They were young, half a world away from home, and at war. Vietnam veterans from the northland share their personal stories, in their own words. #history #historical #vietnamwar
1969 I was ten years old. My oldest brother was drafted in May of 69. The last thing he told me was "when I get back a year from now the first thing we'll do is go fishing." That was 55 years ago but I never saw him again. He was listed as M. I. A.! I'm 65 yrs old now and not a day has gone by that I haven't thought of him. When I'm out fishing with my grandkids I sometimes catch myself looking around for My BIG BROTHER... 🎣 🚣 🗽 🇺🇸. April 4, 2021- Happy Easter Big Brother, Wish you were here...
One of my uncles died a few years ago, all we ever heard was that he was in the Navy when he was younger. He never talked about it. We found out at his funeral that he fought in WW2, Korea AND Vietnam.
@@mistermoose5326 i can tell you've never served. You learn quick in the shit, color doesn't matter. One of us shitskins will be the one saving your prejudice disgusting ass. No place for people like you in my military.
Myth: American Atrocities Were Widespread If they were they were covered up with extraordinary skill and precision. Only two documented cases of War Crimes can be attributed to American Military personnel. One was the senseless slaughter of civilians in March 1968 at the village of My Lai by the 1st platoon of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion 20th Infantry, 11th Light Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division (Americal). The other was the murder of 16 noncombatant women and children by five U.S. Marines of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, at a village named Son Thang-4, southwest of Danang, on 19 February 1970. In both cases there was a court martial, and in both cases the accused were found guilty. In the case of Lt. William Calley, President Nixon stepped in and pardoned him after he had spent three years under house arrest. Why Nixon did this is unknown, but it is beyond belief that he would do such a thing. For the end result is a slap in the face to every Vietnam Veteran who did their job and served with honor by adhering to the Rules of Land Warfare of the 1949 Geneva Convention which set the rules of engagement and expressly forbid the type of behavior exhibited by Calley and the thugs he commanded. They were not soldiers. They were thugs.
continued But while these egregious crimes have been trotted out at every opportunity by the anti-war movement, very little attention was paid to the horrendous atrocities committed by the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong on their own people. One of the end results of the 1968 Tet offensive was the deliberate roundup and murder of as many as 5,000 South Vietnamese civilians--doctors, teachers, lawyers, businessmen--by the NVA/VC during the periods that they held territory. The most widespread atrocities occurred in the Imperial city of Hue. There alone the Communists killed over 3,000 South Vietnamese. This behavior was not widely reported by the press, and either ignored by the anti-war movement at best, or justified by them as necessary in a socialist revolution. Additionally, not much of a fuss has been made over the intentional murder of American civilians (including missionaries and USAID workers) captured and murdered by the North Vietnamese. U.S. POWs did not fair any better. Those that were not murdered were systematically tortured by the North Vietnamese. Although these atrocities qualify as war crimes under the Geneva Convention, the lunatic fringe of the radical left condones those acts as "justifiable".
In World War II, there were fighter squadron leaders at 20 and 21 years old. Most P-51, P-47 and P-38 fighter pilots flying into German airspace were 19 and 20 year olds. B-17 bomber crews we led by 20 year old aircraft commander's. Paul Tibbets was 29 years old and led the B-29 squadron that was responsible for the Atomic Bomb missions and Sweeney was 27 years old and aircraft commander of Bock's Car that dropped the bomb on Nagasaki.
My father died last year. He was drafted and fought in this war. Spent almost 2 years in Vietnam. He only said one thing about his time there...."All my friends died but I did not. Ill never understand why". Well, Dad. I needed to be born. Thats why.
owefay1 I was there before your dad USMC 1965 - 1969 2/1 PMOS 1st combat tour 0311 basic infantryman ,2nd and 3rd tour SDA 5812 Scout Tracker , the reason your dad can't figure out why him is when your a 19 year old greenhorn who just finished being turned into a Savage in boot camp and AIT you enter the war feeling invincible , it's the same feeling the young have about getting old ,it's light years away and everybody else is going to die but not you ,I felt like that even after taking 2 rounds to the leg my 1st tour , I no longer felt like that after my K 9 took the brunt of a mortar round meant for me , I crawled to him and out him down before passing out ,with a broken back and 12% of my body covered in 3rd degree burns my career in the Marine Corps came to an abrupt end , I have severe seperation anxiety attacks over the loss of my partner I ate slept and drank every meal with for 25 months .
owefay1 sorry but that answer is shallow and insensitive to the deeper question ...with all due respect. I’m glad he survived and lived his life ...I hope he had fulfillment and happiness.
I don't think it's your soul, I just think that people lose a part of themselves that they never get back. I'm not a soldier, but I know from other experiences in life, that you are never the same after something happens, and no matter how hard that you try to put the pieces back together, you can't and never will be able to again.
Humanity was there, alive and well..."Keep your head down, you're married." I dont think I've heard an admission of brotherhood that heartfelt, genuine, or innocent. Thats love in war and it shouldnt have to come out because of it but it does and its the only redeeming quality of war.
Many sons, daughters of Vietnam died in that war because of nothing more than to unite their country, to protected their love ones. Many of them are not qualified by physically to join the battle but they volunteered to did so. That was a horrible pages of our history, in thoughts of the war could’ve been avoided. I wish my homeland will never at war once more, she has suffered enough.
Any time I see someone with a Vietnam veteran cap, I make it a point to shake their hand and tell them welcome home. I hate the idea of war, but I could never fathom being shipped off to fight a war in which I had no stake...Only to return to an ungrateful society that wanted nothing to do with them. Many of them shed a tear when they see someone honoring them 40 years after the fact. So many came home with deep wounds that were invisible to the naked eye, and many lived with their trauma without seeking help. True heroes.
True that! I totally hate the idea that we dissed these warriors when we should have been supporting the efforts they were doing in the name of our country. My thanks for all of our Vietnam vets.
@@sandypeppers6861 They weren't really doing all that much in the name of our country though. They were fighting a bullshit war propagated by our screwed up government. A lot of the vets that fought in the war said this same thing themselves. I think the vets should be honored point blank, but a lot of them said the war was pointless and that they shouldn't have been fighting it in the first place. It's not the vets fault, so they should be commended and the government should be condemned.
@@antthomas7916 Stopping communism is a good thing. If I lived in a shit commie country I'd want to be helped. The shitty part is that our scumbag government failed our troops and the South Vietnamese. Politics are what's bullshit.
I’m the daughter of a Vietnam vet. I thank you men so much. My dad was a mechanic. He lost half of his foot to cancer only caused by agent orange. I remember the bump on his foot many years after he came home. My mom said, you have to Go in! The Mayo Clinic was the only place that knew what it was. My dad is a hero. He’s everything to me
hey nikki, i'm not trying to take credit from these brave veterans. i was in Bien Hoa AFB 1967-68 and 69-70. the Tet offensive was the horror era for all GIs, that's when i was wounded, slept on rain-soaked mud ground, rice bugs, mosquitoes, insects, for 45 days with M16 and unlimited rounds, ready for the Charlies trying to overrun this F100 fighter base. the VC wanted this base destroyed so the roughneck won't get their aero support. i was part of the engine shop crew, saw one of my crew members got it real bad when VC fired 122 mm rocket into our base 2-3 am for 45 days living on C-ration. since i was m16 qualified marksmanship, i had to assist the Air police guard the base perimeter while watching the firefight going on during the Tet. most scary parts was when the 122 mm rocket passing overhead no telling where it will land. i got wounded when one landed a few yards from my two-story wooden barracks. an American Indian native died and one of my crew members got his head wounded very badly, had to medivac to japan. that's when the whole base was on c-ration 45 days until the mess hall back to speed. it seems the history is repeating itself with these diaper rash infants protesting to destroy our freedom.
The dinks would drop the point man and in doing so the medic would come. They knew that by dropping the medic and the radioman, they had an easy win. After a while, we got smarter and held back. Point man would walk it by his self for upwards of 50 meters , sometimes less, sometimes way more than what was safe. The practice would be to allow the point man to be separate and we'd watch for where the fire came from and make the ambush a counter offensive.
@@DonB.-Mulefivefive So in a sense, the point man became something of a sacrifice? Christ that's horrible. It's no wonder that guerrilla warfare has been a terrible issue for every great power that has had to endure it, even as far back as ancient times (the Romans also always struggled with guerrilla warfare).
@@blakeprocter5818 In a sense yes, and no . Sometimes it was a cherry, but I only saw that , go on one time. The rule of thumb was, if you had over 30 days in , then you got it. Usually, from the flip side of that coin was, allow the point to walk on by, and several others, find the radioman and isolate him ( there were two types of antennas and the long "wand" was draped over and into the RRTY's shirt so it didn't reflect any metallic surface in the glare of the sun. The other type was a short want that didn't stick up that much and, obviously, didn't work that great for long reaches ). The NVA , were well trained, well equipped and well led. The VC, not so much but they had the basic's down to a tee. When the point was dropped, or the second or third guy in, the medic's going to come and that's a given. If they managed to drop him then finding the RTTY was next. Once you're cut off from those two aspects , they did what we saw and heard of later . " Grab them by the belt buckle and they become weak" and they knew that. I'll give the NVA this much, as an army, and being trained as they were then and probably roe so now, they'd be my go-to for close in fighting. The mental imagery of a honey badger comes to mind. They don't give a fuck and they will do everything they can to fuck you up.
