Mitch Rossell - A Soldier's Memoir (Reaction) 

I'm a Vietnam combat vet. I'm 72 years old. I cry when I see this video. The abuse we endured started when I returned from Vietnam and landed in a military flight at North Island Navy Base in San Diego. I took a taxi to Lindberg field to fly home to Chicago on 30 day leave. A group of young folks confronted me in the airport lobby with the most vile slurs. An older fellow sitting at the counter having a beer, pulled me aside, and bought me one. He told me to relax and not to worry about those jerks. He was a Korean war veteran. I thanked him, and remember every detail to this very day. I don't ever want any veteran to experience such abuse. Times have changed, and thankfully so. We now realize the trauma our veterans bring back home. And I can assure you that even after a successful career and several wonderful kids and grandkids, I still cry when I'm reminded by videos such as this. It never goes away. So when you see a vet, say thanks. And if they needs a job, help him or her find one. Thanks to all who serve our country. And thanks to all of you for your support.

I am a former soldier, US Army Infantry, the real ground pounders, and I can tell you this song is so real my eyes won't stop shedding tears for an hour after.

This song is spot on to how I feel everyday. Army taught me how everything needed to he just so, uniform straight, gear is always ready, but it didn't prepare me to become a quadraplegic, didn't help me prepare for the image's locked into my head and the sounds which go with them, didn't prepare me to see two of my soldiers come home with missing limbs, sight, hearing, nobody prepared me to do a ramp ceremony where 21 were loaded up for their final ride home, Nothing prepares you for it, the army gives you a Death by PowerPoint presentation for a week, none was how to function once we leave either with ETS or Medical retirement.

Sweetie, Navy vet here and the way it's said is, Once that Uniform goes on, You never take it off. Notice that country music makes your eyes leak quite a lot. Enjoy the journey.

You should react to Joe Bachman’s version. I was in Afghanistan with the Marine in his video. Incredible song and video.

I just left the army 2 weeks ago and now all I’ve been getting is dreams about moments being in it .. I wasn’t prepared to come back to this civilian life , I wasn’t ready for the waves of memories every night . The sounds .. sometimes i feel misplaced in this civilian life ..but what it did taught me was strength and to keep my head up.THIS WE WILL DEFEND .. TO THE END.🇺🇸

Powerful story of a soldier with PTSD . Awesome story I remember my step dad waking up from a dead sleep to standing in a defensive posture ready to defend sweat just rolling of him from flash backs during ww11 .

I've always said, "They install a switch in your head, and they teach you to turn it on, but they never teach you how to turn it off." I've been out since 1994 and that switch is still in the on position. It's scary for my family, but they have no idea how scary it is to me.

A beautiful song so many do not understand. Served 24 years and retired now for 27. This is so true. Sometimes you put it way back, but a smell, sound or other simple thing can trigger it back faster than the blink of an eye, then you start all over putting it back away.

Thank You for your reaction!! im a 11yr Army and Oklahoma National Guard Veteran currently homeless living on the streets here in Miami Florida We did the Unthinkable for the Ungrateful

This song hits so different for me , my father was injured while on duty ( he was shot out of a helicopter) , he never spoke of it , he rarely spoke of his time in service ( unless one of us asked about his scars) , ptsd can and will sneak up on you , I moved away after high school and then came back a few years later , the man i came back to is a shell of who he use to be , his ptsd combined with early signs of dementia make for heartache, the fear and confusion I see in his eyes shatters my heart , everything has caught up to him , this song is beyond beautiful and I can’t thank our military members enough I’ll be forever great full for them

I’ll never forget asking my grandfather where his uniform is and him starting to cry because they told them to throw away when they got back from Vietnam. He was so proud of his service and thought he was going to get a big warm welcome like the ww2 guys got but it never. He was spit on and called a baby killer and it hurts me to my core knowing him and a lot of the Vietnam vets weren’t bad people at all. Pictures of him hugging the locals and his unit helping out. He went in before the public shifted heavily in 68 and got out in 71 when everyone hated the war. He struggled with sleeping and severe ptsd as well as many problems from the war but was largely left on his own to deal with his demons which he suppressed with alcohol for many years when he got back. If you know a vet or someone who’s served tell them thank you and show them you care. A little love to these guys can go a long way for them.

