minutes of listening to an intelligent and kind man share his aged and broadened perspective is some of the most well spent time I've experienced on youtube.

Thanks for bringing this up Dwayne. Two of my best friends fought in Vietnam. One of them got into drugs to cope. The other has the worst PTSD possible. I have a calming effect on him because I treat him with respect and listen. I am there for both of them and they would drop everything for me. I missed that war by a few months. I am younger than then. Peace and understanding to you.

Sincere respect to you, Dwayne, on giving your thoughts on this topic. I am one of those you gave examples of. I served in the USMC in Vietnam and Desert Storm, now !00% disabled service connected paralyzed combat veteran. My Father and his two brothers served during WWII, Father at battle of the bulge, uncle at Iwo Jima, uncle in Italy campaigns. Great Grand uncle in Spanish American War, Great-Great GrandFather with Army of the Potomac, battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Generations of our family serving as warriors go back even further according to my genealogy research. We have always looked at serving our country as our duty. It’s just what honorable men do. Yes, i experienced returning home from Vietnam to a country I didn’t know. It was tough, but most i, like most Vietnam vets, went to ground and simply got on with our lives the best we knew how. I have no regrets. I do it all again, 10,000 times. Those who criticize, assign labels to us, are just misguided and uninformed. I pray for them i do not have the power to change history of to change things they way they are today. I simply trust in God and pray. I’m 76 years old now, as my uncle used to say, “rounding third on my way to home.” Thank you, Dwayne, for your wisdom and willingness to share it.

I know this message is for the men…. One thing I want to say is, I agree. My great grandfather fought in WW I and WW II, his son, my grandfather fought in WW II. It’s only by God’s grace they came home alive. The memories though stayed with them, and suffered from terrible nightmares. One thing I remember my mom saying, you don’t ask them to talk to you about what they endured, because they won’t talk about it. It’s something they want to forget. Having compassion for them is so important. Thanks for sharing Dewayne.

As a woman I Thankyou for speaking on this topic. Everyone needs to consider the wisdom you shared here. God bless you for sharing your wisdom.

Grace requires contemplation, and contemplation requires discipline, and discipline requires self-reflection. Life doesn’t guarantee any of that, but life demands all of those …

Great reminder that you never know what someone is going through. Thank you for all your wisdom. It's helping me right now more than I can possibly say.

This one pulled at my heart strings and made me cry. I have so many grandfathers and great uncles that served, and the way you put it just choked me up. I am forever grateful for all of those who sacrificed for us. Wonderful video.

I was born in the late 70s and it's always been my belief that the whole "thank you for your service" hollow lip service in the streets / face-to-face (and then keep on walking of course) was started by my parents' generation who sh*t SO hard on their own who came back from Vietnam. They soothed their generational guilt but never really addressed it (or were sorry). My father actually tried to join the military in the 70s but was deaf in one ear. I knew a few who were raised by Vietnam vets and yeah, it went on for decades.

It’s like listening to my dad talk, I love these videos thank you Sir we need more moments to reflect like this.

Dewayne sir, you're such a blessing to so many of your viewers. I can only imagine how proud your children as well as Momma are of you. I will be a student of yours in the future, hell, I'm a student of your even now. I live and try to use this common saying as a an ethos: Hard times create strong men., Strong men create good times., Good times create weak men., Weak men create hard times." This resonates quite loudly within my soul and in so many different ways I feel it has been the "implied learning point" within many of your discussions. I truly hope that anyone stumbling across this video listens clearly to the entire thing but actually hears when you state that the way someone is or how someone responds to things despite how they were raised or the experiences or exposures they have had may be a reason and not a justification. I've been eagerly awaiting this next video from you and I cant thank you enough for taking the time to do one. Blessing my friend and Merry Christmas.

Love from Serbia!!! That line with the trenches was the same one i speak every day to myself and others and I was shocked to hear it hear it from you Sir ! Keep it up, you are doing the Lords work with videos like these! God Bless to all of ya

My grandfather was in the Pacific Theater killing imperial Japanese Soldiers with his bare hands when he was 17. He fought that war mentally and in his sleep for the rest of his life and my dad still has a katana he took from one of his kills. My dad is a “boomer”. He raised 4 children including me, his only son. I’m the youngest. I’m happy to be here

Just another sign of how transformative and awful the Civil War was? The mass casualties prompted 1) the birth of the prosthetics industry, 2) the emergence of germ theory, and 3) the first attempt at diagnosing PTSD, then known as “Soldier’s Heart” because the stress would seem to manifest in arrhythmia and congestive heart failure.

