Vietnam Voices: 'I know we were treated differently'
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- Опубликовано: 21 сен 2015
- Vietnam War veteran Eric Feaver talks about his experiences. Feaver was drafted while a graduate student at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C., in 1968. The draft board decided to draft Feaver when one of his older brothers turned in his draft card on the federal courthouse steps in New York City.
What shines through this interview most is the obvious human decency, intelligence and humanity of this guy. The world would be a far better place if it was full of his type.
Amen polakinholland. If only it could be
Well said, a truly decent human being.God bless you Eric Feaver.
I agree it was an incredibly poignant interview.
Ya , I agree.
How do you know that?
Thank you Eric Feaver. Your interview was honest, powerful, and profound. I hope you and your family have a long happy life.
May God bless you and your family.
Couldn't have put it better.🙏
I am a Vietnam vet widow. And I can tell you this is a wonderful tribute to the veterans and valuable information for the future I appreciate you doing these interviews
I am sorry for all of the pain you have suffered. You are not forgotten.
Brave, brave man. I have the outmost respect for every combat medic in any war.
Thank you. 99 thru 04
*UTMOST
If you knew anything about going into combat you would know thst "bravery" is not even part of the mindset. Most are only motivated by fear or some stupid ideology.
Call it composure under fire then. Not everyone can do it.
Eric Feaver: "Yes...I left Vietnam 45 years ago but I go back every day."
Boom. That pretty well sums it up for probably every veteran who served over there.
or any war! WW2 spitfire pilot at 90 years of age was asked when he'd last had a nightmare. He answered, " Oh, last night, last night ".
@joe cheney I had the same feeling about this guy but at least he went.
Not to take anything away from them...they are us..it never goes away
AmenTruth!
@@bmon4095 Yes. No doubt it is true....
Mr. Feaver became emotional talking about leaving Viet Nam 45 yrs ago and returning there everyday... and his experiences that "earned" him awards.....
War never leaves a soldier.... it visits again when least expected...
three years later and this mans analysis about our quagmire in the middle east is more true then ever much love from a iraq vet
if there was a draft the White kids would revolt and the war M E, would end quickly
@@samuelmatias7453 And non-white kids would be totally cool with it. Yeah, right.
Thanks for your service!
Thank you for your service Mr. Feaver, you are appreciated more than you will ever know.
Going to Vietnam Combat _without_ a weapon requires a hearty amount of courage.
And stupidity!
Van Poll - A Vietnam medic I knew carried a 45 and had to use it a couple of times.
"Napalm" is a word and concept I have always tried to block out of my mind.
I've often wondered how many that were in that position, once they got shot at were ready to pick up a weapon and defend themselves rather than be an easy target!
@Mike Curtin - Anyone that would question a battlefield medic is going to step on their own dick. My ex wifes dad was a WWII doctor, who went into private specialty practice after the war. Dr Elkins pretty much treated me like a no nothing air head young punk; as it turned out he was correct. The man was an extremely noble hero who for about 5 years saved many lives while going through hell.
I have watched a lot of these interviews. I am a Navy vet who was stationed on a ship out of DaNang. This by far has been the most interesting interview I have watched. They have all been very emotional and very moving. Thank you for putting this series together, and thank you so much to the Vets who participated. One reason I joined the Navy was to avoid the bloody conflicts and the "in country" experience that these men have endured. I had a nice place to sleep and three decent meals a day. I was on an ocean minesweeper. We were always within eyeshot of the coast. I really want to thank these gentlemen and the Billings Gazette for putting this project together. It surely opened my eyes by providing so many different viewpoints on these stories.
Welcome home Eric, and thanks for being an inspiration
this stuff deserves more viewers
It really does. It's a sad indictment of the American people that it doesn't.
