A Vietnam Veteran's personal story

We have all lived an amazing journey filled with ups and downs, accomplishments, hardships, and unexpected turns. But despite what we have been through, the inevitable day will come when we are no longer around. And when it does, the life we have lived will one day be forgotten.

[donaldjones]

I served as a grunt in Vietnam 1971. I am proud I put my life on the line. Thank God I came back ok, but we all put our lives at stake. It helped build my character, and I am thankful it did. I don't think I could live with myself if I made the choice he did. He just needs to be able to forgive himself, and know he is human. I could not face my fellow grunts if I refused to go out on ambush. We all took care of each other...a beautiful experience of love. I was awarded the bronze star, air medal, and a Combat Infantry Badge which I am very proud of.

[geneyep]

Thank you for sharing. Peace be with you. I was station in Dong Ha from 3/1969 to 5/70.

[carlv]

He volunteered because of the "thrill" of war, yet after seeing some heavy sh*t, as a medic, he refuses orders to go on a subsequent mission and gets popped for insubordination. I'd like to know how many missed opportunities he had to save lives of his fellow wounded platoon mates, as a field medic during those subsequent skirmishes that he begged off, but left the heaving lifting for other medics who were just as scared as he was, but courageously fulfilled their duties, anyway? He speaks fondly of his self-inflicted broken pinky finger, as though it's a badge of honor. It would be interesting to interview some of his fellow platoon mates to get their perspective on him.

[TheGeonam]

That's one strange Vietnam story. We all have to make choices in life. In the movie Black Hawk Down these Army Rangers have to go back into the city under sedge by the warlords to get the other ranger buddies pinned down and surrounded. They had already been through some extreme heavy fighting. One ranger said he couldn't go back in. His buddy told him we all have fear, but its how you handle that fear is what makes the difference. I spent nine dam months deep in the jungles of the central highlands as a riflemen fire team leader with the Army's 4th inventory division until I was wounded and sent home to spend a year and half healing up. I bet with this guys horrible PTSD he is collecting hundred percent. I went through some hell both over there and afterwards. When I finely got back home no body wanted to talk about Vietnam or even hear about it so I just got on with my life> I have never tried to get compensation for PTSD and really cant say I understand this guy. I can tell you that I know I went through some heavy stress but I am here today very happily married for almost 44 years. Hate to sound crud but I really don't get it.

[richardvilla]

A lot of us did our duty, fear notwithstanding.

[jimthompson]

This is reason people should always, but always question authority.

[joeparker]

His fellow men should have fraged him.

[topgeardel]

Legacy? Here's an alternative viewpoint. The US never officially declared war on a country it beat the s*** out of for 10 years. We had NO legitimate right or reason to be there. Win...or lose....the war had absolutely NO bearing on American security, safety, freedom or lifestyle Many of the South Vietnamese people were at best ambivalent to US involvement. Vietnam in its most basic form was an Asian civil war. Result...the US lost the war, almost 60000 Americans never lived their American Dream, and the US developed a 5 year national "inferiority complex" after it was over. So why was this guy over there in the first place?

[themeat]

Cowardly action, and he's bragging about it. You were scared, so was everyone else. Glad you're getting your government check.