Naneek: Vietnam Combat Veteran's Return 

first

Yes, Absolutely, Welcome Home !

Tim; great piece on the Nam. On 11-17-67, I was up just south of the DMZ at an outpost called Con Thien , w/ the 1st marine regiment. Your story moved me to tears. Welcome home, my brother ! SGT Jim Griffin, USMC.

@@jimgriffin8651 Hi JIm. Thanks for the welcome home. I say the same to you. And I say what price glory. That was a difficult time. I hope you are ok. that was such a tryng time in our lives. Losing brothers is hard to explain to people. I always remember. And I always feel grateful. And Jim, you had to pick the worst possible time to be there didn't you. Ha. Peace brother.

bullshit war criminals

Same here Gary. I still think about that war every single day, but feel way better after my journey back. The Vietnamese people brought a smile to my face.

Thanks for your service Gary 🙏 hope you can enjoy a long peaceful life.

Welcome home you guys and thank for your service my friends.

I hope one day I can return to Fallujah and have the same experience

Bless your heart Sir....WELCOME HOME SOLDIER...WE HAVE NO IDEA....WE NEVER WILL !!!

Dante Hiesi i too

that is the true! I just fkn cried!! Pure respect

I fuckin' lost it man hahaha.

yup. in tears

Well ya, he could have been South Viet, it wasn't US vs Viet, it was a bunch of countries helping South Vietnam as North Vietnam made a deal with the Soviets as they have been trying to take back the country since China invaded so very long ago. Vietnam was a jungle Korea.

Thanks for watching Bui. Peace in Vietnam. I wish our country would end involvement in war everywhere. 800 bases in 85 different countries.

@@timkeenan1385 my respect!

Guess what ? I love you and even me not being there I am sorry

Hugs! May Peace and Love be the leaders

Be thankful for đồng chí, repay them with success and prosperity.

Amen

It takes incredible strenght of character to be able to say and live that. To forgive a country whose soldiers masacred your entire town. Time is a powerful tool when used correctly.

a great lesson to us all. and a great gesture also from those who came back to Viet Nam to make friends with those they were at war with, deepest respect for them all.

@@psmith9789 …..

@@psmith9789 it happened on both side the NVA and VC also massacred innocent people.

Riven. We understand completely. Hopefully you were able to watch our documentary, though. Seeing another combat veteran go back who had the same thoughts as yourself, same struggle with PTSD, until his trip a few years ago.

Alan, when young men are sent off to a place with no choice in the matter, though - and are left with mental trauma for almost 5 decades as Riven himself just spoke of - being honest about PTSD is admirable. Please respect that. Peace.

Alan do you know who else fought there what other countries, if you don't know you should learn and do you know why we fought there and for what reasons if you don't know learn.

Alan Bull why don't you shut the fuck up

Riven wood Thank you for your service and I'm truly sorry for all you've gone through for us. And for the ghost you still carry with you and for what you've lost. To me it will never be forgotten !

Imagine being there. I damn near lost it (producer here). Had to walk away.

some fat tears trying to hold it in haha

It's a sign of respect between two brothers in arms.

It sad that in the U.S. our young people don't have the same respect for our veteran anymore. All service men and women deserve our respect regardless.

​@@po350that's BS. The youth respect the veterans in this country. It's our government who doesn't respect them. They only use them.

first.

@@jacockistitsworth9392 Bruh.

@@truereaper4572 Bruh. Bruh.

I'm deeply sorry to hear of your uncle. I'm grateful and wishing that didn't happen and we all can be friends.

TY I made it back and I was there in 71 also. It was a horrible year. The transport planes were coming in empty and leaving full with far too many heroine addicted GIs. It was cutback time and it was every man for himself. The war was lost per se and the pullout was unorganized and reeking of cheap Washington politics. God Bless your uncle. He is resting in a better place.

I've never heard this ? I'm an avid military follower and well I'm only 25 ,I've never knew this

Australia and South Korea sent some guys. Apparently the NVA and VC were terrified of South Korean troops.

@@AlexKS1992 mày hút cỏ mỹ à sao mà ngu thế. Lũ lính hàn chạy nhanh hơn chó. Chỉ thua lũ vnch 3/ đu càng sang mỹ ăn trợ cấp 1 chút thôi😆

@@ThaiNguyen-rz7qe I hope China invades you.