My father did 2 tours - one with 173rd Airborne as a FO and one with 9th Inf Div as a Battery Commander 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery. He retired in 1975 and had prostate cancer, Non Hotchkins Lymphoma, and finally small cell lung cancer all from Agent Orange. He died in 2006 in hospice care. Miss him every damn day.
Hi, I am a 73 year old Vietnam Combat Vet (1966 to 1969) USS Providence and In Country at "Monkey Mountain" by Danang. I am on VA Disability from exposure to Agent Orange. I enlisted in the US Navy when I was 17 years old. Three of my High school friends were killed in Vietnam, I was spared. Participated in the TET Offensive 1968.God bless all Vietnam Vets. You are not forgotten.
Shooting unarmed women, babies, old men. Destroying their crops, killing their livestock, destroying their caches of rice. Heavily bombing the country - the biggest, best armed superpower on earth throwing all of its military might at a largely agrarian, dirt poor country where even in the cities the main transport was the bicycle. This was David and Goliath writ large. And still they lost. One could say the politicians back home made all the terrible decisions to obliterate this country that was a century behind the USA in virtually every aspect but the behaviour on the ground of some of the American soldiers was just plain criminal. Just despicable, inhuman. Whilst it has had its criticism - understandably, considering what it reveals - the book 'Kill Anything That Moves' is well worth a look. Am not saying that the majority of soldiers acted in this manner, it is a complex conflict, for sure. But terrible stuff happened and the Vietnamese - from the North anyway - were trying to defend their country against a well armed, aggressive invader.
My uncle was one of 110 Canadian volunteers who died in the Nam. Dec 25, 1968, during operation Speedy Express in the MeKong Delta. He was three days short. We got the telegram on Dec 22nd saying he would be home in two weeks...we were all so ecstatic we had a party for him before he was to get home. Then on Dec 27th, we got the telegram saying he would be home within a few days, but in a casket rather than on his own two feet. I'm a veteran of several conflicts with the CAF, and all I can say is war taught me one thing only, "We ALL bleed red." War...what a perfect example of the fucking stupidity of mankind...
Well I hope you are happy with the communist way of life that the US tried to cure. Thousands of your people risked every thing to escape after the US pulled out. Why did they do that? @Tony Dinh
@Tony Dinh Dinh, that must be a real common name in Vietnam. I know like 5 people from there, served with two in the Navy. All has the name Dinh, no relation though. It's true, we had no business of going to Vietnam. Vietnam was a different story to Korea, but was played up to be the same situation.
Yet every time a movement acts to stop wars, everyone shits on them while at the same time they celebrate and thank those who by sheer luck survived the whole fucking mess , just stopping short of making them holy men in their culture, the same culture that allows for their comrades to become homeless and die of hunger in their streets while those whose business-interests they had to go and fight for, live lavishly and stay home and make sure their sons can wriggle out of said service. People are stupid and I hate them.
I spent two tours in Iraq. Never saw any actual combat, but the memories I have of mortars coming in and hearing the .50s and such go off make me have a tremendous amount of sympathy for combat vets. Thank you so much to our frontline US veterans and our allies.
For sale; M-14 rifle . Formerly carried by ARVN soldier on combat patrols. Excellent condition; Never been fired , and only dropped once ! Griffin, 0311, USMC , Viet Nam 67-68 . Semper Fi !
You had incoming and say your never saw any actual combat? That's combat man !!!!!! You earned that monthly pittance even though you might have never "Locked and Loaded" !!!!!!!!
back when I was in school my bus driver was a vietnam vet a real good guy too he always stood up for the little guy being pushed around and if you followed his rules you'd get along just fine he was also my neighbor and come hell or high water he would do whatever it took to help you dave if your reading this I wish you all the best and I hope you are doing well and thank you and every soldier for your service.
I bet Dave's a great man. If he's reading this he's probably trying to make sense of what you learned in school because it sure as shit wasn't punctuation and forming sentences. Get back on the bus.
Participating in an undeclared UNCONSTITUTIONAL invasion and mass murder does NOT make someone a hero. It makes them a WAR CRIMINAL. ALL who participate in Vietnam, Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen... are oath violators , traitors and cowards. They are also "Baby Killers". Look up Agent Orange children Depleted Uranium children, if you have the stomach. I doubt you will. Show your children your evil handiwork. We have LESS freedom since these statist fools have been "Fighting for freedom." Embarrassing how $30 Trillion US military (2020 est.) were beaten by rice farmers and goat herding tribes who had NO Air force nor navy. A global embarrassment. A national disgrace.
2JOHNNYT no not me,,i win,,,im a winner 🏆",,im a God!!! Im the greatest,,,i went to Iraq and ended up smoking crack,,,heroin was fucking crazy love you long time
A vietnam vet is the true american badass, thank all of you fine men for your sacrifice. Not given enough respect. Hope you all live long and tell your stories. God bless
More than 58,00 KIA, God Bless you PFC Larry Bonacci RIP. My friend 19 yr. old. U.S. Marine Corps. 1st. marine Division, 1st. Battalion, 1st. Marines, A Company, Mortar Man, Oct 5, 1968 KIA Quang Nam Province. Salute
The US invasion of Vietnam was based on LIES. Those who took part in the Vietnam conflict, are oath breakers and war criminals. No matter what they do (wear their silly hats or have stickers on their cars identifying them as oath breaking traitors) they will have to live with the FACTS. They are War Criminals.
They sprayed Agent Orange on themselves the dumb McNamara Morons. Now they suck the statist cock begging for socialized medicine in the VA. Socialized medicine that they killed babies to deny the Vietnamese.
My boss recently passed & though I knew he fought he never talked about it. At his funeral they mentioned his awards. Bronze star, plus 7 others. He was quite the soldier. All my respect to every soldier who was there. Gratitude isn't enough
My great uncle went to the vietnam war as a medic. He's 70 something years old now and STILL will not talk about what he had seen. All he would tell was that it was horrific and he wouldn't wish it on his worst enemy.
My father’s best friend was a battlefield surgeon in 68-70 and his stories about the damage done to the young soldiers brought in to his operating theatre turned me off any ideas of war being “glamorous” and made me a lifetime pacifist (with the exception of supporting the public execution of politicians after 2 terms...)
Dec 28, 2019: Unfortunately, my first boyfriend became the love of my life. Sgt Manuel R. Martinez, 23, was a proud Marine with a shy grin, warm heart, kind disposition and strong work ethic. He trained at Camp Pendleton and served in Okinawa for a year, before ordering a royal blue 240Z Datsun in 1974. One year later on Aug 22, 1975, Manuel tragically rolled the 240Z while driving back to Albuquerque from a long work week at the Farmington mines. (Roll bars weren't common at the time.) I was only 18 when I realized that my life would never recover from his death. I had no idea that his loss would become an omen for one tragedy after another. I will always love you Manuel, Katrina *1) Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Psalm 37:4; and 2) For God did not send his Son Jesus to condemn the world, but to save it through him. John 3:17
“You never get your soul back” I think that says it ALL about combative participants of ALL wars. However, my heart goes out to these guys especially since they fought a “WAR” with the politicians tying one hand behind their backs the entire time and sending good, outstanding men into combat like that is disgusting act of politics that cost so many lives, physically and mentally.
i was like 13 years old when the vietnam war ended. we watched the shit on tv every night. but these vets were there. they lived that life. god damn if i don't admire them.
Are you grateful to know that WAR is a lie, and the only reason for it is profit? And the only reason they get to make this profit is through soldiers doing their evil masters bidding??????????????? WTFU.
I will always have tremendous respect for soldiers on any army. Being able to turn off your instincts and risk your life for a single action is almost unfathomable.