PolakInHolland - Uh, no it isn't. The fact of the matter is that the overwhelming majority of Americans as well as non-Americans are unaware of these interviews' existence. That is the reason for the low number of views for most of them. Since I recently discovered them, I watch about 4 per week.
mar bo 0
@@0bob0cya ;oD
@@racer774 I was watching 4 a day about 2 months ago...These are our fathers....will always keep these alive.
It is scary, to say the least, to be in combat...I cant imagine what it must have felt like to be in one with no weapon.
Absolutly incredible and inspiring story!
This was an outstanding interview. I usually have these running in the background while I’m doing something else, but there was something about him that made me stop and sit down and watch him speak.
Thank you Mr. Fever for sharing your story, experiences, and insights. Thank you to all involved on the production of this series as well. It is so important to give these veterans the opportunity to communicate their truth to the world. God bless all of you. Welcome home, and Thank you for serving with honor and courage.
Rest in peace, Mr. Feaver. You will not be forgotten.
All respect to, from any nationality, men that selflessly subject themselves to harm and danger to ease the suffering for others that didn't have a choice.
Edit: This is by far the best interview in the series. Thank you for sharing it.
One of the most honest perspectives of the Vietnam War that I have listened to. Eric a big thanks to your decision to make this video and definitely a greater appreciation for your service in vietnam.
The politics of cynicism and fear, well put from someone with their eyes open. Thank you for your service and continuing voice.
This is a great man. I was truly moved by his experience, you can tell he was passionate about his job and was really good at it. God bless him and thanks for sharing his experience.
I served on the “gun line” in the USN at the time. We had a CO who was a fire control Technician, (operated and maintained radar weapons controls, not firefighter) the Navy accommodated him by changing his job to BT, boiler technician. He didn’t even have to get transferred. Instead of working in an air conditioned electronics space, he worked in a miserably hot fire room, providing steam for all power aboard ship.
I am a 68 yo Navy Veteran(never in-country) who salutes every Vietnam Veteran I encounter...Thank you Sir for your service
@sneksnekitsasnek Great question!
I’ve been watching a lot of these lately. This one really moved me. This man is so candid and honest about his experience and humble about his life. And i appreciate the dot connecting on modern conflicts and politics. It is one thing to have opinions on Vietnam, another to apply that to the present day. Good critique of the values that lead us there. Thanks
Just discovered these too. Really good to listen to these people and the interviewer is really good too. Don't have words for this, but somehow I am learning here and its a comfort to me to see these people speaking as real people.
Hero....real, living, breathing, honest to God HERO. Thank you sir
Sir, may the kindness and care you showed for any and all you treated in Nam be heaped on you 1000 fold.
YOU'VE EARNED IT !
Well said! I served a year in Vietnam...I feel exactly as you do today, August 13th, 2019...maybe more so!
Thank you for your service Sir ❤️ ☮️
Welcome home!
I was a Vietnam infantryman and this vet was different than most of the guys I served with. Hats off to him for sticking to his strong beliefs. He's just a different sort of guy.
I was liberal like him but I have changed
@@donaldjones7678 People do that when they mature. The damage can already be done though. I hate liberals.
May we get your story Don?
AllLiberalsHaveHerpes
^MORON above.
@@Flibbybibby You must have herpes.
I've enjoyed this interview, honest perspective. Thank you!
God Bless Eric.
Great soul.
From another combat medic,different country,different Time.
FINALLY a vet who didn;t buy into the Domino theory! FINALLY!
Guess during the Vietnam War the communists didn't infiltrate and turn the dumber citizens of Laos and Cambodia?
Neither country were communist before the war or before the Vietnamese started to infiltrate.Did you know the NVA would lead the Pathet Lao and Khmer Rouge attacks on the Laotian and Cambodian government forces then fall back and let the Pathet and Khmer commies take credit? There's 3 countries that fell to the "theory",SVN,Laos,Cambodia..
No,bet you're narrow dimwitted mind didn't know any of that....you just like to repeat what some other dimwit says..