@@AlexKS1992 1 đứa thất bại của xã hội. Đu càng sang mỹ. Các bạn mỹ để ý bên cali rât nhiều đứa vnch sang đấy ăn xin. ăn cắp .ăn trợ cấp bằng tiền thuế của các bạn l. Các bạn mỹ trắng hãy tẩy chay lũ vô gia cư hèn nhát này đi

We're glad that it recommended it too, Red! Much appreciated.

Thanks for watching my story. Peace.

Same here. I was hesitant to click on but I'm glad I did.

I was thinking exactly the same. And who cut these onions on my desk??

I hope you all find peace. God bless.

Love hearing this, Gary. Tim had much the same experience. Combat in 67'-68'. His first day was stressful to say the least. But, after our Buddhist Temple stop and seeing the people treat him well early on, he began to slowly enjoy the country. After two weeks, he too was so glad to make that journey.

I'm so happy to hear that. The Vietnamese are indeed very friendly people and don't hold grudges, apart from a very few. I've been living in Saigon for 5 years now and have interviewed numerous NVA vets. They generally don't want to talk about the war but once you befriend them, many of them open up and reflect on their wartime experiences. My wife's uncle told me he respected the Americans as soldiers but never held them personally responsible for the war, as he understood they'd gotten their orders from the u.s. government. He suffers from PTSD as do most of his fellow brothers in arms.

Im from the PI, but hear VN countryside is just the most beautiful.. did you feel that way then as well as now?

Who the hell still care we are communist or capitalist? We are happy with our life. That is enough. By the way, i am very happy to hear that you are healing.

@@VNExperience Hi, will you write down and publish the NVA soldiers experiences? I only know the GI side of the war by books and interviews and long to know for a long time how the ordinary Vietnamese NVA or vietcong man or woman experienced the war. Greetz!

Hazem O'Neall I bet he loved to see your boy. Good job man. RIP Sgt. Dan Edward O’Neall

May the light of our Lord shine upon your father and give him peace

NOBBERT I wouldn’t wish any pain on the families of those individuals

NOBBERT why would you wish that, you just then in return become them and the evil you despised of them

I'm sorry for what you and your dad have been going through. how i wish nobody had to go through that.

Well, the US vet seemed to be in much better shape than the former NVA soldiers.

@@generalkayoss7347 True, but consider the multiple wars each had fought through. Thuat at the end had up to 7 gunshot wounds and he continued to fight for his country.

@@naneekfilm1512 I didn't mean that as an insult. I'm a very patriotic American but even I respect how hard the North Vietnamese fought.

@@generalkayoss7347 Certainly didn't take it as such, GK. The NVA were patriots to their own country. Being up close to these gentleman, the visible toll (partially due to the wild amount of cigarettes they smoked, ha) was immediate. Peace.

USA - send even a Dude - called LAURI TÖRNI alias Larry Thorne to Vietnam ! He fougt in three ( 3 ) Wars - born 1919 - and Died in Vietnam ! Remains were found by a Finnish Send Team - 30 Years later - buried at ARLINGTON Washington !

As a Packer diehard, made the comment even better. Much appreciated, my friend. Peace always - Tim

and that says it all for me.

Why do ameicans brag with thier nationalism and patriotism, only to disrepect them once they got back. Trick

@@naimma9356 That's not an American thing, that is a world thing lol. The only times countries respect their service men and women is for propagandaed political gain.

Microtransaction yeah, it is. You didn't understand.

@@desertedgoat17 It is American thing. In recent history, out of all 195 countries of the world,, how many have invaded other countries? US is involved in pretty much every war, with full-blown small or large scale invasion or proxy war. The US is the only country in the world where soldiers are glorified and seen as heroes for serving in wars of aggression.

Well I mean we’ve been fighting extremist terrorist the last twenty years idk where you been for that but it’s hard to defend them ahah

@@brandenray9587 We've been occupying their country for the last 20 years. You think the kids that grow up into adults during those years are going to look fondly at the U.S.? Especially with the propaganda they're fed.

Degenerate Nerd the kids are thankful that we are there attempting to fight off the terrorist. The only ones who aren’t are ones being told they will be killed for supporting Americans. They’re scared what will happen once we leave.