@@jaffajoffer6300 Xanax and other benzodiazepines are medications only helpful for the short term, a few months at the absolute most. I was on 3mg of klonopin and 1mg of xanax for 2 years and when i finally got off that shit it was one of the worst experinces in my entire life
iam so impressed with the Vietnam vets,i enjoy listening to them,they are true americans and unfortunately victims of a corrupt government,thank you men who served amd women
Sharp Not for men with moral courage like Muhammad Ali. Others are just mindless drones who give away all moral and critical faculties and just murder away
@@jacobjorgenson9285 Oh are you talking about that coward that refused to fight for his country and now you are talking shit to the men and women who gave their lives to their country? Muhammad didn't have courage, he refused to take responsibility by claiming it was americas fault, instead of taking up responsibilty and doing what had to be done. You dont know what kind of hell those men went through, it took real courage to do what they had to do, so no they aren't mindless drones because they fought for what they chose to believe in
@@jacobjorgenson9285 The ultimate coward is alleviating your responsibility and duty on someone or something else, and shifting that blame to them instead of doing what you know you should be doing, not hiding in a jail cell. And also actually, yes, nazi soldiers and terrorists were doing what they were ordered to do. Its that fault of their leaders and group of what they did that was not right. they did what they were ordered to do, yes what they did was horrible, but thats what they thought was right, so its not all the soldiers fault, that is also to say the fact that if you were to rebel or try and escape, you would also be tried for treason, so that is another point. Yes a lot of other people and commanders were evil and knew they were doing evil, but most thought what they were doing were right. And no, following orders, and being faithful to your commanders is more courages then just not doing anything
My Dad died at 52 years old and he was one of the the last survivors from his Vietnam basic training group from the 101st Airborne. Shipped out in 66/67 and returned in 68. He did drop in/helicopter in but also worked at camp to get supplies too. I was a kid when I first started meeting his buddies that made it back. When my dad died, I tried to get in touch with the guys directly and through the VA. The VA told me most of the guys that trained in Kentucky with him that were shipped out with him were dead. My Dad told me most of his friends either died by drugs, drinking, violence, or suicide. Well, my dad died after getting hit on the head via a fight in San Francisco, category number 3 in 1999. So, most are all dead now. If anyone knows who Frank Roesner is, (FRIEDJOF)let me know? He was a great amateur photographer and if my dad knew you or a VET in your family, I'll bet I've got photos. I've got 3 huge books of his pictures and there are hundreds of guys in there I don't recognize.
God bless your late father, Russell. He would be very proud of you carrying on his legacy and seeking to make use of his precious photos. Maybe you could create a Facebook page for Vietnam Vets from the 101st Airborne and share to the world. My pop was in the 82nd Airborne, and he stayed involved with it until his death in 2014. He was not a Vietnam Vet, but he spent his life helping men recover from alcohol, drugs and helping the underprivileged further their education... Self made man, he was.
I was a 18year old Corpsman, got FMFd and was there 66,67,68. You can take a Corpsman out of the Marines Corps, but its harder to get the Marine Corps out of a Corpsman.
@@Adam-bq2vw : Hiya, FMFd means they took me from my nice clean hospital and starched white uniforms and stuck me in the Marine Corps with the attending jungle utilities and blood and guts for two and a half years. My previous experience had been working in Pediatrics. Id never had a patient older than twelve. I was proud to do every single thing I could for MY injured Marines. Semper Fi.
Avg. infantry man in the south pacific in WWll saw about 40 days of combat in four years. the avg. infantryman in Viet Nam saw about 240 days in one year thanks to the mobility helicopter.
Thank you for this video. My dad passed away a few years ago and when he was a live, he never mentioned nor talked about the war. Its good to hear the stories through these men and understand what my father had gone through.
Thank you so very much Vietnam veterans.... I feel they deserve allot considering how they were treated after the war..... If you were a vet of that war and reading this as I'm sure you know many many many Americans truly appreciate respect and support you and I wish you nothing but the best for the rest of your life thank you for your service and sacrifice.
Dad served 3 tours 67, 68, 71 lost him in 2001 at 56 he was an old young man when he passed was sick for years before that, he thought it was the agent orange and other chemicals he was exposed too or possibly even the water from some river or steam that was contaminate, 2 purple hearts and silver star which i have proudly displayed on my mantle. Love you and miss you dad.
21 years young and being the oldest one in your platoon. Hard to wrap my 25 year old head around. I have nothing but respect for these men. The heart and brass of these men make me want to be better.
I would like to thank ALL those who served in the Vietnam war and still suffer from that war. You ALL served the very noble cause of freedom. From a former boat people and a proud American now.
Thank you sir's and anyone else who served in that hell. Thank you so very much for serving our country, the debit can never be repaid, all I can offer is a hand shake and my never ending respect....
What service? They got smoked by illiterate rice farmers with NO AIR FORCE NOR NAVY. Embarrassing and shameful. The US invasion of Vietnam was based on LIES. Those who took part in the Vietnam conflict, are oath breakers and war criminals. No matter what they do (wear their silly hats or have stickers on their cars identifying them as oath breaking traitors) they will have to live with the FACTS. They are War Criminals.
@@andrewgrey2437 Yeah Man !!!!! When you hear incoming and figure they have to be lucky to hit such a small target as a GI rolled up in a ball in his "Skeeter Net" so you go back to sleep, that, when you look back on it let you know it but not then :-) LOL !!!
Many years ago I found a personal blog from an artillery gunner who was in Vietnam and he had a similar experience. He said when he got there he thought he would never be able to sleep through the artillery barrages since their billet was a few yards away. He described the sensation of the earth moving down beneath his cot which jolted him slightly, combined with the deafening blast of the artillery firing. Two weeks in he was sleeping like a baby. No need for extreme exhaustion. He just became completely acclimated to it.
They are cowards who participated in imperialist invasion in NO National Security interest to the US. Read the Pentagon Papers you dumb ass. The US invasion of Vietnam was based on LIES. Those who took part in the Vietnam conflict, are oath breakers and war criminals. No matter what they do (wear their silly hats or have stickers on their cars identifying them as oath breaking traitors) they will have to live with the FACTS. They are War Criminals.
Thanks all you Vietnam veterans. You all fought in a very difficult and unpopular war and were not welcomed when you returned home. Hopefully now you all will get the recognition and respect you so richly deserve.
Back then they were just boys 18 years old fresh out of high school who were drafted to senseless wars they are the warriors and heroes which we admirer !!! They are the real men what a difference at men of yesterday and Soy boys of today
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANKS TO ALL THE VIETNAM VET'S WHO SERVED OUR NATION I TO AM A VETERAN OF THE IRAQ WAR YOU GUYS ARE MY HEROES AND THE VERY REASON I JOINED THE U.S. ARMY IN 1981 AGAIN THANK YOU ALL
Thank You - All of you - I teach my kids about your sacrifices for us all the time...Your stories are important and your lives are not lived in vain - RIP to my Dads best friend who died from a VC mortar...
Film stars sports stars rock stars etc etc etc . I definitely know who I'd sit down and be in awe off and have respect for, respect gentlemen to you all and your brothers who didn't return
@@donniedoesdishes Oliver Stone enlisted into the Army in 1967. He served in Vietnam as a common infantryman. For his service, his military awards include the Bronze Star with "V" Device for valor, the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster to denote two awards, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
@@gordonfrench3506 Back in 1969-70. I was with A Co/3rd Battalion / 22nd Brigade /25th Infantry. We were airmobile, performing missions every two or three days, transported by helicopters. Most of the patrols were in the Bo Loi Woods, west of Tay Nihn, along the Cambodian border.
We never got the "Thank You For Your Service" greeting. We were spat on and called baby killers. The support from home was next to nothing, no parades, no salutes. That's what I remember about those years.
Yes i remember about my mom telling me this about how ppl felt when my grandpa came back from nam and how she always thought it was fucked up and wrong to even consider that when none of us can even try to fathom how we're actually gonna react in the face of war. You sir, along with my grandpa, are real men and I am very happy yall were able to come home also thank you for your service good sir. God bless you.
Read the Pentagon Papers. You dumb asses who glorify these pukes. The US invasion of Vietnam was based on LIES. Those who took part in the Vietnam conflict, are oath breakers and war criminals. No matter what they do (wear their silly hats or have stickers on their cars identifying them as oath breaking traitors) they will have to live with the FACTS. They are War Criminals.
I was in the Marines and I went to Vietnam 1969 to 1970 and when I came home I was call all kinds of things I will never forget that I hate hippy. The same people that called me baby killers are now all for abortion. I never killed any baby's.
Go tell as many Politicians.. WÀR what is it good for.. absolutely Nothing!!! Yes many People did die..due to our industrial/military incompetency. not to mention our out of mind Generals that lived in air conditioned homes..Do not call the Combat Vet. a loser!! they are HEROES & most noble.
@themailman43 it started with the French controlling and causing beyond mass poverty of the Vietnamese people. Attempting to force democracy on them. Ho chi Minh was the revolutionary that wanted to combat the French from controlling the entire country. Read a book on it, to imagine that because of all those things this insane war was only 50 years ago. And it's not talked about.
Grand dad died over 8years ago. He volunteered at age 18 served in nam as a part of the 1st Cavalry Division , he was an automotve technician and got awarded for being a side arms expert. He died at age 63 due to colon cancer from agent orange. God bless those who served, continue to serve or are new and just started to serve. You guys are what keeps America free, you are the shining beacons of hope. Thank you all for your sacrifice.
My uncle was the oldest of 5 from allentown pa and was drafted . he died before he was 21 . I never met him. God bless these men. Imagine today if our children were drafted. Unimaginable.
That sure is sweet that the "Hillbilly" was looking out for those who had Wives and Children while He didn't. I hope He made it back and went on to have a Family of his own...
I am very thankful for each of these men and their service and sacrifice. These guys did not deserve how they were treated when they got home and should have never even been in that damned war.
my mother's cousin was med evac pilot, still has not recovered from the experience of all that he saw and did. in his 70,s now and still can't talk about it.
I know. My mother lost her parents when she was 4 years old., in war. Our rules was Not to talk about it to anyone. And, when you get older, you suffer from flashbacks.
To all serving and all who have served: Thank You for your service to our country; for the sacrifices you made for our nation; and for all you gave up in service to the nation. May God bless you and your family richly. Thank You!
