I don't know if this is the proper forum to post this in, but, here goes.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

This song by Poison, every time, brings me to tears on how the way we were treated by society on returning from the Vietnam War and it still goes on today with the Afghanistan/Iraq veteran.

[RKP5637]

1. K&R! n/t

[Faux pas]

2. Thank you

for your service MarineCombatEngineer!

[MarineCombatEngineer]

3. And thank you.

I should point out that the vast majority of Democrats support the returning Afghanistan/Iraq vets, but not the repigs.
Semper Fi.
Peace out forever.
Daniel.

[Faux pas]

10. ...

The repigs are missing whatever it is that would make them human. I call them the inhumanes.

Peace, Love and Joy

[MarineCombatEngineer]

11. 100+.

Peace, love and joy to you and your family and friends also.

[Biophilic]

4. Damn. That behavior ticked me off then and still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I protested the war vigorously. It was just wrong on so many levels, but it wasn’t the soldiers who were at fault. I honestly can’t believe it’s still been happening. Be mad at the politicians and oligarchs not the soldiers.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

6. 100+. nt

[50 Shades Of Blue]

5. K & R!!!

[quaint]

7. Disgusting shame the way we've treated vets.

This anti-war protester chanted:
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
BRING THEM HOME!

[MarineCombatEngineer]

8. 100+. nt

[2naSalit]

9. K&R

I objected to that war but I never understood the way vets were treated upon return. I knew a number of draftees and enlisted, they were the same people when they came home, those that did. Changed by what we put them through and the country turned it's back because of political failure. That's what pissed me off and probably what propelled me into politics.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

13. Thank you!!!

Upon returning from my first deployment to Vietnam, I was shocked at the vitriol directed towards us, mind you, only a small segment of the population, but nevertheless, it was obscene.

I've somewhat come to grips with this, but when I hear this song, it all comes rushing back and I have tears flowing down my face.

[UTUSN]

14. I was "lucky" - that is, INSULATED

Last edited Fri Sep 29, 2023, 07:25 PM - Edit history (2)

From boot camp straight to my ship, the year up and down the river from Saigon to Can Tho carrying supplies for an Army base. Yes, we got rocketed three times during the year, but nowhere so heavy as the land branches.

That was my first year, first ship. "Insulated" because the 2nd ship was stateside, then the 4th year shore duty near home. So I wasn't faced with the Hippie disdain, was "inside" the military "protected" away from it.

And I didn't join the VFW until 2001 or so, so didn't have much contact with the vet experiences till then. The VFW had a decal of a "cancelled" Jane FONDA at the bottom of the urinal, which has only been removed a month ago. It wasn't until much later, at a flea market of all places that I had firsthand experience, and from a WW II vet of all people: I had on my ballcap with my Vietnam ship patch on it and I had seen this elderly vendor with his Navy WW II cap a few times. Finally, I went up to him in a "hail fellow, well met" way, saying, "Greetings, Shipmate!" and extended my hand to shake hands.

He refused to shake hands, saying with, not only disdain, but actual *hate*, "No, I was in the *BIG* war!"

I was stunned, then recovered when it sank in and said, "GIVE me your hand!" and I GRABBED it, shook it, and THREW it back at him.