Vietnam, as seen through tears.
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The Killing Zone: My Life in the Vietnam War
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National Geographic: Inside the Vietnam War
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Vietnam (Country Guide)
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The Vietnam War (History Channel)
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I remember in the late 60s, my parents crying in each others arms because they had just watched the news that reported the death count of soldiers in Vietnam. My brother was there and they wondered if he was alive. I was 14 years old and many times I sat up late at night with my dad, talking about my brother and the war.
Dad couldn't hardly say my brother's name, Terry, without getting tears in his eyes. Dad was a WW 2 Veteran and he knew well what war was about. Mom and dad wrote him every week and I would put my letters in with theirs.
When a knock came at the door or a strange car pulled in the driveway....my parents would feel their souls sinking. There was a torment and fear constantly shadowing every day. Their first born son was in the war.
The hippies were screaming,"Baby killers" on television and the politicians delivered excuses, along with the usual scripted bull shit. My parents, siblings and I cared less about the gibberish of people who were comfy and safe at home. A member of our family was in a foreign war...that simply...is what we cared about.
When Terry told my dad that he was joining the Army, he told him through tears in his eyes. He said, "Dad, I promise I'll make you proud."
People can argue until hell freezes over about the rights and wrongs of the war. My brother chose to go to war three times. He told me his reason once....."I go to war to keep another young American from having to....if I'm there....someone else doesn't have to be."
Terry was a professional soldier and he knew that he had a better chance of surviving. He was wounded in body and soul but returned home each time. It's not about being a patriot and it's not about serving a great political cause. Being a soldier is about surviving and helping fellow soldiers survive.
This Memorial Day...I wont think about America, Old Glory, parades and celebrations. I will look at the little poppy that My wife, Tammy, bought a few days ago from a Korean Veteran. It's hanging on the mirror of my old truck. Through a tear...I will think about soldiers.
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THANK YOU for this blog and THANK YOU!! to all of our currently serving men and women in the Armed Forces as well as veterans, and military families. I pray that they ALL come home safely. To have that car come to your house is a heartbreak that one never completely forgets or heals.
The draft was still on when I was a freshman in high school. God bless and keep the soldier.
A touching rendition.
That's why I have adopted a US Soldier..http://www.adoptaussoldier.org. and if it helps I want to do it...he is a sweet man with a wife and daughter and wow..gets 2 weeks home soon. God Bless our men who are so brave and make me so proud, and I am living well..had 4 soldiers lost in my family...so do understand...Thanks Tom for the reminder...:O) Hugs
The heart ache of a child of dad or sibling killed in a foreign war. This story touched me deeply... Well done Tom
Tom, having visited Vietnam and the War Crimes Museum in Ho Chi Min City, I feel for the Vietnamese people and what the Americans inflicted on them. The Vietnam War was nothing like the Hollywood movies have made it, it was far far worse for the Vietnamese people, and the devastating effects of Agent Orange live on. I think on Memorial Day, Americans should spend some time thinking about innocent people in Laos, Cambodia, Korea and Vietnam they harmed during that period when they had no right to be there in the first place.
Thank you.
Excellent Hub. Thank You for attempting to make people open their eyes. Many live their entire lives "blind".
That's what we need for Memorial Day. That's the kind of honor our soldiers need. My brother was in Vietnam. I remember him coming home on leave from the Marines and telling my mother, "I'm going south, South Vietnam. I remember my seeing mother's face drop. Now my step-son is in Afghanistan and my nephew is in Iraq.
That's what we need for Memorial Day. That's the kind of honor our soldiers need. My brother was in Vietnam. I remember him coming home on leave from the Marines and telling my mother, "I'm going south, South Vietnam. I remember my seeing mother's face drop. Now my step-son is in Afghanistan and my nephew is in Iraq.
Very nice loving tribute to your brother. Most of us who lived through that time will never agree on everything that happened, except perhaps that wars do more harm than good.
I say that as a female Vietnam veteran, a girl who saw 1/2 the boys in her graduating class also go off to that war, many of whom did not come back, and those who did were forever mentally changed, not necessarily in a good way. At home, we were forbidden by our government on some air force bases to leave the base in our uniforms, because of the danger of getting spit on, bricks, rocks, etc. thrown at us -- the division in this country so deep.
Many people to this day, believe that North and South Vietnam were one country divided, but such was never the case, except briefly under the French government.
North Vietnam had originally been two countries, Annam and Tonkin, and their civilization derived largely from China.
South Vietnam had formerly been known as Champa, and like Cambodia's, it's civilization came from India. Before France moved into the situation, the two countries had been fighting for nearly two thousand years.