The US invasion of Vietnam was based on LIES. Those who took part in the Vietnam conflict, are oath breakers and war criminals. No matter what they do (wear their silly hats or have stickers on their cars identifying them as oath breaking traitors) they will have to live with the FACTS. They are War Criminals.
I talked to a gentleman named Don who served in Vietnam. His stories fit right in with these fellas. I was selling him a car but was pulled in to hearing his stories instead. Such a great man as these are.
Amazing. I rode a motorcycle from Saigon to Hanoi and went to all of these cities described here. It was surreal to know such a horrific war had been fought where I was now vacationing.
Notice that they were not affected by the physical part of basic training as people those days were not obese or spending too much time in front of the TV or on their phones physically inactive in the process
@David Parry i once saw a millennial who could not only walk, but actually walk rather quickly for a few steps before taking a break, and he was said to be able to lift up to 7lbs
the sheer sacrifice these men gave!!! it's amazing!! i always wondered why we fought for the french, that don't even respect our country, after saving their asses in WWII!! most Americans forget or do not know, we lost over 58,000 loved Americans in this war!!!
Thank you to all that served, it’s was through you sacrifice that I got to work and earn a living in the greatest country on earth. The draft ended months before my number came up. May God bless each and every one of you.
My dad. He was in the 101’st Airborne Division in Vietnam. 69-70. He was 17, was homeless at 13, hitchhiked to Cali with 20$ in his pocket. Volunteered for to go in 67- 68. His records were burned in the 73 office fire in Huston Texas. (Under suspicious circumstances) He was with his buddies sneaking into Laos and Cambodia looking for the Ho-chi-Minh trail. Black ops. His friend stepped on a land-mine. Died in his arms. 5 confirmed kills, several unconfirmed. He was never the same. Even now in August 2019. The combat still wears on him. I don’t blame him for not being a good dad, or a friend to me and mom. I pray for him. As do I pray for the people involved or affected by all wars.
The US invasion of Vietnam was based on LIES. Those who took part in the Vietnam conflict, are oath breakers and war criminals. No matter what they do (wear their silly hats or have stickers on their cars identifying them as oath breaking traitors) they will have to live with the FACTS. They are War Criminals.
@@atlantarecordsinc.450 Only 25 to 35 % were drafftess. Two thirds volunteered which means the the majority of our troops chose to go. So most of them did have a choice.
I was 150-ish...1972.....in The Selective Service- Draft...Philadelphia .....I was so Fortunate.......I Picked up every Vietnam Veteran. At Our Airport...(My Community)....Philadelphia, International Airport...........an Brought them Home.....Love You Guys....an Girls........
@@leonhagenbaumer6809 you talk big while your Still living with your mommy!!! You haven't earned the right to be little others. An nobody broke there oath of duty! That pertains to our country only!!!
@@leonhagenbaumer6809 you talk big while your Still living with your mommy!!! You haven't earned the right to be little others. An nobody broke there oath of duty! That pertains to our country only!!!
@@leonhagenbaumer6809 You were there to witness those actions? You and John Kerry who lied through his teeth after swearing an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, etc., etc. I suppose. How is it that I never saw any of those actions???
I was in the Marines in the later half of the '80s. My VA is in Suffolk county New York and I've made so many older friends from the Vietnam era.. And when you hear it first hand from any of these guys .. It really does make you wonder how so many of them were able to hold it so together. so many of my Vietnam era buddies have some of the most amazing senses of humor. I suspect that may have something to do with it.
1969 I was ten years old. My oldest brother was drafted in May of 69. The last thing he told me was "when I get back a year from now the first thing we'll do is go fishing." That was 55 years ago but I never saw him again. He was listed as M. I. A.! I'm 65 yrs old now and not a day has gone by that I haven't thought of him. When I'm out fishing with my grandkids I sometimes catch myself looking around for My BIG BROTHER... 🎣 🚣 🗽 🇺🇸.
April 4, 2021- Happy Easter Big Brother, Wish you were here...
Damn sir I about she'd a tear.... Sorry brother
😢😢😢😢😢😢
Hes out there with you
The young never think they going to die.
Was a bullshit war and your brother should still be fishing with you and not killed in Vietnam
Smh, your brother is my hero. God Bless
One of my uncles died a few years ago, all we ever heard was that he was in the Navy when he was younger. He never talked about it. We found out at his funeral that he fought in WW2, Korea AND Vietnam.
DAMN!!! SPEECHLESS
My father served in Korea and did 2 tours in Vietnam.
His story should be told
Damn. That'll put some hair on your knuckles. Holy crap...
They just dont make em like your uncle anymore. Sorry for the loss of a Hero.🇺🇸
Only 21 and the oldest in the team that just says it all doesn’t it
Jesus Christ they got fucking kids shooting shit up and raping in Vietnam this world is rough
@@mistermoose5326 i can tell you've never served. You learn quick in the shit, color doesn't matter. One of us shitskins will be the one saving your prejudice disgusting ass. No place for people like you in my military.
CIA recruited my people over there and it got to the point that they gave rifles to all male 10 and up.
Myth: American Atrocities Were Widespread
If they were they were covered up with extraordinary skill and precision. Only two documented cases of War Crimes can be attributed to American Military personnel. One was the senseless slaughter of civilians in March 1968 at the village of My Lai by the 1st platoon of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion 20th Infantry, 11th Light Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division (Americal). The other was the murder of 16 noncombatant women and children by five U.S. Marines of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, at a village named Son Thang-4, southwest of Danang, on 19 February 1970. In both cases there was a court martial, and in both cases the accused were found guilty.
In the case of Lt. William Calley, President Nixon stepped in and pardoned him after he had spent three years under house arrest. Why Nixon did this is unknown, but it is beyond belief that he would do such a thing. For the end result is a slap in the face to every Vietnam Veteran who did their job and served with honor by adhering to the Rules of Land Warfare of the 1949 Geneva Convention which set the rules of engagement and expressly forbid the type of behavior exhibited by Calley and the thugs he commanded. They were not soldiers. They were thugs.
continued
But while these egregious crimes have been trotted out at every opportunity by the anti-war movement, very little attention was paid to the horrendous atrocities committed by the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong on their own people. One of the end results of the 1968 Tet offensive was the deliberate roundup and murder of as many as 5,000 South Vietnamese civilians--doctors, teachers, lawyers, businessmen--by the NVA/VC during the periods that they held territory. The most widespread atrocities occurred in the Imperial city of Hue. There alone the Communists killed over 3,000 South Vietnamese. This behavior was not widely reported by the press, and either ignored by the anti-war movement at best, or justified by them as necessary in a socialist revolution.
Additionally, not much of a fuss has been made over the intentional murder of American civilians (including missionaries and USAID workers) captured and murdered by the North Vietnamese. U.S. POWs did not fair any better. Those that were not murdered were systematically tortured by the North Vietnamese. Although these atrocities qualify as war crimes under the Geneva Convention, the lunatic fringe of the radical left condones those acts as "justifiable".
21 years old, and the oldest in his platoon. I'm turning 26 next month and already feel old when I hear that. They really send out boys to war
I was 23, and not the oldest but damned close to it.
A - right I’m 25 years old and I couldn’t imagine being 20 years old and going to war. Huge respect to these guys
A - 19 here. 67-68
they have to. only young invincibles can do this shit. it's about their fast physical recovery time as much as anything.
In World War II, there were fighter squadron leaders at 20 and 21 years old. Most P-51, P-47 and P-38 fighter pilots flying into German airspace were 19 and 20 year olds. B-17 bomber crews we led by 20 year old aircraft commander's. Paul Tibbets was 29 years old and led the B-29 squadron that was responsible for the Atomic Bomb missions and Sweeney was 27 years old and aircraft commander of Bock's Car that dropped the bomb on Nagasaki.
My father died last year. He was drafted and fought in this war. Spent almost 2 years in Vietnam. He only said one thing about his time there...."All my friends died but I did not. Ill never understand why".
Well, Dad. I needed to be born. Thats why.
RIP to your old man. His service and self-sacrifice will always be remembered.
owefay1 I was there before your dad USMC 1965 - 1969 2/1 PMOS 1st combat tour 0311 basic infantryman ,2nd and 3rd tour SDA 5812 Scout Tracker , the reason your dad can't figure out why him is when your a 19 year old greenhorn who just finished being turned into a Savage in boot camp and AIT you enter the war feeling invincible , it's the same feeling the young have about getting old ,it's light years away and everybody else is going to die but not you ,I felt like that even after taking 2 rounds to the leg my 1st tour , I no longer felt like that after my K 9 took the brunt of a mortar round meant for me , I crawled to him and out him down before passing out ,with a broken back and 12% of my body covered in 3rd degree burns my career in the Marine Corps came to an abrupt end , I have severe seperation anxiety attacks over the loss of my partner I ate slept and drank every meal with for 25 months .
rip to your father, greetz and respect from europe
owefay1 sorry but that answer is shallow and insensitive to the deeper question ...with all due respect. I’m glad he survived and lived his life ...I hope he had fulfillment and happiness.
May he rest in peace!