As the son of a Vietnam vet, who was in turn the son of a WWII vet, I feel this. Good topic, brother!

My background-- Dad was on a boat that arrived in Japan a few days after the bomb. He became a minister. My brother was navy in Vietnam. He loaded shells in the big guns to bombard the land. Never saw land. I returned to Texas to be drafted in mid 73 only to be told it had been canceled three days before my induction. I promise you there were not many that recieved those notices. I certainly appreciate your perspective! I'm a pretty strong right, have all the respect in the world for military and law enforcement. Strong 2nd ammend. Sometimes feel guilty for not going but oh so lucky not to have. My brother and I have not spoken for years. I wish it was different but I somehow understand why he feels that way. Thanks for your continued teachings. They say what I feel. God bless and be safe

That was an excellent speech Dwayne! Thank you very much! This video reminded me of how I (as a younger person) am always called a “boomer” or a “nut head” by young peers around me who saw that I enjoyed chatting with older people. I’m always intrigued by the stories of older people (men and women), but never knew why or how to respond to such pathetic insults from my younger peers! Now I have a better perspective of things thanks to this video! Speaking of Lost Generations, I remember chatting with an elderly gentlemen several years ago about his career path. I was surprised to hear that he lost his father in a workplace accident when he was only 5 years old, and had a mother who was mostly absent in his youth (due to work). Back then in the 60s and 70s, he was labelled a retard by his teachers, guidance counsel, classmates and the school principles for being “uneducable”. In other words, nobody could teach him anything and he disliked everyone around him. However, he found an interest in electronics and radio equipment and would spend his free time building radios in his mom basement! Later on, he had a successful career as a radio technician apprentice and chief electronics technician! He only opened up to me because of my kind, easy going, and friendly personality! Everyone else just didn’t care or made quick judgements of him. I was amazed after that experience!

I live for these rambles! I've had your videos on repeat for when I do errands, study, or just need to decompress with some good content. Thanks to you and your wife for what you do ♡

Thank God for you!

You sir are an amazing with the way you speak, I sure wish I could of had this wisdom when I was younger,but now I'm gonna apply what I can now !! You are just incredible .thankyou🙏💞

Thanks for sharing, Dewayne. No one knows what others have gone through, but they're awful quick to judge us despite that. I took my lumps on deployment in the early 2000's (⛩⛩⛩), like so many men my age, having lost a few buddies and having seen a few more get wounded, usually via IEDs. My grandfather saw some real shit in WW2 as well, though he never talked about it. My father didn't escape his dad's trauma (and thus inflicted it upon my brother and I), and my kids haven't escaped mine. I'm truly trying to deal with my own baggage to make a better life for myself, my kids, and my wife, but every day is a challenge. I'll never go down the path of self-pity, but I'm glad that I at least exist in a time where I have access to mental healthcare and the societal stigma for seeking such care isn't nearly as bad as it once was. I couldn't imagine having zero support beyond drinking buddies or condemning myself to work ridiculous hours. My kids haven't had the easiest time dealing with the repercussions of my own post-traumatic stress, anxiety, etc., which all bloomed to the surface after my time in the sandbox. But I have and continue to try to make myself better, more patient, more compassionate, and less angry at all of the things which surround me for the kids and my wife. I make sure I am involved in their school, their martial arts, their sports, and other activities. I may not always enjoy those things, but I make the effort for their sake. I try to talk to my young children about how awful war is and always will be, and about the camaraderie and pride I maintain after having served with outstanding soldiers, despite our differences and trials. I teach them to think, to use their logic and reasoning, to not rush to judgment, and to consider others' perspectives. Most importantly, I want them to avoid the pitfalls I've encountered, so they can build better lives for themselves and eventually their families. One day at a time, one generation at a time. That's how we make humanity better for all of us.