Champa (South Vietnam) had always been a rich agricultural region. It's boutiful crops a challenge to less fertile northern countries. Both Annam and Tonkin (North Vietnam), usually with the assistance from China, had attempted to dominated Champa (South Vietnam).
The Vietnam War was simply another move in the same continuing effort. A very good book on the history of the area is D.G.E. Hall's A History of South-east Asia.
As cindyvine pointed out: We are not today viewed by the Vietnamese people as heroes or those who helped them, or with any fondness (although they still like the French). They are still suffering. Our generation were led to believe it was about democracy and Communism, but it was all about a valuable land grab.
Here, as a Vietnam veteran who receives medical care under the VA system, I see many men each week whose lives were shattered by that war, where they did their best, not really understanding what it was all about -- maybe or maybe not so lucky to have survived it. We were all young fresh faced kids, who didn't know what price we would pay. Still, our price pales compared to the Vietnamese people.
I cry for all of us on both sides of that war.
Jerilee, thanks for remembering the suffering of the Vietnamese people. So often Americans overlook that. I was also amazed at how many journalists died in the Vietnam War. At the War Crimes Museum, they have a whole room just devoted to all the journalists from all over the world that died in cross fire or in the bombings.
Cindyvine -- my son and his wife were just there last week, wanting to understand more about the war and country that both of his parents went to. It was a real eye opener for him. You are right about the price journalists paid.
The other thing that I never knew about, were the American pilots that flew into laos and dropped bombs but had to wear civilian clothes and planes couldn't have US markings. America didn't disguise their planes when they 'accidentally' bombed Cambodia, killing hundreds of thousands of people and opening the way for Pol Pot to come into power!
As Tom said--"Through a tear, I will think about soldiers"--that's the point of this hub...
He and his family are proud of the soldier, and the man, that Terry became, and still is.
Wonderful hub, Tom--one of your most poignant by far...
Make no mistake, I too thought it was a poignant tribute from one brother to another -- and to a soldier who served his country proudly. However, while we are showing our love for the soldiers, we also have to remember the innocents in that war too.
I thought I had written this hub as a small tribute to my brother. Is there a such thing as a good war? This was about a soldier and a family who thought of him and prayed for him.
Thanks to all for commenting.
Tom, To me this isn't about taking sides in a war. War is ugly on everyside. To me this about honoring the ones who do serve, who have to go where they are told.. Both sides. To honor those we love who did the right thing.. not the popular thing. I send you my honor for your brother.. and any vets/service people who visit here this weekend.. You are important. I say "Thank you"!
A touching tribute to your brother, Tom. On this Memorial Day, while we all think of those who sacrificed their lives for their country in all the wars around the world, my thoughts take me back to my Uncle Bill, who was killed when his ship, the Gregory, was attacked and sunk by the Japanese at Guadalcanal. Just as all politics are local, all wars are personal. A tip of my hat to all those who serve and those who have served in wartime as well as those who have served in peacetime to keep the peace.
My grandfather was a civilian contractor on Wake Isl when it was taken by the Japanese in WWII, spent 5 years as a POW, and made it home. Our lives are forever changed by their service.. whoever they are, wherever they went.
You did a great job honoring your brother.
I will think about soldiers to, as our family is made up of military and my uncle served in the Vietnam War. What a wonderful tribute Tom. :)
Great hub dad, Uncle Terry really is an awsome man. As is all vets who have protected us and our ways of life. Nice tribute.
Uncle Terry is a helluva guy. I look forward to seeing him again.
Tom— This is a great Hub; a very moving tribute. It is a shame that some folks can't resist bashing America no matter what the issue—even a tribute from a man to his brother who served his country with three tours in Nam. And to mention War Crimes in a heartfelt tribute to your brother. Well, God Bless your brother and God Bless You this Memorial day.
James...thank you very much for understanding and the blessing.
Good tribute Tom. Depsite all political arguments in regards to war, respect for a soldier's service should always be respected.
Tom, as usual your hubs hit home. I remember the first time i actually saw my father cry, and it was as i was leaving for vietnam. Not when his mother died, his favorite aunts, no other event caused that outward emotion. He was a wwII veteran, so i guess he knew more about what I was about to face than I did. It's really not until you become a parent that you can understand the feeling. thank you for the story, and bless all the veterans, especially those who's baggage is heavier than they can carry alone.
TOL...thanks for the wonderful comment.....yes...bless them all.
TheMindlessBrute says:
7 months ago
Blessings on you,your family and especially your brother this memorial day.