My wife knew her father had served in Vietnam. He passed late 2019. She never knew that he had been a Marine Scout Sniper. Very humble, reserved man.
"you never get your soul back" most profound revelation about Vietnam I have ever heard.
It's true of all wars.
I don't think it's your soul, I just think that people lose a part of themselves that they never get back. I'm not a soldier, but I know from other experiences in life, that you are never the same after something happens, and no matter how hard that you try to put the pieces back together, you can't and never will be able to again.
Humanity was there, alive and well..."Keep your head down, you're married." I dont think I've heard an admission of brotherhood that heartfelt, genuine, or innocent. Thats love in war and it shouldnt have to come out because of it but it does and its the only redeeming quality of war.
@@natanunorthodox we dont know What he did...
Many sons, daughters of Vietnam died in that war because of nothing more than to unite their country, to protected their love ones. Many of them are not qualified by physically to join the battle but they volunteered to did so. That was a horrible pages of our history, in thoughts of the war could’ve been avoided. I wish my homeland will never at war once more, she has suffered enough.
Any time I see someone with a Vietnam veteran cap, I make it a point to shake their hand and tell them welcome home. I hate the idea of war, but I could never fathom being shipped off to fight a war in which I had no stake...Only to return to an ungrateful society that wanted nothing to do with them.
Many of them shed a tear when they see someone honoring them 40 years after the fact. So many came home with deep wounds that were invisible to the naked eye, and many lived with their trauma without seeking help.
True heroes.
Well said, sir.
True that! I totally hate the idea that we dissed these warriors when we should have been supporting the efforts they were doing in the name of our country. My thanks for all of our Vietnam vets.
@@sandypeppers6861 They weren't really doing all that much in the name of our country though. They were fighting a bullshit war propagated by our screwed up government. A lot of the vets that fought in the war said this same thing themselves. I think the vets should be honored point blank, but a lot of them said the war was pointless and that they shouldn't have been fighting it in the first place. It's not the vets fault, so they should be commended and the government should be condemned.
@@antthomas7916 Stopping communism is a good thing. If I lived in a shit commie country I'd want to be helped. The shitty part is that our scumbag government failed our troops and the South Vietnamese. Politics are what's bullshit.
I’m the daughter of a Vietnam vet. I thank you men so much. My dad was a mechanic. He lost half of his foot to cancer only caused by agent orange. I remember the bump on his foot many years after he came home. My mom said, you have to
Go in! The Mayo Clinic was the only place that knew what it was. My dad is a hero. He’s everything to me
hey nikki, i'm not trying to take credit from these brave veterans. i was in Bien Hoa AFB 1967-68 and 69-70. the Tet offensive was the horror era for all GIs, that's when i was wounded, slept on rain-soaked mud ground, rice bugs, mosquitoes, insects, for 45 days with M16 and unlimited rounds, ready for the Charlies trying to overrun this F100 fighter base. the VC wanted this base destroyed so the roughneck won't get their aero support. i was part of the engine shop crew, saw one of my crew members got it real bad when VC fired 122 mm rocket into our base 2-3 am for 45 days living on C-ration. since i was m16 qualified marksmanship, i had to assist the Air police guard the base perimeter while watching the firefight going on during the Tet. most scary parts was when the 122 mm rocket passing overhead no telling where it will land. i got wounded when one landed a few yards from my two-story wooden barracks. an American Indian native died and one of my crew members got his head wounded very badly, had to medivac to japan. that's when the whole base was on c-ration 45 days until the mess hall back to speed. it seems the history is repeating itself with these diaper rash infants protesting to destroy our freedom.
The Vietcong always went for the radio guy frist in a ambush. God bless my father, recipient of 2 Purple Hearts in Vietnam. RIP Dad
Not just Vietcong. That's tactics.
The dinks would drop the point man and in doing so the medic would come. They knew that by dropping the medic and the radioman, they had an easy win. After a while, we got smarter and held back. Point man would walk it by his self for upwards of 50 meters , sometimes less, sometimes way more than what was safe. The practice would be to allow the point man to be separate and we'd watch for where the fire came from and make the ambush a counter offensive.
@@DonB.-Mulefivefive So in a sense, the point man became something of a sacrifice? Christ that's horrible. It's no wonder that guerrilla warfare has been a terrible issue for every great power that has had to endure it, even as far back as ancient times (the Romans also always struggled with guerrilla warfare).
@@blakeprocter5818 In a sense yes, and no . Sometimes it was a cherry, but I only saw that , go on one time. The rule of thumb was, if you had over 30 days in , then you got it. Usually, from the flip side of that coin was, allow the point to walk on by, and several others, find the radioman and isolate him ( there were two types of antennas and the long "wand" was draped over and into the RRTY's shirt so it didn't reflect any metallic surface in the glare of the sun. The other type was a short want that didn't stick up that much and, obviously, didn't work that great for long reaches ). The NVA , were well trained, well equipped and well led. The VC, not so much but they had the basic's down to a tee. When the point was dropped, or the second or third guy in, the medic's going to come and that's a given. If they managed to drop him then finding the RTTY was next. Once you're cut off from those two aspects , they did what we saw and heard of later . " Grab them by the belt buckle and they become weak" and they knew that. I'll give the NVA this much, as an army, and being trained as they were then and probably roe so now, they'd be my go-to for close in fighting. The mental imagery of a honey badger comes to mind. They don't give a fuck and they will do everything they can to fuck you up.
For all of their hardware & superior fire power Americans are no match for guerilla warfare
The VC knew that
Thats why North Vietnam won out
My dad was on the USS Enterprise 67’-69’ in Vietnam. Died of ALS in 2011 contributed to Agent Orange. Love you dad
@Name Name Dont be a total dick
I was on the Starship Enterprise during those years. Fighting space communists.
My father did 2 tours - one with 173rd Airborne as a FO and one with 9th Inf Div as a Battery Commander 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery. He retired in 1975 and had prostate cancer, Non Hotchkins Lymphoma, and finally small cell lung cancer all from Agent Orange. He died in 2006 in hospice care. Miss him every damn day.
Agent orange caused so much cancer its insane. Now they giving us covix vax which will cause same shit
@Name Name 87t
Hi, I am a 73 year old Vietnam Combat Vet (1966 to 1969) USS Providence and In Country at "Monkey Mountain" by Danang. I am on VA Disability from exposure to Agent Orange. I enlisted in the US Navy when I was 17 years old. Three of my High school friends were killed in Vietnam, I was spared. Participated in the TET Offensive 1968.God bless all Vietnam Vets. You are not forgotten.
Thank you for your sacrifice
you lost the war
Shooting unarmed women, babies, old men. Destroying their crops, killing their livestock, destroying their caches of rice. Heavily bombing the country - the biggest, best armed superpower on earth throwing all of its military might at a largely agrarian, dirt poor country where even in the cities the main transport was the bicycle. This was David and Goliath writ large. And still they lost.
One could say the politicians back home made all the terrible decisions to obliterate this country that was a century behind the USA in virtually every aspect but the behaviour on the ground of some of the American soldiers was just plain criminal. Just despicable, inhuman. Whilst it has had its criticism - understandably, considering what it reveals - the book 'Kill Anything That Moves' is well worth a look. Am not saying that the majority of soldiers acted in this manner, it is a complex conflict, for sure. But terrible stuff happened and the Vietnamese - from the North anyway - were trying to defend their country against a well armed, aggressive invader.
That man you see shuffling around wearing the Vietnam Veteran hat is more of a badass than any of us will ever be.
have you soooooo little ambition ?? Be brave. Save the World
@@raymondo162 id rather not die for a country that imprisions so many of its citizens unjustly
Wars fought now is ONLY to benefit the rich.
FUCK THEM!
@@useryggfdcc No Fuck You you disrespectful Chickenshit !
@@grantacoatneysr9657 - Actually GAC Sr, MirDro is right and you are a purblind sot or a Republican. Maybe both!!!
My uncle was one of 110 Canadian volunteers who died in the Nam. Dec 25, 1968, during operation Speedy Express in the MeKong Delta. He was three days short. We got the telegram on Dec 22nd saying he would be home in two weeks...we were all so ecstatic we had a party for him before he was to get home.
Then on Dec 27th, we got the telegram saying he would be home within a few days, but in a casket rather than on his own two feet.
I'm a veteran of several conflicts with the CAF, and all I can say is war taught me one thing only, "We ALL bleed red."
War...what a perfect example of the fucking stupidity of mankind...
Sorry to hear that Mike. I sympathize with what that must of felt like.
Well I hope you are happy with the communist way of life that the US tried to cure. Thousands of your people risked every thing to escape after the US pulled out. Why did they do that?
@Tony Dinh
@Jonathan PlechatyIt is within. McCarthy was right.
@Tony Dinh Dinh, that must be a real common name in Vietnam. I know like 5 people from there, served with two in the Navy. All has the name Dinh, no relation though. It's true, we had no business of going to Vietnam. Vietnam was a different story to Korea, but was played up to be the same situation.