You're a f'n moron stratowhore
@Y T listen bro I voted for Trump too but you gotta see reality. You are twisted bro. The secret genocide as you call it of europe is ridiculous and way overstated. And as much as we want to be angry about the virus can we really say we know it was chinese? Lets stop bsing
Yeaaah i think the real issue is we took half measures. We should of probably taken out russia and china back in WW2. While we had a chance. Even now we look back and wonder maybe we should of gone all out during vietnam and finished them off rather than battle with them. Nukes should of been on the table.
there was descriptive power to the domino template, but imo it wasn't the ONLY template to guide our policy. the fact of the matter was that nationalism of the north far overpowered the colonial vestiges that formed the utterly corrupt and elitist cadres of the south. besides which, esp. after the massive losses in Korea (my father served there), the case was never adequately made that it was in our (the people's) national interest to defend the contest between Vietnamese with American lives. 3-4 million lives later, the result was the same as would have been without our intervention. the lesson should have been learned. it was not.
@Y T i think the vietnam incursion was a misadventure. your take on this comes across as overly emotional. and yes, the government of SVN was utterly corrupt, and the ARVN was an incompetent fighting force. if you listen to these stories, you will find that is a theme. But I suspect you will continue to bluster at me for holding the views I do, so carry on. I'm done.
Right now, 2 days before the 11th. hour of 11th. day 2018, All Americans should listen to this guy. Thank you Eric, there's nothing to forgive.
It really grabbed me at the end when Eric looked at the interviewer and said “ I’m glad I came” . The whole time I was thinking how do you hold that all in and never talked about it. It looked like a huge load off his chest. True hero and his story definitely added to the story. 🙏🏻
The biggest service you can do for some people is to listen to their story and validate what they are saying.
Wow !!much respect for Mr. Fever his interview was so captivating he is a very brave man ☺️he could have easily got out of the draft but he decide to join up an serve as a healer ,by listening to interviews I have learned in Vietnam in or for a unit to operate they need a medic and a Radioman I had also learned that a sniper would take those guys out, I can feel Mr. Fever humanity his compassion and mercy for others, I pray that God will heal you and that you’ll keep telling your story you have so much to offer this world God bless you💕☺️
I have loved watching these videos on our heroes. As a soldier myself, I feel for the men and what they came back to.
May I ask what you use for audio? Do you provide snacks and drinks? Do you sit right down and start the interview, or is there an amount of time spent "breaking the ice" before recording?
The quality of your interviews is superb. I am extremely pleased to of found your channel, and would like to try my own hand at gathering veteran stories.
Thank you for your interview and your service!
Thank YOU for your prayers.
Thank you for telling your story Mr. Feaver.
I’ve got a Feaver, and the only prescription is more of these interviews
ahhhhhh .... i see what u did there =P
000000000000 òòķj u
These guys are fascinating. Each story is unique despite vietnam, training, etc follow a similar sequence.
I never had a chance to ask my grandfather questions about nam really! Love these videos. My grandfather was in the 4th sos squadron. Service date was 53-74. Thank you for your service
Brilliant interview. This veteran was amazing
This is perhaps one of the most powerful and insightful interviews of this series and I've watched them all. I have so much respect for Mr. Fever over a wide spectrum of those traits that make up the human condition. I actually don't know how to fully describe all those things that Mr. Feaver represents, so you I'll just state the obvious which are nothing but complements to him: integrity...courage of convictions...brave...ethical...committed...honesty...insightful...noble. The are many more but these jump out at me. If anyone is looking for an interview of a Vietnam veteran to watch, learn, and appreciate, this is the one to watch. Real heroes are not the "Rambo" types sold and packaged by Hollywood. The Mr. Feavers of this world are. simply put, Mr Feaver is a good man.
The sad part about this is that they never come home whole. Psychologically they are wounded as much as they are physically. My husband died of aggressive prostate cancer after being in Vietnam. I was married to two Vietnam veterans and I can tell you that war is ugly and I hope that we’re through with that part of our history. It’s a terrible thing to do to people. It basically takes away their life and leaves them living.