One of the most realistic talks I've ever heard. My grandfather was totally disassociated from the society, he did not even work but had 6 children to feed. He did not even care about the family being in poverty. My grandmother on the other hand did whatever she could but my father ran away from home at 15 to search for a job. He started from scratch in a different city learning different languages. But my father is totally loving to us. Yes he had problems in his life but he did not turn out to be broken even after being brought up in such wretched condition 😭😭😭

We all have to lift each other up no matter what, because we haven’t walked in their shoes. We all need compassion towards one another,. what you are talking about is generational curses That need to be broken by brave souls. Thank you Sir, much respect for your shares! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

This is why we need to remember History. The cumulative effects of all the trauma and tribulations of previous generations matter. Makes you wonder how many veterans and families got left to fall between the cracks. Thank you so much for bringing this up

My father came from world war 2 and got married and had 5 children..I remember him telling me what he did and what he saw. He described a horror picture of what he went through. I never spent most time with him as a child because he was always working to support the family. But he instilled in me much value of never giving up and being strong. Later in life as an adult when my father retired I got to spend a lot of time with him.. I'll always value his words and respect for how he did the best he could for the family.. what u said sir is so true about the lost generation and the baby boomers I'm one of them. I'm 66 now and still working. Thank u sir.

I think it’s horrific and incredibly sad that governments of the world send young men and women to fight their wars and do this to people who have tried to do it for the sake of ‘their country’. Great video sir!

What a beautiful sober mind we are listening to!!! 👏🏾💙 I really love how you and your wife chose your words so carefully.

We can pray for help for any one that needs help. God will help any one that asks!!!!

Thank you for this video! Yes - we must give and have grace for the men in our lives. Your words brought back memories for me. In the early -80’s I was a young nursing student in a large metropolitan VA hospital. In the year of student life there I witnessed some of the horrific effects of PTSD on the veterans that were cared for in outpatient clinics. It was heartbreaking to see the struggles they endured. There was even a man in his sixties from world war 2 that was never far from reliving the horrors he endured. A lot of younger men that were veterans of Vietnam were out there alone without supportive families. They came into the clinic but much of their time was spent lost in their world of misery, alcohol and drugs. I could see glimpses of the men they were before being lost in the dark shadows. With your words I was remembering these particular men with clear pictures of them in my mind after more than 40 years. Much much more needs to be done for veterans as well as our current servicemen. I have tears of gratitude for their service. Each of us should never forget the human cost of their service. Thank you for your ever thoughtful messages in your videos.

I'm from Russia and this wise man definitely spits some goddamn facts here. I was raised by my grandfather who fought in Afghanistan and it did influence him mentally, but he never showed it to me, his grandson. And I'm proud of it, I'm proud of what kind of man my grandfather was. He knew what responsibilities he had, and he also knew how extremely important it was to raise me in a proper way. As long as I will live, I will thank him for it. And I thank you, sir, for bringing up such an important topic. Peace from Russia, let's put an end to this gorrific chain of these highly unwanted events (And in the meantime, we somehow have to put up with the consequences of current world changing and this brand new war...)

People under the age of 25 or so probably don’t even understand what grace is. They have been failed by the schools, the “leaders” of this country and their parents. And those parents are probably the first generation that weren’t shipped off to war. Our society is declining unfortunately, but I can appreciate this video and I hope this message gets out there and maybe it’ll make the difference.

Amen....as for pipe tobacco, Sutliff Molto dolce....thank you sir, for your wisdom and grace.

Too bad we can’t see this in our twenties. We have to live life and get hurt to realize others are hurting too☹️

My father escaped the USSR. The stories he told me about his life and his father’s life were horrid. You can even go back to WW2 and see how relentlessly traumatizing their lives were. My great grandfather never talked about his time in the army or surviving the holocaust. There’s so much strength in your ancestors, so you must respect them.

This is so spot on. Exactly what my family has endured for generations being a navy/marine family. I feel every word you say in my heart. I’m now that father. I’m an Iraq and afghan war vet. I fear I’m effecting my two sons with my demons. My grandfather’s were dead in their early 40s. My father and uncle the same. I’m 38 and I fear my life will be cut short as well. It’s an unknown epidemic. I appreciate you bringing this to the surface🙏💯

Brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for allowing God to work through you.

Uplifting talk this morning. Much appreciated. Taking time to understand the "why" behind people's behaviors goes a long way. I have found it almost always boils down to how you put it, that the child didn't have anyone to fill in the hole, to love them and raise them properly.