@@brandenray9587 Oh, I didn't know it was that black and white over there, bud. Have you passed this information along to our government by any chance? Seems like they could use it.

Degenerate Nerd I did 4 tours over there in special warfare. I explained it black and white because you seem to be pretty black in white with your logic, bud. Anyways. All the best.

Amen to that, Antond131. Thank you for such a kind comment.

Truly moving!!

I wish this comment was on a billboard. Appreciated reading this today, DutyofCall. Peace - Naneek

Let’s all spread this video!

There aint no fucking justice anymore in this world. Salute to all warriors past and present. A comrade is a comrade

The problem on RU-vid nowadays there is too much uneducated rubbish. This video deserves more views 🙏

Ikr... This reality seems unreal.

John Dubpernell thank you for sharing your story! Greetings from Finland.

Thank you soo much much love from Fort bragg North Carolina echo company 282 Assault helicopter Battalion Pfc Hernandez

John Dubpernell welcome home, sir!

So you were mowing people left and right ?

John, thank you for sharing your story. I have heard other interviews from Vietnam Vet's here on RU-vid about Huey pilots, and the respect and how they counted on you. Thank you for your service and sacrifice for our country. Welcome home. God Bless.

Don't go back there. They are not like the Vietnamese. Dave here

that is a tottally different thing Afghanistan and Vietnam... Taliban are pieces of pure shit.

@@JBS2018 We need to get the hell out of there its been our longest war ever even Russia said fuck it.

Same here from Canada , spent 15 monts of my life over there and i hope one day this place is in peace

I hope Afghanistan finds peace. Of all places on earth that deserves peace it’s definitely Afghanistan. They been attacked by empires since Persia all the way to now. Those people have seen endless warfare. No matter the result of this war, whoever wins I hope they find peace

metalmulisha kfx Many do. It’s just the way it is. At least getting an understanding of the “why” is a start. Hopefully conversations happen for you both. Peace.

Well when you see your buddies dead against a tree with their penis' cut off and stuffed into their mouths by some VC scumbag that will mess you up. Buddy says that is actually the worst part, knowing your buddies died but those scumbags get to live their lives, he just hopes they have nightmares worse than him for doing that kind of stuff.

@@desertedgoat17 you miss the point of this documentary?

I'm very sorry to hear about your dad and his cousin. i hope one day soon your dad can somehow forget that past and be happy once again.

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Wow, thanks, Rob - enjoy seeing messages like this. No doubt, we poured everything into this documentary. Tim and his son reconnecting the way they did was certainly amazing to see unfold. Thanks for the message, man!

something I never thought I would do.

@@timkeenan1385 Im sure youre glad you did. I have a lot of respect for you Tim, returning to a former combat zone, former enemies who are now nothing short of friends. With that initial reluctance we all understand, but only few of us feel. Quite possibly a bigger step than stepping off that aeroplane all those years ago. Hope youre doing well.

I think It exactly a peaceful meal!

Thank you Matt. My condolences on the passing of your dad. Very sad. War never leaves us.

Thank YOU so much, Jay. Made the film for you, and veterans like you. Forever grateful.

It really is.

Thank you for your service. Did you ever have an Amiga? :-)

Disliking it for lack of proof.

@@armandpotgieter9911 Everybody is veteran now

Aurélien Regat-Barrel that'd be a dream! Naneek has spoken to many youth, most veterans and festivals.

so true, and sadly enough, some can still be reluctant to understand and learn to love

If you are a reader, I will send you a copy of my book, The Good HIke. It is about my thru hike of the Appachian Trail while suffering with PTSD. Completed my hike at age 63.

Kudos to you dad and his service to our great nation.

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They killed babys and women, and many US soldiers died, the ones that made it never got took care of by the system. It was the first media coverage war, do your studies before raising flags. Nobody won this war! although the North Vietnamese soldiers killed more US soldiers, US soldiers killed, raped, tortured children babys mothers. Go look up “winter soldiers “ why do you guys think the veterans feel bad… after all those years they can’t get let go of the past… they can’t wash the blood from their hands 🩸👋

To be there, to see it and feel the camaraderie amongst the men was incredible. Glad you noticed that as well, DJ A. It was an emotional moment for Naneek even still today. We talk of it often.

thanks Manny. I think lots of Vietnam vets would have benefited from going back, I put it off for 47 years. Sorry about the loss of dad. Peace.

wonderful people, the Vietnamese.