Outstanding video thank you both
Welcome home Eric. Nothing but respect for the sacrifice you made. Thanks Daryl for the great job you have done preserving these stories and with handling a sensitive subject so well.
Really good interview. Thank you.
Amazing that you for going out and getting these interviews ❤️ ☮️
Thank you Eric Feaver for sharing your personal recollections, concerning your service in Vietnam, with us. Do hope you survived your health issues and are in remission. Not to wax religious, but seems to me it is vastly more important how a man lives his life, than how he dies. Kudos, as you said, you did it your way!🤔👍
Eric, you are a rare man of integrity and humility and I have such respect for you and your tremendous courage. I will never forget your story and I imagine I will be retelling it to many others in life who could benefit from hearing it. An ex-boyfriend's uncle was disabled physically and mentally from his time in Vietnam tasked with loading Agent Orange onto the planes and getting it regularly spilled on his skin. Of course it couldn't have happened to a nicer, more noble human being, just as in your case. I hope you are getting all the help you need and that your treatment will give you many more years. Your words on the continuing body count from the Vietnam War reminds me of those who worked at Ground Zero after 9/11 and the thousands of first responders, volunteers, and others who have died subsequently from the contaminants present in the air that our government not only failed to disclose, but actively lied about (as of late 2018, 88,484 first responders and survivors have registered with the World Trade Center Health Program; of that number, roughly 10,000 have some form of cancer). These things break my heart. Some of the comments below are so wrong-headed that I had to reply to them even though it brought me into their soulless gutter to do so. It shows how far our country has fallen when self-anointed "patriots" believe that you can only serve your country property by carrying a gun and killing people and fail to consider every other form of service to our country, from scientists to school teachers. It took a hell of a lot of courage to go to a war zone in Vietnam unarmed to help your wounded fellow Americans. Only a bunch of armchair warriors, conspiracy theorists, gun fetishists, and false patriots could fail to see this. Imagine watching Eric's story and concluding he is "a pussy" as some comment below. I have only contempt for the losers who did. Just shut up and move on if you can't recognize a true patriot when you see one.
Civil rights activist... thank you for your service in civilian life and in the military 🤛
Thank you for your service. You must know that you helped a lot of people. You said you feel that you did your best.no one can ask more than that..Welcome home.
Best one I've seen!! Good going Eric!! Just WOW!!
One of the best interviews, Darrell.
Incredible man.
Ifs not often in life you see a man so dedicated to his principles that he will enter an incredibly deadly war zone with NO weapon, and still retain the humanity to be humble.
God bless him.
This gentleman honestly acknowledged the ongoing daily consequences of what affected him, but didnt crush his spirit....
He stood his ground and yet served as a medic...
Much like Desmond Doss...an absolute hero...
Thank You For your Service
💞✌️🙏
Billings Gazette, Thanks for doing these interviews with True American Heroes, THANK YOU !
This man is smart, educated, well spoken, and loaded with common sense. Several points he makes, I'm right with him:
1) When I hear a person talk about NAM or how the USA should kill more people, I WANT TO KNOW THEIR MOS. Most have never served and are probably tax cheats.
2) Kerry was in NAM and yet our media cut him to shreds and America cheered that angle on this veteran
3) GW hid like so many from my hometown in AR. Myself, I missed the draft by 2 yrs but did enlist in the US Army later and stayed for a decade.
This series is absolutely fascinating! Every man's story has been so riveting, so heartwarming/breaking at same time. Thank you, Sirs, for your service. Interesting that so many Montana men won Purple Hearts and Bronze and Silver Stars.
Thanks to Billings Gazette for recording their stories. The sad irony is..... Iraq and Afghanistan vets will need to record their's also.