Great message today, men have always been disposable throughout history and we have suffered for it.. Merry Christmas to you and your family...

Couldn’t agree more. My father was a combat vet in Nam and he did all of the above, drink, smoke weed & cigs, as well as work nonstop. My dad would take me to his VFW meetings and I saw at a young age what war does to people and i am grateful for that. It taught me to never judge people because you don’t know what that person has seen and done to survive. God Bless ALL of our Vets!❤❤

Damn it Dwayne you hit it home for me with this one. I'm choking up. Yes I've felt resentment towards the older generations for being incompetent, especially my parents. My dad though he was raised by a drunk father and a very submissive mother. My father isn't the kind of man that you would call a man. He's broken inside somehow. I wasn't raised in a good way, but I did have a home, food on the table and a clean bed to sleep in every night. I don't feel like I was raised right and my parents made fatal mistakes. But both of them are traumatized somehow, and their way of being is normal where I live. I mean a very unhealthy and toxic way of living. In my opinion the way they live creates it's own kind of trauma on the mind. But after a lot of trials in my own life I feel like I'm taking care of myself in the way that I wanted as a child. I mean living a healthy and life regenerating way of life. And like you said it's our job now to raise the next generation the best we can so that maybe we can end this cycle of depression and illness. We have the opportunity now to fix things at least in our own lives one piece at a time. And a part of that is letting go of the past and forgiving the people that we've felt animosity towards because we felt like they haven't been acting up to our standards.

Thank you to all our blessed veterans and servicemen. I am grateful for your protection and dedication. Prayers for you all at this holy time of year. 🕊

Thanks for your message. I think as parents we want the next generation to be more successful. We work to change some bad things and treat our parents with love and understanding. My grandfather on my dad’s side was a doctor and taken at gunpoint by the Japanese to treat their wounded. He also snuck off to treat American soldiers. His family left their home and hid in caves. My dad told me how some older boys chased them away when they found a bomb in a river. Those kids died when it detonated. He had nightmares all his life from these experiences. My mother’s dad was in the Bataan death march and presumed dead. She was raised by a foster family because her mother couldn’t take care of her. Her father returned some time later after his wife had moved on and remarried. My parents came to the US and did their best to make a life and raise a family.

Blessings, Dwayne. Thank you for taking the time. You are on point! PRESS ON!

The timing of this video could not have been more perfect. I have spent the last 2-3 hours thinking/watching videos and documentaries about war history in general feeling awful about the men (our ancestors..) that always go out to war. The horror most men have experienced in the last 150 years in astronomical, yet we still carry out these wars to this day. Some things will never change (at least not yet), and to see/hear others judge "boomers" based on what they know or think when they grew up in such a way is depressing., especially the further back you go. We are being ab*sed by greed and ignorance.

I honestly wish more people would talk about this. Generational trauma is a deep wound lots of people carry. As a 34 year old from central europe with no war veterans in my family, I can't really join the commenters here in addressing that. But I would have a word or three on the war on men. I see so many people all over social media trying to push men into these tiny little pigeon holes. Calling men "weak", "lazy", "feminine" for opening up about their trauma, their stories, their upbringing. Not adhering to "the grind", not pushing themselves to work 12-15 hours per day, leaving behind their social lives or families. In my country, even going to see a therapist is taboo, especially for a man. Staying home for a "maternity leave" is considered weak. Being a good father to your new baby and a good husband who helps his wife in one of the most difficult times of her life, is considered weak. What is this world we live in? I think more of men who will play with her daughter and a dollhouse than a man who will force his son to hold a toy rifle the moment he can sit up straight. Far, far more. If only men - young and old - were allowed to express their feelings, to be themselves, to not have to act manly in front of the world and drown their traumas and struggles in alcohol or other addictions, leading them to pass their traumas on to their children. If only it was acceptable to perhaps not be deemed "a pussy" for not joining the military or being keen on fighting, a war or at a bar. Being a man is SO MUCH MORE than being an ape puffing out his chest whenever possible.

I love that you mentioned that war has effects on the psychological and emotional mental states.Traumatic effects that still to this day have left major ripples throughout our country within society. The knowledge of that alone is something that can be the reason for change, even if just to prevent more damage from happening. It's as simple as everyone is responsible for what they do and need to evaluate their actions and the way they think and speak so that we can band together again and unite in peace and harmony.