I love her reaction to this! We that faught, always feel this way.

You have such a beautiful heart Sushi. It's why I love watching your reactions.

All you reactions are great and the one's about our military really touch my heart thank you

I am so happy you reacted to this song. It reminds me of my grandfather. He served 21 years in the Army and did two tours in Vietnam. He loved talking about all the places he's been and the things he done. Except Vietnam. He skips over those two years of his life. The couple times I tried, he stops me. He only told one story from Vietnam. One of his guys was playing with a water buffalo like it was a bull and it pierced him in his butt when he tried to climb a fence to get away. My grandfather was laughing and coughing so hard, but then he just dead stops and says but I don't want to talk about that. He still had nightmares. One time he was eating lunch and doing his crosswords like he always does and stops and says to my grandmother who was doing dishes in the kitchen, "Honey, you don't know what its like to put body parts on helicopters." She said I know, honey, I know.

This is a really amazing song and I listen to it all the time since I grew up in a military family

I was in the U.S. Army as a Combat Engineer for 9 years did 2 tours to Iraq been shot at alot both tours i was a gunner first in a hmmwv and second in an mrap been hit by 2 ieds during route clearance missions. I've been out since 2014 but to this day i have to lock myself in my house for the fourth of july and new years cause i cant deal with the fireworks many veterans grow a beard and let their har grow to try to keep their mind out of the military but its such a huge part of us i live in a shady part of houston tx and my best friend and i will walk to the store in formation cause thats what we know and will never forget

That was such a great song with a truthful message. Thank you for playing it.

Hello Queen! This is a beautiful record I see u have a soft ❤️ for military men and women that's awesome love, Keep the videos coming On your way to 70k 🖤✊🏾🇺🇸🇪🇹🙏🏾

This hits close to home for a lot of vets. Once the uniform is worn you can never really take it off. Things done and things learned will always be with you to one degree or another. Thank you for doing this reaction.

I deployed with the 1st Cavalry Division to a sunny little paradise north of Baghdad in 2004. I still miss it every day, even after 14 years. Certain sounds, smells throw me right back to Iraq. It's been a tough road, but I have no regrets, even after earning a set of wheels I use instead of my legs.

I'm a U.S. soldier and served my country for over 12 yrs. I can tell you this song hits home HARD!! Only soldiers know what it takes to be a soldier and only soldiers what we sacrifice and what we go through, it's not just physical.. so much more is mental . And that is a wound that will never heal ..

I cry every time listening to this song. 13 members of my family have served or are still active duty. My brother suffers from PTSD fro. Afghanistan and is still a Green Beret. I've seen what PTSD does to people and watching my brother go through it has been incredibly tough. I love this song so much.

I absolutely love this song. I have a younger brother that is retiring from the USMC, after 23 years, a sister that did 6yrs in the Army Air Corps, a brother currently serving in the Army National Guard, and a sister that did 4yrs in the USMC. Not to mention both grandfathers and one great-grandfather are all vets, as well as several uncles, so these songs and videos have an extra meaning to me. I thank all who have been willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their family, their country, my family and me. I can never repay the debt that is owed to you. I am eternally grateful.

We love you and thank you with all our heart from Vidalia,louisiana

I am a 70 year old retired Army Soldier. If it’s hot and I have over exerted myself, I can still that radio and frame on my back. Vietnam, Quang Tri Province 3/70-3/71.

You have the most sincere and purest comments. I thank you for what you do.

Kevin Neal I have talked to a few who have been battle or been in some tense situations and every one of them express what they can't forget. I also though think often of the ordinary people in those countries who live with these sights, sounds every single day of their lives. So yes, there is no way ones like us in this country can ever feel, know how a soldier or a person from one of these battle torn countries feel. My heart goes out to the soldiers and also to the ordinary people who live in these places.