Plenty of others never got recognition for their heroism, nor wanted any. A medal onto itself doesn't speak to your bravery. I declined a Silver Star nomination to spare my folks worrying needlessly. Most of the time, scared though we were, life in Vietnam was boring or mundane at best. I & II Corp, 66-67
Thank you for sharing your story. Hero.
I've seen many of these interviews and in my opinion this Eric Feaver's account of his experience was one of the most moving. Thank you for sharing and thank you for your service :)
Eric is still traumatised. A brave and honourable man.
You are capturing history from the collective views of people who experienced these events first hand. This is very valuable and insightful. I started on episode 72 by accident and quickly realized it’s worth. I decided to start at episode one and am now working my way through the series. Thank you for creating this. I hope you continue to make series perhaps finding veterans from current wars
THANK YOU ERIC !
What a quietly heroic and principled man. I really enjoyed this interview.
God bless you sir!! And thank you for your service!! SALUTE!
this dude actually even have that face of war veteran..
you haven't been in a street fight have ya kid
Had to tell three or my friends about this channel. All Vietnam Vets that had no idea it existed. Two can only handle a few videos at a time while the other has watched the entire vault. Truly a jewel more people should know about.
To enter combat, without arms, to support your fellows... this is the definition of humanity.
RIP
Mr Feaver
My Dad was a Vietnam veteran who is still dealing with issues from this War
Your interview was excellent
Yes we do fear our Government that much.
Mr Eric, you are a contradiction in terms, you are a historian but dont know that the governments of the USSR, red China and people like Pole Pot and Ede Amin murdered millions and millions of their own brother citizens? Your beloved "brilliant" president Lyndon Johnson falsely expanded the war so you had to be drafted and go to Vietnam? Your cherry picked thoughts of history are a pretty crooked path to go down. One kid who stood off a tank in China perhaps made a bigger difference to the world than most others, all who were disposed of later. the revolutionary war was fought by farmers with guns and won a perilous freedom against a stronger imperialist nation. So at least the armed American can have some determination of his fate than being quietly led away in chains to a re education camp or exterminated. The current socialists who are trying to gain the control of the levers of power in America right now are doing everything they can to disarm the American citizenry so they may lead protesting people away to the camps they will create. Thanks for your service but no thanks for your misled and cherry picked opinions. (ya might want to bone up on your history, read Cicero's comments maybe)
Amen... lol
I only fear the current left in America that's wanting to disarm citizens
I do every single day to this damn day.
Brian Crawford you should fear them and the government itself. We have a complete shit fake “JUSTICE” system. One day you can be happy & content. The next, the “law” will fuck You & ruin your life. Hunt you down. Even for something you didn’t do. It’s all a farce. Mainly just money really.
Thank you for serving & recounting your experience’s as both my dad & uncle fought in WWII & my uncle saw to much & never talked about it 😪.
I've watched this interview 3x. I wish everyone would see this. The word's are still relevant. Thank you for sharing.
Great interview. Enjoyed a different perspective.
My second tour I was feeling sorry for myself one night in my below ground bunker. I called my wife using an immediate priority (totally illegal). Expected to get a violation through channels. A couple months later I was visiting a friend from Signal Corps Advanced Course. Just before leaving, he handed me the notification which did not go to my commander. Instead, I gave it to him. He told me “Don’t do it again”. End of discussion
,
Lord, please help me to be more like Eric Fever, Amen.
How the hell isn't there more views on all these interviews...they all powerful great interviews 🖒
Good point. I've been watching a lot of these fascinating things, but I haven't been clicking thumbs up on them... Maybe I represent a lot of viewers who just haven't left a record.
Wow. Amazing, fascinating interview. Great job by both men.
"....I don't know what the hell I was thinking that day. I'm looking at that and thinking, damnit, why am I attracted to that invitation? I've never spoken about it before...."