Yet every time a movement acts to stop wars, everyone shits on them while at the same time they celebrate and thank those who by sheer luck survived the whole fucking mess , just stopping short of making them holy men in their culture, the same culture that allows for their comrades to become homeless and die of hunger in their streets while those whose business-interests they had to go and fight for, live lavishly and stay home and make sure their sons can wriggle out of said service. People are stupid and I hate them.
“You’re married, get down.” That hits hard
hits hard when your wife is another man while you in Vietnam
I spent two tours in Iraq. Never saw any actual combat, but the memories I have of mortars coming in and hearing the .50s and such go off make me have a tremendous amount of sympathy for combat vets. Thank you so much to our frontline US veterans and our allies.
For sale; M-14 rifle . Formerly carried by ARVN soldier on combat patrols. Excellent condition; Never been fired , and only dropped once ! Griffin, 0311, USMC , Viet Nam 67-68 . Semper Fi !
@@jimgriffin8651 LOL! That's why French and Italian army surplus are in Like New condition.
You had incoming and say your never saw any actual combat? That's combat man !!!!!! You earned that monthly pittance even though you might have never "Locked and Loaded" !!!!!!!!
@@gordonfrench3506 I never fired at the enemy
but they fired at me many a night and a few days.
@@Adam-ye6wj I was a REMF as 90% of the troops there were.
But I saw plenty of enemy activity,most nights I was assigned
perimeter duty.
My father served in 68-69 with 173rd and relives it every time he sleeps
Solitude 406 (youtuber)'s dad was in the 173rd too.
back when I was in school my bus driver was a vietnam vet a real good guy too he always stood up for the little guy being pushed around and if you followed his rules you'd get along just fine he was also my neighbor and come hell or high water he would do whatever it took to help you dave if your reading this I wish you all the best and I hope you are doing well and thank you and every soldier for your service.
I bet Dave's a great man. If he's reading this he's probably trying to make sense of what you learned in school because it sure as shit wasn't punctuation and forming sentences. Get back on the bus.
Participating in an undeclared UNCONSTITUTIONAL invasion and mass murder does NOT make someone a hero. It makes them a WAR CRIMINAL. ALL who participate in Vietnam, Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen... are oath violators , traitors and cowards. They are also "Baby Killers". Look up Agent Orange children Depleted Uranium children, if you have the stomach. I doubt you will. Show your children your evil handiwork.
We have LESS freedom since these statist fools have been "Fighting for freedom."
Embarrassing how $30 Trillion US military (2020 est.) were beaten by rice farmers and goat herding tribes who had NO Air force nor navy. A global embarrassment. A national disgrace.
Beer and girls; the downfall of many men...
I spent most of my money on beer and women. The rest I just wasted.
Yes, but at the same time, that's the nature.
Sure "beats" wanking alone in one's room, innit
baan58adam have fun losing everything
2JOHNNYT no not me,,i win,,,im a winner 🏆",,im a God!!! Im the greatest,,,i went to Iraq and ended up smoking crack,,,heroin was fucking crazy love you long time
A vietnam vet is the true american badass, thank all of you fine men for your sacrifice. Not given enough respect. Hope you all live long and tell your stories. God bless
More than 58,00 KIA, God Bless you PFC Larry Bonacci RIP. My friend 19 yr. old. U.S. Marine Corps. 1st. marine Division, 1st. Battalion, 1st. Marines, A Company, Mortar Man, Oct 5, 1968 KIA Quang Nam Province. Salute
Yeah,you all think that,
but we were there to complete
our assignments and get back alive
and help our "stick buddies"do the same.
I just want to shake every one of these guys hands.
Fr
Matthew Claiborne FUKC THEEEM
@Von Musklaus commie. Mabey u are a vietcong
The US invasion of Vietnam was based on LIES. Those who took part in the Vietnam conflict, are oath breakers and war criminals. No matter what they do (wear their silly hats or have stickers on their cars identifying them as oath breaking traitors)
they will have to live with the FACTS. They are War Criminals.
They sprayed Agent Orange on themselves the dumb McNamara Morons. Now they suck the statist cock begging for socialized medicine in the VA. Socialized medicine that they killed babies to deny the Vietnamese.
My boss recently passed & though I knew he fought he never talked about it. At his funeral they mentioned his awards. Bronze star, plus 7 others. He was quite the soldier. All my respect to every soldier who was there. Gratitude isn't enough
My great uncle went to the vietnam war as a medic. He's 70 something years old now and STILL will not talk about what he had seen. All he would tell was that it was horrific and he wouldn't wish it on his worst enemy.
My father’s best friend was a battlefield surgeon in 68-70 and his stories about the damage done to the young soldiers brought in to his operating theatre turned me off any ideas of war being “glamorous” and made me a lifetime pacifist (with the exception of supporting the public execution of politicians after 2 terms...)
Dec 28, 2019: Unfortunately, my first boyfriend became the love of my life. Sgt Manuel R. Martinez, 23, was a proud Marine with a shy grin, warm heart, kind disposition and strong work ethic. He trained at Camp Pendleton and served in Okinawa for a year, before ordering a royal blue 240Z Datsun in 1974. One year later on Aug 22, 1975, Manuel tragically rolled the 240Z while driving back to Albuquerque from a long work week at the Farmington mines. (Roll bars weren't common at the time.) I was only 18 when I realized that my life would never recover from his death. I had no idea that his loss would become an omen for one tragedy after another. I will always love you Manuel, Katrina *1) Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Psalm 37:4; and 2) For God did not send his Son Jesus to condemn the world, but to save it through him. John 3:17
“You never get your soul back”
I think that says it ALL about combative participants of ALL wars. However, my heart goes out to these guys especially since they fought a “WAR” with the politicians tying one hand behind their backs the entire time and sending good, outstanding men into combat like that is disgusting act of politics that cost so many lives, physically and mentally.
All American soldiers who served and died in Vietnam deserve the highest honor
The innocents in Vietnam who died deserve the most sympathy.
@Tmack17777 why only Americans?
@Tmack17777 "any war" anyways it doesnt even bother me at all
Let them burn in hell...
No. They deserve to be shamed for fighting like lemmings. Why would you give honor to murderers???
i was like 13 years old when the vietnam war ended. we watched the shit on tv every night. but these vets were there. they lived that life. god damn if i don't admire them.
after the us pulled out they fought for 20 more years or 15..
Thank you for your service men. I know you didn't hear that enough when you first got back, but some of us are honestly grateful for your sacrifice.
Are you grateful to know that WAR is a lie, and the only reason for it is profit? And the only reason they get to make this profit is through soldiers doing their evil masters bidding??????????????? WTFU.
I will always have tremendous respect for soldiers on any army. Being able to turn off your instincts and risk your life for a single action is almost unfathomable.
Vietnamese fought for independence from the American imperialist colonizers.
50 years later: nervous ticks and stuttering.
War does things to you......
Have u tried xanax?
Cbd oil has help with anxiety, Xanax is well mess you up.
@@jaffajoffer6300 Xanax and other benzodiazepines are medications only helpful for the short term, a few months at the absolute most. I was on 3mg of klonopin and 1mg of xanax for 2 years and when i finally got off that shit it was one of the worst experinces in my entire life
I noticed that
That's from 30 yrs of marraige.
The thing I remember the most was the smell. I can't describe what it smelled like totally unique. I still have nightmares about that place
Thanks Vietnam vets for your service and sacrifice
@@hoang7651 America in 1964 tried to invade Vietnam?? Vietnam maybe become bang 51 if Vietnam loses
These men are true hero’s. The things they saw and had to do amazes me. I can’t imagine what they went through and still go through
My service was what kept me alive,
it was the only noble thing I'd ever done.
iam so impressed with the Vietnam vets,i enjoy listening to them,they are true americans and unfortunately victims of a corrupt government,thank you men who served amd women
And that is the garbage some people have in their heads
@@jacobjorgenson9285 That is what war is dude, they did what they had to do
Sharp Not for men with moral courage like Muhammad Ali. Others are just mindless drones who give away all moral and critical faculties and just murder away
@@jacobjorgenson9285 Oh are you talking about that coward that refused to fight for his country and now you are talking shit to the men and women who gave their lives to their country? Muhammad didn't have courage, he refused to take responsibility by claiming it was americas fault, instead of taking up responsibilty and doing what had to be done. You dont know what kind of hell those men went through, it took real courage to do what they had to do, so no they aren't mindless drones because they fought for what they chose to believe in
@@jacobjorgenson9285 The ultimate coward is alleviating your responsibility and duty on someone or something else, and shifting that blame to them instead of doing what you know you should be doing, not hiding in a jail cell. And also actually, yes, nazi soldiers and terrorists were doing what they were ordered to do. Its that fault of their leaders and group of what they did that was not right. they did what they were ordered to do, yes what they did was horrible, but thats what they thought was right, so its not all the soldiers fault, that is also to say the fact that if you were to rebel or try and escape, you would also be tried for treason, so that is another point. Yes a lot of other people and commanders were evil and knew they were doing evil, but most thought what they were doing were right. And no, following orders, and being faithful to your commanders is more courages then just not doing anything
My Dad died at 52 years old and he was one of the the last survivors from his Vietnam basic training group from the 101st Airborne. Shipped out in 66/67 and returned in 68. He did drop in/helicopter in but also worked at camp to get supplies too. I was a kid when I first started meeting his buddies that made it back. When my dad died, I tried to get in touch with the guys directly and through the VA. The VA told me most of the guys that trained in Kentucky with him that were shipped out with him were dead. My Dad told me most of his friends either died by drugs, drinking, violence, or suicide. Well, my dad died after getting hit on the head via a fight in San Francisco, category number 3 in 1999. So, most are all dead now. If anyone knows who Frank Roesner is, (FRIEDJOF)let me know? He was a great amateur photographer and if my dad knew you or a VET in your family, I'll bet I've got photos. I've got 3 huge books of his pictures and there are hundreds of guys in there I don't recognize.