I found this song today and it made me so emotional I have many family members who served and I’m so great full and thankful for everyone of them and every vet ... my uncle (by marriage) was this big burly man covered in scars and tats and he was paralyzed on his left side I use to tease him about it because one tat was a naked lady ( all disfigured now due to scars lol) and he said he got it to distract him when battles got tough .... I stumbled upon some old photos he had in a box and I asked him about it and the strongest man I knew melted in front of me and told me that him and his identical twin brother joined the service and went to Vietnam and they where unstoppable over there they where injured a couple times but healed and went back to battle them when they where on there last tour he said his brother stepped on a land mine and was essientially blown up before his eyes he said he gathered what he could of his brother ( that I cannot fathom) and ran with him and he stayed with him all the way back home then as he waited at the airport he was informed that his wife and 2 kids had died in a car accident , after he buried them all he said he went back to Vietnam this time he didn’t care if he lived or if died he said he had nothing to loose at that point he wanted revenge and that’s when he was ambushed and shot in the back and paralyzed ....... the pain our veterans endure both physically and emotionally is something I wish I could take away ... I’m eternally great full for everyone and it saddens me deeply that we have veterans who are homeless and who are struggling ... these amazing men and woman put there lives on the line the least we can do is care for them when they come home and in a way help them take there uniforms off

Lee Brice, "I drive your truck"

I'm a veteran who saw combat in Panama, Desert Shield/Storm, Somolia & Bosnia. I wear my Desert Storm veteran cap with pride. I thank my father & 4 uncles, all of them retired Vietnam Era veterans for helping me adjust when I got home.

This hits home...i was only 23 when operation endurin freedomstarted in 2001 (we 75th) were some of the first boots on the ground

I'm a us marine with PTSD and tbi but I'm still in this fight even when the world gave up on me I lost my best friends my brother still can't get it off

My third cousins best friend is currently deployed to Romania and fighting in a tank for your freedom. Please respect me for my service and understand that fireworks may take me back to thinking about him.

I can definitely relate to the lyrics. It's hard for us soldiers to fully come back home. A part of us will always still be over there.

To all the active military and veterans thank you you don't hear this enough

Thank you God for sparing my son's life SGT Corey Hunt US Army 3 years service.He was in an accident causing him 6 hairline fractures to the skull medically retired from the Army at age 21

It's a battle some of us fight every day. But I will never give up, I will never surrender, I will not lose.

I have family members that fight this battle, especially the Nam Vets. God Bless and heal every one of our Warriors, please!

Beautiful song. Thanks for reacting to it. War can change you in ways a civilian will never know.

Thank you for doing this bring back my what my family did for this world I'm going in the marine corpse in a few years

I'm a old vet people please show some respect we did it for you

Must be a grand father thing to cry at this video. Got my grandson back from Iraqi Freedom, disability but I can still hold him. GOD SPEED TO THOSE WHO GAVE ALL!

I feel you ms.sushi. God bless our military and our country. God bless you 🙏

My husband was an infantry Marine before we started dating and saw combat on two deployments. He describes it very much like this song. He is now in the Army in a safer job but the thought of things he’s seen and been through sends chills down my spine.

February 25 1991, worst day of my life. Last scud of the war. Impacted unit newly arrived in theater from Pennsylvania. I feel so sad even today I have a hard time and it’s 2020. Some things you never forget....

This is one looking for,to bring it to your attention.Needs to be playe more often

Amen god Bless to my brothers and sisters......going through rough times...there's help.....I'm seeking it myself finally.........after putting myself last for so long....

I Loved Her First - Heartland

His line ... "Part of me is there and part of me here" should be 95% there and 5% here .... if we want to be honest. Vets, chime in if I'm wrong.