Thank you, Eric Feaver, for telling us your story. Yours is as invaluable as lesson as anyone's. Thanks for sharing your service with all of us. We are better off for it.
this is the best interview I have ever heard. I don’t know how to Xpress this any better. Thank you so much both of you and the Billings Gazette
Welcome home... CO medics were the best people in a really crappy experience. Even though I do not agree with Mr. Feaver's politics, I will defend his right to possess and exclaim it.
Agreed
And that, my friend, is the greatest gift you could ever give another...
To defend their right to different beliefs to yours.
God bless you
Sincerely.
Y T
He's more man than you'll ever be and more woman than you'll ever get!!
Thsnk for your service.
Can't thank you enough for your testimony and your service Eric
Peace brother
My father volunteered 3rd marine division 2 1/2 tours. His country was calling and he answered that call. My brother served 5 tours SF. His country called and he answered.
I’ve seen most of these. They are all remarkable. This one though (as a post Vietnam vet) is so raw, heartfelt and brutally honest. Kind of hard to watch at times. But, I’m glad I did. Thank you.
Thank you for your service and sacrifice. Welcome home, Doc.
I respect this fellow followed his conviction. That said, he seems like himself enough for the both of us.
A very insightful interview and great interviewer too. I was a Sergeant who served in Japan and Korea 1968-72
Thank You Sir and Welcome Home !!
Hey, Mr Feaver, if you're still around and you read this, please know that your insight into the whole thing was a transformative experience for me. I wish you'd teach us all a little. If you get this please consider my request. Thank you. 🙏
@sneksnekitsasnek sure looks like it! Good find! Thanks.
@sneksnekitsasnek
It’s disgusting what the public schools have become today. They need to be shut down for obvious reasons. Critical Race Theory is one of them.
I love this gentleman’s honesty. Wonderful interview
Wow... Thank you Sir, God bless you....
Thank you for your service
I was an advisor to ARVN forces on the DMZ in 1968 and then again in the Delta in 1970. This interview was the best I have seen do far. This man's emotional intelligence is overpowering.
An amazing, heart-rending interiew...
Can one hae a favourite, or is that inappropriate?"You are not shooting the MP!"
Has a Ex MP, it amazes me how some soldiers seem to hate MPs, we were not the enemy !! when in trouble men came to us for help, we gave it, and had many duties far more important than addressing a soldier about a dress code, !! Which is I think where this attitude stems from,
Great Interview! and the Manifest Destiny !
Wow. I’m hooked on these interviews. The Vietnam War was a terrible war. All war is terrible but this one was especially terrible. What a waste of lives. But it’s awesome how most of the ones who made it back have a different perspective on life and the preciousness of lives and live and let live. I love how he said just because you went to war doesn’t make you a hero. And in my opinion that’s how it’s perceived today still. Killing doesn’t make you a hero but saving lives is. Going to another country and killing someone in there country doesn’t make you a hero. You’re just a killer. Saving someone’s life directly is what makes you a hero
Great honor to hear Eric Feaver and his unique perspective so intelligently presented.
This is what everyone should hear to help realize that the opposite is true.
Thank you.
welcome home ~! ... my dad was a medic in WW2 - D+3 Normandy - but he talked little about what he experienced. i think it important to share the pain, to maybe avoid the mistake down the road.
I hope you are writing that book. My birthday was drawn as 285 in the first draft lottery. I never had to make the decision you did. I wasn't aware of your option. Speaking honestly which is what your dignity and principled requires I cant say I would have taken your route. I will never know. You humble me . Thank you Mr Feaver.
What a wonderful human being, a man
Thank you, Thank you.
Any school coverage (or CO decision) on VN should include 1919 at Versailles
where Ho Chi Minh was rejected, and the 1954 Geneva Accords, and reference
to the 35 marxist insurgencies from 1945 to 65.
Whatever the issues, many teen experts went to Canada, sending
some other unwilling teens to VN in their place.
Eric chose co in good faith (fully informed or not), but then walked the walk.
If someone shoots at me on the street and I duck, would you blame me for shooting the person behind me?