God bless your late father, Russell. He would be very proud of you carrying on his legacy and seeking to make use of his precious photos. Maybe you could create a Facebook page for Vietnam Vets from the 101st Airborne and share to the world. My pop was in the 82nd Airborne, and he stayed involved with it until his death in 2014. He was not a Vietnam Vet, but he spent his life helping men recover from alcohol, drugs and helping the underprivileged further their education... Self made man, he was.
Wow similarity. My father was 101st and also died after getting hit during a fight. RIP to them and all that served with them.
@@majixism you sure you dont have the same dad?
Mine was killed in Buffalo, his was killed in San Francisco
@Jym E. Changa What do you mean?
I was a 18year old Corpsman, got FMFd and was there 66,67,68.
You can take a Corpsman out of the Marines Corps, but its harder to get the Marine Corps out of a Corpsman.
Semper Fi, Doc!
Thank you brother.
Thank you brother.
I’m sorry...FMFd?
@@Adam-bq2vw :
Hiya,
FMFd means they took me from my nice clean hospital and starched white uniforms and stuck me in the Marine Corps with the attending jungle utilities and blood and guts for two and a half years.
My previous experience had been working in Pediatrics. Id never had a patient older than twelve.
I was proud to do every single thing I could for MY injured Marines.
Semper Fi.
I'm 41. Wasn't even close to alive in 68. The stories written on these mens faces still made me tear up.
Avg. infantry man in the south pacific in WWll saw about 40 days of combat in four years. the avg. infantryman in Viet Nam saw about 240 days in one year thanks to the mobility helicopter.
Thank you for this video. My dad passed away a few years ago and when he was a live, he never mentioned nor talked about the war. Its good to hear the stories through these men and understand what my father had gone through.
Thank you so very much Vietnam veterans.... I feel they deserve allot considering how they were treated after the war..... If you were a vet of that war and reading this as I'm sure you know many many many Americans truly appreciate respect and support you and I wish you nothing but the best for the rest of your life thank you for your service and sacrifice.
the most underappreciated of all US verterans.
World War 1, Korea, and Vietnam all get overshadowed by World War 2 and yet the majority of folk these days don’t even know or care about WW2
I think Korean War vets definitely take the cake for most under appreciated vets.
simon g. Except Korean War vets came home and were well received. These men were shit on and never got the respect they deserved coming home.
@@DH-ij9pe that’s a very good point. The 70s and on was very hard on working people
@@DH-ij9pe Thank the Libtard/hippie morons for that,they're still ruining and disrespecting everything to this day.
Dad served 3 tours 67, 68, 71 lost him in 2001 at 56 he was an old young man when he passed was sick for years before that, he thought it was the agent orange and other chemicals he was exposed too or possibly even the water from some river or steam that was contaminate, 2 purple hearts and silver star which i have proudly displayed on my mantle. Love you and miss you dad.
What he said about war crimes?
My uncle “Glen Christie Duncan” served from 1969-1970 he was army, he died. He grew up in Atlanta Georgia
21 years young and being the oldest one in your platoon. Hard to wrap my 25 year old head around. I have nothing but respect for these men. The heart and brass of these men make me want to be better.
I would like to thank ALL those who served in the Vietnam war and still suffer from that war. You ALL served the very noble cause of freedom. From a former boat people and a proud American now.
Glad you made it out. Welcome!
Looking at these older gentlemen you would never think what badasses they were at one time
Definitely
Damn man all of these men have a deep sadness and pain you can see straight in their eyes.
Thank you sir's and anyone else who served in that hell. Thank you so very much for serving our country, the debit can never be repaid, all I can offer is a hand shake and my never ending respect....
The man in the blue may have saved my grandfather. Thank you for your service men!
Thank you Vietnam Veterans, both for your service and for sharing your stories. I have learned a lot by listening. Again, THANK YOU!
What service? They got smoked by illiterate rice farmers with NO AIR FORCE NOR NAVY. Embarrassing and shameful. The US invasion of Vietnam was based on LIES. Those who took part in the Vietnam conflict, are oath breakers and war criminals. No matter what they do (wear their silly hats or have stickers on their cars identifying them as oath breaking traitors)
they will have to live with the FACTS. They are War Criminals.
Dude slept through his own body moving out of a tent due to artillery blasts slightly moving his body. Thought I was a heavy sleeper.
Yeah that's when you know you been there too long.
We called that, "combat tested"
nothing bothered you after that
@@andrewgrey2437 Yeah Man !!!!! When you hear incoming and figure they have to be lucky to hit such a small target as a GI rolled up in a ball in his "Skeeter Net" so you go back to sleep, that, when you look back on it let you know it but not then :-) LOL !!!
Many years ago I found a personal blog from an artillery gunner who was in Vietnam and he had a similar experience. He said when he got there he thought he would never be able to sleep through the artillery barrages since their billet was a few yards away. He described the sensation of the earth moving down beneath his cot which jolted him slightly, combined with the deafening blast of the artillery firing.
Two weeks in he was sleeping like a baby. No need for extreme exhaustion. He just became completely acclimated to it.
Thank you for your service men. 🇺🇸
They are cowards who participated in imperialist invasion in NO National Security interest to the US. Read the Pentagon Papers you dumb ass. The US invasion of Vietnam was based on LIES. Those who took part in the Vietnam conflict, are oath breakers and war criminals. No matter what they do (wear their silly hats or have stickers on their cars identifying them as oath breaking traitors)
they will have to live with the FACTS. They are War Criminals.
@@donk9443 Well they got drafted not their fault
Thanks all you Vietnam veterans. You all fought in a very difficult and unpopular war and were not welcomed when you returned home. Hopefully now you all will get the recognition and respect you so richly deserve.
What brave souls you all are. I hope peace is with you! Thank you!
Marine radio operator life expectancy in Vietnam was anywhere from 6 to 14 seconds from what I've found. Crazy!
So much admiration for these men. A true hero, every single one. Thank you for sharing and thank you for your service.
Back then they were just boys 18 years old fresh out of high school who were drafted to senseless wars they are the warriors and heroes which we admirer !!! They are the real men what a difference at men of yesterday and Soy boys of today
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANKS TO ALL THE VIETNAM VET'S WHO SERVED OUR NATION I TO AM A VETERAN OF THE IRAQ WAR YOU GUYS ARE MY HEROES AND THE VERY REASON I JOINED THE U.S. ARMY IN 1981 AGAIN THANK YOU ALL
Dave Bass
If we are your “heroes” and the reason you enlisted, then we actually failed you.
Thank you for collecting and posting these stories. We need to have them forever.
Yes and have them shown to kids in high school!!! Maybe wake up a few punks that take their lives and freedoms for granted!!!
Thank You - All of you - I teach my kids about your sacrifices for us all the time...Your stories are important and your lives are not lived in vain -
RIP to my Dads best friend who died from a VC mortar...
" sacrifice for us " who's us ?
Film stars sports stars rock stars etc etc etc . I definitely know who I'd sit down and be in awe off and have respect for, respect gentlemen to you all and your brothers who didn't return
youd be shocked how many draft dodgers are musicians and movie stars
Athletes and entertainers are often mistaken for people of importance
@@donniedoesdishes Oliver Stone enlisted into the Army in 1967. He served in Vietnam as a common infantryman. For his service, his military awards include the Bronze Star with "V" Device for valor, the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster to denote two awards, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
@@larrylinn8589 "Common Infantryman" awarded the "Air Medal"???? Hmmmmmmmmmm??????
@@gordonfrench3506 Back in 1969-70. I was with A Co/3rd Battalion / 22nd Brigade /25th Infantry. We were airmobile, performing missions every two or three days, transported by helicopters. Most of the patrols were in the Bo Loi Woods, west of Tay Nihn, along the Cambodian border.
You can see it in their eyes. Destroyed men
Thank you to all the men and women who served our country so that me and my family can live in a democracy today!
That guy telling his friend to get down because he was married is a legend.
Wrong sir, ALL of these brave young men at the time are ALL LEGENDS
Thankyou for your services. We all highly appreciate it. Thankyou.
Thank you for posting this. I love hearing first hand accounts from soldiers.
We never got the "Thank You For Your Service" greeting. We were spat on and called baby killers. The support from home was next to nothing, no parades, no salutes.
That's what I remember about those years.
Yes i remember about my mom telling me this about how ppl felt when my grandpa came back from nam and how she always thought it was fucked up and wrong to even consider that when none of us can even try to fathom how we're actually gonna react in the face of war. You sir, along with my grandpa, are real men and I am very happy yall were able to come home also thank you for your service good sir. God bless you.