Sorry Sushi. Just saw this for the first time. I have said in some of the other vids that I am a old Marine Vet. I was lucky to come home, but for many years, a large part of me did not. I came home not a good man. Angry, aggressive, bitter, and worse. Much of what I am and was was left there. But I brought some of the worst home. Eventually, I got some help, had the good fortune to meet someone, have an AMAZING family, and find out WHY I was supposed to make it back. Things are better now for our Vets. But make no mistake, If you are a Vet, and need help, there is NO shame in asking. No ONE should have to be alone and feel that pain. Thank you Sushi for showing this and making it o.k. to talk about it.

The soldier in this video is a friend of mine. He lost both his legs in Afghanistan from an IED. The dog in the video is his dog when he was in. He was 7th group. When he was in the hospital the military retired his dog and gave it to him

I am currently serving in the army and a lot of my buddies have died overseas and then I came across a song that reminds me of them and their strength they had. I haven’t deployed yet as they did. But the song is called I’m bleeding out - US Military tribute. I think you’d like it honestly.

My dad rarely talked about war but he told me don't ever forget there more people buried beneath us than alive from wars. Looking me right in eyes when he said it to me. Now I take rose to him his brothers uncle's auntie's.

I was in Iraq and I couldn’t agree with this more everyday is a struggle

Halfof me is still in Lebanon since 1983 Semper fi

God bless all our veterans. May God heal their bodies, minds and souls.

He described in several different ways...how difficult it is for returning soldiers who had to engage in combat or see things that were the result of combat...to forget that, to put that aside, to think and react and just live normally among people who don't understand what they went through. Country songs tell powerful stories in a powerful way like no other songs do.

War inside: Nathan Fair; he is a retired platoon Sargent with the US army.

Very powerful must hit home to many.

This girl is working hard.

Thanks for making me human again

Ptsd and CPTSD is no joke. I have CPTSD myself, but I have never been in the military. I have been through so much in my life, from trauma, and I can relate to this song. Maybe not in the same way, but the flashbacks get really bad. I still remember the voices, the faces, and the words, smells, and the taste of blood everytime I was abused. It was hard to get away from it all. But after 27 years, I'm in a better place. It does get better.

Love and respect to all veterans! 👍✌❤

I remember hearing this song for the first time after a few months of getting out. I cant tell you how horrible the army was on getting you ready to get out. For me I fell through the cracks. Got home from 12 month deployment in Afghanistan where we had 14 WIA and 2 KIA in my platoon and I got home and was in college within 20 days. I was active duty also. Was supposed to have at least 90 days before I got out but surprise the army fucked up.

Chris young- the man I want to be Love your channel keep up the great work! - young soldier

The military teaches you how to be a soldier, but they never teach you how to be a civilian. My father was a cpl in the airforce in country korea 51-52 Joseph Anthony Angeletti 12/23/1931-07/11/1983. My brother-in-law airforce tec sgt retired. Was in desert shield till the end of desert storm. Did 2 more tours in iraq and 1 in Afganistan. He drove supply trucks. People think the airforce are nothing but pilots. It takes men and women to keep them in the air. Twice my brother-in-laws convoy was attacked and both times friends were given one last flight home. It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah. God bless all that have served are serveing and those yet to come. The hardest part of not haveing served is being a family member and not being able to take on some of the pain so your father, mother, brother, sister,aunt, uncle cousin, niece or nephew can sleep just a little better. And from your lips you scream out hallelujah.

David Ball: "Riding with Private Malone"

If you don’t feel something while listening to this song alone then you need to make sure you’re still alive!

They Call Me Doc - Walker McGuire, it's a really great military song that you could maybe react to. Walker McGuire is a duo, Jordan Walker & Johnny McGuire & they wrote the song with CreatiVets, they flew in a Navy Corpsman suffering from PTSD in the hopes thats creative expression would help him heal. The songs is absolutely amazing & because this soldier opened up to them, it has a lot of realism.

Many of us have relatives who were over there. My nephew did 5 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, had his patrol ambushed one time and five of his men were killed. He crawled out over and over ,under fire, to drag them and a couple of others who were injured out of harm's way. None of us will ever know what they actually went through. This song is pretty close to what I have heard from him.

