Vietnam vets are dying at the rate of 390 per day. Soon they will be history and I am sure that history textbooks will be leaving them out of their contents. I still think the WWII veterans are the greatest to ever fight a war. They were in for the duration of the war. At Vietnam, we were there for 1 year and came home. Some did return for more than 1 year.

Those who chose to use college to keep from going and those who got married and began having kids have to live with their decisions. You will never hear them admit that is the reason they chose to stay home, but it does not take a rocket scientist to figure this out. They say they support our veterans. They have no idea what it was like. They were not separated from their families for at least 2 years and many times 4 or more years. Plus living on less than $250.00 per month.

Every day in Vietnam you faced or at least heard about death. Also, others were suffering from injuries of the war. You would awaken every morning having slept in the jungle, on a rice paddy dike, a pole stretcher in the battalion aid station bunker or cot. You always slept with your clothes on, most times with your boots on. The only time I slept without my clothes on was when I was in the hospital or on R&R. Your day was planned for you. You would go on a patrol some time during the day and get back to base camp, rest a few hours and back out on a night ambush. On the patrols and night ambushes you had check points that you would radio back to base camp that you were at check point #1 or #2 and so on until you reached your set up position. Some nights it was so dark you could not see your hand in front of your face, let alone see the enemy. They could not see any better than us, though. It was always so nice to receive the date you were going to leave country and head to the USA.

Now we are the old veterans who put fl ags out on national holidays; we are the ones who stand and place our right hand over our heart for the National Anthem, or salute the fl ag as it passes in front of us at parades. Unless you have been where that old veteran has been don’t judge, make fun of, or ridicule him. You have no idea of the things that go through his head, the hurt that remains in his heart for those who died in Vietnam. Everyone of them would go to fi ght for the USA today.

Those that died in Vietnam are more than a name on a wall. Many never got to see their son or daughter who was born while they were in Vietnam or was born after their death. That veteran gave you the right to be free. Enjoy your freedoms but give the veteran the respect they deserve. Not just the men but also the women who gave their lives. I think of the many nurses who served in Vietnam and held the hand of the soldier who was taking their last breath. Caring for the wounded that were maimed for the rest of their lives. Also, to have to care for the wounded enemy who had shot the American boy who had just died. The emotions that they had on their minds. They had to give the same care to the enemy as an American. Stop and think if someone shot your brother and killed them and you had to show care and compassion for the shooter. Nurses are Heroes, too.

An old Vet.