Michael Firth Wow, what a sad yet so common story amongst Vietnam combat vets. We’ve been fortunate to play this for many veterans around the US. Most don’t talk about their time at war, understandably. Others cry letting go in some way. If you have a close relationship to him, Michael, please watch this with him. At the very least, being present & providing some sense of happiness around him is essential. Thanks for the message. Peace - Naneek

God that’s heartbreaking.

Thank you for your kind words sir. I will definitely show this to him.

thank you for your words. You are right on all counts. Peace.

@@timkeenan1385 Thank you for spreading peace!

There was reason for the massacre from a Charly compony prospective.

@@bigd3512 before Vietnam the dutch fought in indonesia under leadership of captain Westerling and we were accused of the same war crimes after the conflict Westerling left the dutch army and was recruited bij the CIA to write a textbook on counter guerrilla jungle warfare wich became the textbook for the American aproach in Vietnam There is a book about Captain Westerling called "de eenling" but as far as I know its onely published in dutch

Considering the numerous massacres of their own people perpetrated by the Viet Cong and PAVN (NVA) (as one example, 5000 civilians methodically slaughtered from prepared kill lists at Hue), it's more likely that the average NVA just fought on because he was ordered to. One is reminded of the 3 Stooges: North Vietnamese communist leadership vowed to fight to the last drop of someone else's blood.

Such a cool note, Tony. Passed along to Naneek. Cheers!

i can imagine how difficult it would be to write the script for this. I can only imagine the film main point should focus on the soldiers on all sides just trying to survive that madness and one day come together to hug and love as friends. Not a film to blame or to deepen the wound.

Amen to that last line, Louis.

Peace is a futile illusion if you don't know how to handle a weapon or don't know the techniques of survival.

They were there to protect their ally - south vietnam just like why they were in korea. But things got so ugly and confusing that heroes are viewed villians. This come from a vietnamese soldier.

There may never be peace, Milan. Seeing former enemies come together, break bread, talk candidly about life without war is a testament to the reality. We're all human. Maybe one day the powers *that be* choose pragmatism over conflict....

mangore623 Nice intelligent reply.

VikingFevahGames same. fuck warmongers

that was very good that he did that. such a wonderful thoughtful man.

Was unbelievable to see Jake ride around and how others were so fixated on that alone. Then to see him gift many boards to children. Maybe one day we'll learn indeed.

@@naneekfilm1512 i mean an old veteran and his son giving back to the community there. Thank you.

Nick, wow, thank you so much. What a message to wake up to. Filming it and being present as it all unfolded had me walking away many times.

So glad you were able to do that with your grandfather, Ben. What an awesome comment to see tonight!

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Thank you so much for this, John. Means the world.

That is spot on, Greg. Thank you for this kind note, I'll send along to Tim now! Funny you use gung-ho. Tim would often admit in Q&A's, "As a gung-ho kid from Grand Rapids, I thought we were doing the right thing. What little did I know, though. I left Vietnam never trusting my government. That gung-ho kid will be forever different." - Peace, my friend.

Sadly, with Trump, it is the same. He is filled with slogans and simple explanations for a very complex world. I hope in time people realize this and realize how duped we have been by this psychopath.

If people really knew what is a war scene like. All the young lives lost. The destruction. The innocent lives lost...

Wow, thank you for sharing, Robert. Some of the best men, hey. Humble in all ways. Thank you for your service, my friend. Hope life is back to being healthy and peaceful. - Naneek

"they" are afraid to

@@apollogt5506 they are not afraid to show it, but they use young fit ignorant guys and only show the good parts about the army

@@N3mdraz that's what i meant by "afraid to show it". they only manipulate these young minds with certain videos. not this video obviously.

Brian, appreciate you. I hope you understood as time went on his trauma. Hope you’re living a peaceful life, my friend.