Not sure what touch me more the song or your reaction thanks for sharing

Actually really love this song .. awesome video Sushi .. bet you cant guess who I want you to react to 👀 ....

I love you! Thanks!

“8th of November” by Big’n’Rich

You asked for more suggestions for songs like this. I have 2 First is a band called Redgum the song is called I Was Only 19 (1983) It is about Australian solders in Vietnam (they were there when the US was there) The oter in by Craig Morgan called Paradise (the perfect soldiers song) Craig spent 10 years in the Army and fought in the Dec 1989 invasion of Panama.

Danii and lizzy......Dancing in the sky.....will make u cry....forewarned

Mitch has wrote songs for many current country artists to include Garth Brooks last number one billboard song.

Shanna Jackman "Answer The Call" is a good one. Very powerful message especially the third verse. Maybe give it a listen.

You should do the ones that didn't make it back home it's so emotional and sad

Please to Jimmy Wayne song I love you this much. Has a powerful message and also a spiritual meaning

Hi just a few lines m Dr. say it s good to talk about your time in country I was drafted in 1969 and was sent to Vietnam for 13mo. when i came back the people at the Airport made you fell like you did something wrong WHY i have PTSD and part of my mind never left Nam. its always there I m 72 now and fighting All i wanted is someone to say Thankyou and never got it yet

Been back 16 years and still having the bad dreams and still smell the smells, I’m still active duty.

This song kills me every time. Joined the Army at 17 (1990) .... we did some sh*t in Baghdad and then two tours in Aphganistan, I get the "they don't tell me how to take the uniform off" line. However, lost my fiance, my child in the mean time ..... do to being f*cked up, they call it PTSD, I call it bad training and recovery/help for vets. Just my opinion. I still have bad dreams every night.

Letters from War by Mark Schultz is a great military song

You should listen to some Sabaton and Fitzy Mess, Fitzy is a Marine Vet rapper who hits us in the feels. I recommend Welcome to the Infantry and Harnot point. Those are my person favorites, although the Birthday messages are great too

I couldn't agree more the whole time I was there I thought about home and the whole time I was home I thought about they're just really twist it I don't think most of us understand it we just deal with it the best we can

You should really check out George Canyon’s “I want you to Live”. It’s amazing.

I love you for all the right reasons...I can feel your reactions. Thank you. I have a suggestion...A Soldiers things. Jus sayin

I am here at home but my mind is still in combat I haven't been able to take uniform off yet

There is an old saying your brain never forgets what your eyes see

I fight everyday to forget but I never can its at home and when I go to work

Thought I wanted to die in Afghan till a young soldier picked me up and told me I can live for so much more

Casey Donahew "Still ain't made it home".....that one needs your reaction too! Mahalo

They call me doc by walker McGuire it’s a song written by a non profit for veterans that make their songs from the viewpoint of veterans telling their stories

Five finger death punch..."wrong side of heaven" for us vets

You know it’s funny what you remember and things impact you. Many years ago when I was a young sailor in the navy, I got word my brother had passed away while on active duty in the army. I traveled home for the funeral and even packed a uniform to pay respect to me brother’s life and service. Just before the actual funeral started I was approached by one of the solders who escorted my brothers body if I would do the honors of handing the flag to my father during the funeral and delivering the standard great film nation speech. I agreed and it was the worst mistake of my life, while I managed to make it through the ceremony, I came away with two thoughts imprinted on my brain, the minute I dealt the wright of the flag my first thought “this is it, this is what my brothers life and my life was worth” and second I have a deep dislike for taps. I spent an entire career in the navy and those thoughts remain with me all these long years later. I can’t go to military funerals because it just breaks me.

Gotta do a reaction to Finn Gruva - Back to you Trust!! You’ll love that jam!

Post tramactic stress is always a issue they train you to do the duty but to experience full blow is always different no reff no time out and consider the controversy that surrounds war doesn't help some people have problems reajusting to normal life arts and crafts a good book or something more nurturing and clam a lot of things happen out there ✌️💞💪