Vet returns from Iraq to family.
I remember getting off the bus from Iraq and seeing my dad standing there with tears in his eyes. I had only seen my father cry one time and that was when grandpa died. It was a special moment for me and one that I will never forget. My dad is a vietnam vet and talked with me about that war and what he went thru until I came home. I could see the pride and happiness in dads face.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Claudia Bartow on -
What a wonderful memory for you. I am sure you and your dad felt an incredible connection that day. Maybe he was also happy you received a better homecoming than he did?
Thanks for sharing, Jerry.
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Permalink Reply by Ricardo Jacques on -
I think, he was thinking back to when he came home.
It's a fact that many of my fellow Vietnam veterans.
Came home to hostility and abuse.
There was a quote, "never again will a generation of veteran abandon another."
I think generation should be at the end of that quote.
We as the nation owe a great deal to all you new veterans.
Us veterans of Vietnam, might advise you of what we went through.
The fight is not yet finish, wounds that don't show.
Will find there way through.
Talking about what you saw or did is the way to end some of those thoughts.
Thanks for your service and WELCOME HOME!
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Permalink Reply by Ricardo Jacques on
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Something I was thinking about; Iraq and Afghanistan have somethings that make's them more like Vietnam.
No the heat!
Rules of Engagement (ROE), things that the military of World War II and Korea never had to deal with.
We had one that I remember; Don't fire unless fired on.
Than there was something LBJ said;"My boys in Vietnam can't bomb an 'outhouse' without my OK."
I thought years later, that how much LBJ was out of touch.
There's no 'outhouses' in Vietnam.
Out away from the cities, the rural Vietnamese would dig a hole say 7 feet wide say 6 feet deep.
The would lay bamboo in one direction leaving a space let say 7 inches and than lay bamboo across the first with the same space, resulting in a 7 inch square.
On top they would place soil so the could squat on while taking caring of their body's needs.
Than up in North Vietnam, in some cities they would draw a 30 miles circle.
Everything inside that circle our aircraft could not bomb or shoot at.
Than not knowing the language or culture, with time one will not trust anyone.
So all this makes one understand how much Afghanistan and Iraq are like Vietnam.
We stand in awe of all who did service in either country.
Semper Fidelis
Ricardo
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Permalink Reply by Jerry Wheeler on -
My dad has told me some of his stories. I try to share but will only open up with people I know will understand.
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