An Overdue ‘Welcome Home’

[groovedaddy]

Watching a new documentary about Vietnam War veterans, I was surprised at how old they looked and how worn their faces had become. These were fellows who had once laughed and danced to the music of the Beatles and Motown.

I was also struck by how many of these men, now approaching retirement age in civilian life, broke down and began to weep as they told the stories about what it was like to be thrown at a tender age into the flaming sewer of combat.

It’s no longer widely understood — now that war is kept largely out of sight and out of mind — just how dreadful warfare is, and the profound effect it has on the participants and their loved ones.

John Dederich of De Pere, Wis., recalled stepping on a land mine in Vietnam and being blown high into the air. “My right leg went one way, and my left leg went the other way,” he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/15/opinion/15herbert.html?th&emc=th

[Possumpoint]

1. They Be Older

but don't fool yourself, they still laugh, dance and enjoy the music. It's that some of the memories aren't so fond.

[Amsterdam Hooligan]

2. I`ll be 60 years old December 7th

And I still "kick out the jams"......I still run with the old gang, who also are Nam Vets. And yea we still "burn a few" when we get a chance. Just because we are older, don`t mean we are dead. But thanks for remembering us.......I was 18 years old when I went over....and yes I look in the mirror and the receding hair line and crows feet get a little deeper every year.....I spent 17 months and 22 days there.....05Bravo...173rd Airborne 2/503rd...LZ English, LZ Uplift, LZ Crystal....November 1969 thru March 1971.......Amsterdam Hooligan.......Thanks Again for thinking about us.

[Amsterdam Hooligan]

3. Brother groovedaddy

I was born in Southeastern Kentucky......Paintville.....Spent many wonderful summers at my grandparents farm.....thanks again Homey......

[white cloud]

4. 173 Air Borne

Yes those were the days gone by.

Did you happen to know this guy? An old friend.

JIMMY LEE CULWELL
SGT, ARMY
LUBBOCK, TX
2/17/1949 - 1/29/1969

JIMMY LEE CULWELL


SGT - E5 - Army - Regular
173rd Airborne Brigade

Length of service 1 years
His tour began on Apr 12, 1968
Casualty was on Jan 29, 1969
In BINH DINH, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died of wounds, GROUND CASUALTY
OTHER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE
Body was recovered

Panel 33W - Line 13

http://thewall-usa.com/info.asp?recid=11428


EDIT Sorry i see your time line and see you came later. Thanks for all