In my opinion, most veterans were not even sure what they felt at the time. Why did Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming? Why did Vietnam veterans recive a cold homecoming? It never occurred to me to do anything else. The stories were usually very specific. One fellow was leaning against the wall, the other half-kneeling, half-sitting on the floor. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. First student strike in U.S. history occurs. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Thanks to him, his chemical companies, and "Operation Ranchhand," you might say we were spat upon and didn't even know it. This was on April 15, 1970. Thirty three veterans gave interviews on various topics relating to Vietnam including: basic training, the trip to Vietnam, being in the field, helicopter and aircraft stories, support groups, the Vietnamese, and their general thoughts on the war and the country. He left still crying and I sat there crying for all of us. He earned 38 military decorations during his career, and has been called the most decorated U.S. soldier of the Vietnam War. FSM: free speech movement Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. I am a 30-year veteran and served during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. I guess guys who lose a war get pretty unpopular. No one is whine boxing around for a parade in their honor and for the most part, the Nam is in the past, where it belongs. <><>19 20]/P 25 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> Most veterans moved a piano for over a year (and much worse) and the door was closed on all of us. Why did the U.S. get involved in the struggle? It granted him broad latitude in handling the struggle against communism in Southeast Asia. They mainly noticed that But the homecoming was very different for most Vietnam veterans. To win Vietnam's independence from foregin rule. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 65 0 obj This herbicide mix was deployed in urban, agricultural, and forested areas in Vietnam to expose the enemy and destroy crops. WebHomecoming by Dennis J. Stauffer I left Vietnam nearly 14 years ago and tried to put that phase of my life behind. endobj However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. They missed. The whole purpose of the cold war was to avoid an atomic warVietnam was a fuse that could have led to an atomic explosiona fuse that world leaders wanted to ensure didn't detonate. Some college students/ young people. National Vietnam War Veterans Day Stand there and take it? What was the challenge that the Framers faced when setting out to write the Constitution, and how did they meet it? endobj (#fcL8uJQT3dR hrww9G4[I ZyPtb8QAdXY> ;B3f!^}Iiz/;.A' #&JHfe*)3(|a 5a(J4:p1fP^8(u398YZ)Q#N=h_^v`"D'hG9gyRRyjDtHhs]E{qJ8gx NIACTV4^E=z yIuT`3Q9Wa{[_A7+R`D8euEqu~ ]z!q!B{PP3&\(!mcg P.j uzQA*&A/C/8Y:%55A< 8sieYFa& /AU9B+F(JHQuR~f2vkBUtYZ-i~1kS ", We were both crying, and then he said, "Lady, it is never too late.". Men came home on an In recent years, as we all know, there has been an undeniable shift in the public's attitude toward the men who fought the Vietnam War. Needless to say, my son doesn't venture to church very often, even after all these years and different ministers. The hurt stuck in real deep, and it is hard to think about. Copyright 2023 WittyQuestion.com | All rights reserved. Those who argue that the United States opponents won the war cite the United States overall objectives and outcomes. What is the labour of cable stayed bridges? For large numbers of others, the catharsis comes when they visit the Vietnam Memorial in Washington. when I returned from Nam I was an emotional wreck, but I kept it all to myself so my family and friends thought I was OK and acted like I had never left. Next time you see a bunch of "Vietnam veterans" on television walking in a parade, take a good close look at them. 33 0 obj I think these stories about spitting are a lot of bull. Her choice of gift for a grandparent or an aunt or an uncle is often inappropriate. We put the banner up at 6 in the morning before my son left for college. To end US involvement in Vietnam; replace troops with South Vietnamese troops which establishes "peace with honor". Were you spat upon when you returned from Vietnam? :@h@tt@68U=iQc\YZHlSVBk9WdJ^7Vr%h2Ks=5!t5sbM(xvm 8{3T endobj WebWhy did Vietnam veterans receive cold homecoming? The veterans of the Vietnam War returned to a cold shoulder and a country on the verge of tearing itself apart. WebWhy were Vietnam veterans treated so badly when they came home? That was the message. I remember looking down at the scarred landscape, waiting until we got enough altitude to be completely safe. 13 - The Roaring Life of the 1, Unit 9- chapter 22 moving toward conflict s, Eric Hinderaker, James A. Henretta, Rebecca Edwards, Robert O. Self, Unit 16 | Colligation: adjective + preposition. While waiting for a bus home there, an elderly woman came up to me, looked me square in the face, and called me a hired killer. I felt so good to be marching with thousands of Marines who were bursting with pride singing the Marine Corps Hymn. xZmo8 (/R'YtmWJ,,%E%Y\\Eg>C}]\|tb>^-7n$_22%w!