Read the Pentagon Papers. You dumb asses who glorify these pukes.
The US invasion of Vietnam was based on LIES. Those who took part in the Vietnam conflict, are oath breakers and war criminals. No matter what they do (wear their silly hats or have stickers on their cars identifying them as oath breaking traitors)
they will have to live with the FACTS. They are War Criminals.
@@donk9443 Stop leaving these annoying comments, troll. You're embarrassing yourself.
I was in the Marines and I went to Vietnam 1969 to 1970 and when I came home I was call all kinds of things I will never forget that I hate hippy. The same people that called me baby killers are now all for abortion. I never killed any baby's.
@@donk9443 🤡
These men are brave as can been.
Unimaginable pointless horror.....
Without any choice.
I may point out that the toll on the Vietname people, North and South, is staggering.
total crap, read a bookS Vietnam was never and still isn't a democracy
Go tell as many Politicians.. WÀR what is it good for.. absolutely Nothing!!! Yes many People did die..due to our industrial/military incompetency. not to mention our out of mind Generals that lived in air conditioned homes..Do not call the Combat Vet. a loser!! they are HEROES & most noble.
@themailman43 it started with the French controlling and causing beyond mass poverty of the Vietnamese people. Attempting to force democracy on them. Ho chi Minh was the revolutionary that wanted to combat the French from controlling the entire country.
Read a book on it, to imagine that because of all those things this insane war was only 50 years ago. And it's not talked about.
Grand dad died over 8years ago. He volunteered at age 18 served in nam as a part of the 1st Cavalry Division , he was an automotve technician and got awarded for being a side arms expert. He died at age 63 due to colon cancer from agent orange. God bless those who served, continue to serve or are new and just started to serve. You guys are what keeps America free, you are the shining beacons of hope. Thank you all for your sacrifice.
My uncle was the oldest of 5 from allentown pa and was drafted . he died before he was 21 . I never met him. God bless these men. Imagine today if our children were drafted. Unimaginable.
How sad for parents to burry their young son
That sure is sweet that the "Hillbilly" was looking out for those who had Wives and Children while He didn't. I hope He made it back and went on to have a Family of his own...
Funny how those kind of guys end up having the most heart
@@AGolfrGuy12 Faith might have something to do with that.
Special thanks to those lads in this film and all veterans.
"I discovered beer, and then realized how many good looking girls there ia in my age group"
Those are called beer goggles. After a 12 pack they all looked good. Lol
@@LarryTaint-qn8pd Even the fat ones?
This is so interesting! Thanks for your service!
I am very thankful for each of these men and their service and sacrifice. These guys did not deserve how they were treated when they got home and should have never even been in that damned war.
I am so proud of my cousin, he served 3 years as pilot on Huey copters, in Vietnam.
my mother's cousin was med evac pilot, still has not recovered from the experience of all that he saw and did. in his 70,s now and still can't talk about it.
I know. My mother lost her parents when she was 4 years old., in war. Our rules was Not to talk about it to anyone. And, when you get older, you suffer from flashbacks.
@@rebeldog7220 Not unusual. We talk about Nam with other Nam vets, but seldom if ever with others.
To all serving and all who have served: Thank You for your service to our country; for the sacrifices you made for our nation; and for all you gave up in service to the nation. May God bless you and your family richly. Thank You!
Bull shit
Most of the guys here seem to have joined the army for their own reasons...free college, deferement , see the world not really to serve a nation.
War started on a lie(Gulf of Tonga) attack on 3rd world nation, America getting beaten by guys fighting in sandals ....brafuckingvo
The US invasion of Vietnam was based on LIES. Those who took part in the Vietnam conflict, are oath breakers and war criminals. No matter what they do (wear their silly hats or have stickers on their cars identifying them as oath breaking traitors)
they will have to live with the FACTS. They are War Criminals.
God Bless these great vets. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.
I talked to a gentleman named Don who served in Vietnam. His stories fit right in with these fellas. I was selling him a car but was pulled in to hearing his stories instead. Such a great man as these are.
Amazing. I rode a motorcycle from Saigon to Hanoi and went to all of these cities described here.
It was surreal to know such a horrific war had been fought where I was now vacationing.
Corbyn Payne Good thing the Vietnamese won that war
@Mazhar Imam whereas the USA has 70k drug overdoses a year, 30k shooting deaths and the prolific liar in history as president
Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.
Amazing stories! These guys being alive today is a miracle.It would have been so scary to be over there.
God bless these men. I hope they live out the rest of their lives with pride and love in their hearts ❤❤❤
I wish my grandpa was still alive to tell me war stories.
Notice that they were not affected by the physical part of basic training as people those days were not obese or spending too much time in front of the TV or on their phones physically inactive in the process
Idiot this is what the government wanted so blame them
@David Parry if you didnt umderstand what i fucking said too bad bitch.
@David Parry i once saw a millennial who could not only walk, but actually walk rather quickly for a few steps before taking a break, and he was said to be able to lift up to 7lbs
OK
@David Parry damn you sure destroyed millennials with epic facts and logic man this is cool and epic
the sheer sacrifice these men gave!!! it's amazing!! i always wondered why we fought for the french, that don't even respect our country, after saving their asses in WWII!! most Americans forget or do not know, we lost over 58,000 loved Americans in this war!!!
My father served in the US Army 25th infantry, 8th field artillery 1970-71. Holger "Buster" Holmberg.
Passed away a couple yrs ago.
Thank you, gentlemen and welcome home.
To my grandpa and all the men and women in army/marines/airforce/navy.. thank you
Thank you to all that served, it’s was through you sacrifice that I got to work and earn a living in the greatest country on earth. The draft ended months before my number came up. May God bless each and every one of you.
My dad. He was in the 101’st Airborne Division in Vietnam. 69-70. He was 17, was homeless at 13, hitchhiked to Cali with 20$ in his pocket. Volunteered for to go in 67- 68. His records were burned in the 73 office fire in Huston Texas. (Under suspicious circumstances)
He was with his buddies sneaking into Laos and Cambodia looking for the Ho-chi-Minh trail. Black ops. His friend stepped on a land-mine. Died in his arms. 5 confirmed kills, several unconfirmed. He was never the same.
Even now in August 2019. The combat still wears on him. I don’t blame him for not being a good dad, or a friend to me and mom. I pray for him. As do I pray for the people involved or affected by all wars.
The US invasion of Vietnam was based on LIES. Those who took part in the Vietnam conflict, are oath breakers and war criminals. No matter what they do (wear their silly hats or have stickers on their cars identifying them as oath breaking traitors)
they will have to live with the FACTS. They are War Criminals.
@@donk9443 they didnt have a choice to be there the government made them.
Rick Kramer called a draft idiot
@@donk9443 they didnt have a choice my dude...
@@atlantarecordsinc.450 Only 25 to 35 % were drafftess. Two thirds volunteered which means the the majority of our troops chose to go. So most of them did have a choice.
“Boy that’s really sharp” the way he talks about the marines uniform. It’s hilarious how communication changes
Damn interesting to hear these guys speak of their experiences........more please. Thanks for vid.
I was 150-ish...1972.....in The Selective Service- Draft...Philadelphia .....I was so Fortunate.......I Picked up every Vietnam Veteran. At Our Airport...(My Community)....Philadelphia, International Airport...........an Brought them Home.....Love You Guys....an Girls........
The dude in the peach colored shirt with beard looks like a real badass to this day! I bet he is an awesome grandfather!
Amazing guys! what hell they all went thru every single day
but don't you ever ask yourself why ?? was it really necessary ?? etc etc FFS war is always a failure of sense somewhere along the way
Raymond Ashby war is a necessary evil
thanks to all the veterans... veterans are the only ones I trust in case of a shtf situation...
U trust a bunch of rapists and murderers?😂 good luck
Leon Hagenbäumer pos. A few bad apples killed innocent and now all veterans are rapist and murderers? Simple minded fool.
@@leonhagenbaumer6809 you talk big while your Still living with your mommy!!! You haven't earned the right to be little others. An nobody broke there oath of duty! That pertains to our country only!!!
@@leonhagenbaumer6809 you talk big while your Still living with your mommy!!! You haven't earned the right to be little others. An nobody broke there oath of duty! That pertains to our country only!!!
@@leonhagenbaumer6809 You were there to witness those actions? You and John Kerry who lied through his teeth after swearing an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, etc., etc. I suppose. How is it that I never saw any of those actions???
I have so much respect for these soldiers, they are hero's, everyone of them.
This was awesome thanks so much for sharing your stories and finding from the state of Minnesoooooootaaahhhhh
What a brilliant record. Thank you for sharing your stories for all of us here in the past. There are a lot of us Alma Mater.
I was in the Marines in the later half of the '80s. My VA is in Suffolk county New York and I've made so many older friends from the Vietnam era.. And when you hear it first hand from any of these guys .. It really does make you wonder how so many of them were able to hold it so together. so many of my Vietnam era buddies have some of the most amazing senses of humor. I suspect that may have something to do with it.