Le Huu Loc! Thanks for clarifying that, Nguyen. Had to guess as we weren't able to secure a few NVA names. Thank you for the kind message.

thank you, it was confusing me how that appeared in the subtitle. also, watch the Ken Burns' Vietnam War. it was so far the most detailed documentary and I very much think it's most accurate compare to others. to make it short: Ho Chi Minh was looking for support to get the French out of Viet Nam because he saw the Vietnamese being treated poorly in the labor part and he turned to the US for help but didn't get the help. So in the end he got the help from the USSR which brought on the communism. From that, the US feared the spread of communism in Viet Nam and tried to help the people in the South of Vietnam to retaliate but it's was not successful. The anger and frustrations that fueled the down pour of the north Vietnamese drove out the last of the Americans. Communism took over the land and that anger and frustrations carried on beyond the time Ho Chi Minh's death. I don't think Ho Chi Minh himself had intended such brutality towards anyone. But after he died, those who carried on the war were full of anger and hatred they embraced communism like a lifeboat. But they went too far like a child with a grudge. they tortured their own people in prisons for helping the Americans. they call them traitors and shameful. they brainwashed the children that the Americans were bad people, invading Viet Name. The list goes on. those who tried to leave the country were shot at and imprisoned when caught. See the movie Journey from the Fall.

@Apollo GT your know more than the others but not enough to give the correct conclusion. same as the Americans didn’t know us enough so they were the losers in the war. You should learn more about Vietnamese love and fighting spirit for our fatherland.

thank you James.

Noted this on an earlier comment. Light hearted backstory, Njerve: so that gentleman partook in the prairie fire shot with the group. Let's just say, DID NOT go over well for him. He spent much of the post-dinner on a couch laid out and Tim went inside and put a cold cloth to his forehead and sat until he felt better. A moment that NVA certainly appreciated.

Thank you Joan. I very much appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you Ragemutt. Sometimes we in America forget that "the enemy" are people, just like us, with family and friends. They didn't like war any more than me. "Those that start wars never fight them". Peace.

@@timkeenan1385 Thank you for your service. I sincerely hope that you made peace with all of it. No, they don't, they send boys off to kill and die in their place.

find another career! "Rich mans war, poor man's blood". So true. Thank you Kainoa.

my thanks to your Grandpa for his service. wished we could have been friends.

Tim Keenan: Your Welcome.

Apollo GT: I’m pretty sure if he was still alive, he would have appreciated that.

Thanks for sharing this, Synthetic. Having shown this across the country, many Vietnam vets keep guarded. Just the way it is, understandably. Building that trust enough to finally have him open up to you is such a gift of trust. Hopefully our future is less and less of war. Appreciate your service, my friend.

thank you.

thank you P Smith.

For the friends, the jungle welcomes them with endless green and serenity. For the enemies, the jungle serves as their grave.

That is a great quote! Where is it from?@@jar3729

We all hope to get to that level of integrity, Dustbowl. To be there, to film Naneek being present and open to meeting NVA, the people... just amazing. Thanks for the kind message.

wow indeed, and thank you for pointing that out. cannot judge people who are across the seas but you can judge yourself based on those you meet across the table.

Sorry about your Uncle B-Rye

thank you Penfold

The Black Lotus cannot even imagine what he's been through. Might be worthwhile to sit and watch Naneek alone with him. Either way, hope he's found a peaceful life. :)

Lol u dumbass. VC used US war prisoners as a tool to negotiate so ur dad probably had a better life in prison than those NVA troops fighting in the jungle

The Black Lotus Your pop's was a general.They're not made that way no more.Semper Fi !!!!

+Đinh Phuc Trinh What about the 84 POWs who died in captivity? Over 1,000 more were never returned even after the war ended. Fucking idiot.

+ Lm O Both sides killed civilians, you dumbfuck. Are you a hypocrite who denies responsibility on the vietcong's side? What about the vietamese who wanted liberty? You communist bastards are the ones trying to oppress them. LOL Typical coward won't say where you're from because you know damn well your shithole country has plenty of its own probelems. Fucking loser.

thank you for your thoughts C&P. Appreciated. Agreed.

you said it all

Yeah i totally agree with you. But I think his son knows about the peace clearly!

Hopefully we can someday.

Same

Dude you must be joking, with that religion guns are only closure !

@@ExtremeFailer I was referring to the safe trip there and back... And I already have my rifles etc. This isn't about reconciling me to Muslims or the other way around. Its about the personal experiences.

You fucked me up man... got me crying here