}6|q!? Yes, we were spat upon! Veterans views of the antiwar movement Many Vietnam veterans blamed the antiwar movement for the chilly reception they got upon returning to the United States. After hasty attempts of Vietnamizationthe process of training and arming South Vietnamese troops for fighting alone after U.S. forces would pull outall U.S. troops were evacuated by March 29, 1973. 17+ Astounding Vietnam Vet Facts Be Surprised The U.S. military reported 58,220 American casualties. WebNot successful- sustained bombing campaign Ho Chi Mihn Trail In 1959, Ho Chi Mihn supplied military arms to the Veitcong from North Veitnam via a network of paths along the boarder of Veitnam and Cambodia Strategic Hamlet Ran Go on "search & destroy" missions to eliminate the Vietcong from South Vietnam villages Most returning veterans were 18 to 22 years old. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. THE BITTER Agent Orange was used along with several other herbicides, code-named Agents White, Purple, Blue, Pink, and Green. All Rights Reserved, VIETNAM VETS RECALL THEIR HOMECOMINGS -- OFTEN PAINFULLY, Bidens not in a rush to announce hes running for reelection, The 2023 Utah Legislature has wrapped. My Vietnam tour was from June 1968 to May 1969. WebDuring the late 1980s and early 1990s, years after the Vietnam War ended, the proliferation of these spitting stories increased greatly. They believed that it was not fair for antiwar protesters to question their actions during the war. Heather Vlieg In what sense was the Vietnam war a "working class" war? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. <>27]/P 27 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> 2023-01-20T17:35:10-08:00 I also kept quiet because the war was not a welcome topic outside the walls of veterans clubs. My loving and close family was elated to have me home, but there was no sense of appreciation from anyone -- my friends and people I knew never said anything. nb:.V}PU(*)Pv}PhI![?cvR{hF{.i`7[_l`?,=`{d+Ugtgka| [49 0 R 52 0 R 54 0 R 56 0 R 57 0 R 58 0 R 59 0 R 60 0 R 61 0 R 62 0 R 63 0 R] Heres how its spending your money, Parents know best: Rep. Burgess Owens wants to fund school choice at national level, 2023 Sterling Scholars semifinalists: Southwest Region. Example (You){\color{#c34632}{(You)}}(You) 1. From every section and corner of the country, well over a thousand people took the time to sit down, put their thoughts on paper, and tell me what happened when they returne dto the United States from Vietnam. V;.;Tqs?__D`ngP/S:LG-Jf}Xl\d#?r=H+J(CP\BQhG? I was wearing my dress blue uniform with my Vietnam service ribbons, and I was carrying my sea bag over one shoulder. It was then I realized something wasn't right. I served in Vietnam from May 1969 to May 1970 in the 101st Airborne and spent 11 of my 12 months at a small landing zone. It would be difficult to imagine a more powerful phrase than that one, and to analyze it too deeply is not appropriate; Mr. Leary has said it as well as it can be said. What did Eisenhower compared to a row of dominoes? We were working hard trying to raise our children and teach them what we considered the real values of life. If they were myth, we should know that, too. I have a difficult time writing about things I would just as soon forget. Understanding The Homecoming Experience of Vietnam Veterans. I probably would have broken him in two. This was partly due to the logistics of the never-ending conflict. What did the Nazis begin using gas chambers instead of mobile killing units and shooting squads after a while? Explain the significance of the following key terms The Silent Majority and the Pentagon Papers. The curation of this content is at the discretion of the author, and not necessarily reflective of the views of Encyclopaedia Britannica or its editorial staff. We coulnd't answer any of the questions for ourselves or our children. endobj Both have low precipitation and high evaporation rates. WebHomecoming: When the Soldiers Returned From Vietnam is a book of selected correspondence published in 1989. In response to Westmorelands requests for more forces, the American presence in Vietnam grew to well over 500,000 troops. Yes. Vietnam War (Chapter 22, Section 1), Vietnam Flashcards Since 1941 Congress has declared war only six times, all during World War II. I believe that most of us were well received, although we probably felt unfomfortable adjusting, some having guilty about surviving while many of their compatriots didn't make it. 2 0 obj Tensions escalated into armed conflict between the two sides, and in 1961 U.S. President John F. Kennedy chose to expand the military aid program. The result was an expanded U.S. military presence and increased military activity in neutral Cambodia. endobj What difficulties did US troops encounter in Vietnam? I will remember vividly for the rest of my life leaving Vietnam on a plane loaded with Marines.