My father the Vet

[KC2004]

My dad is a Vietnam vet. Nothing strange about that a lot of us are kids of vets of WWII, Korea, or Vietnam. What i find strange is that most Vietnam Vets are quiet about their service. I don't talk to my Dad much about the war or what happened. He offers bits and pieces of the war thats amusing but lays off when it goes to the sad side of war. He did two voluntery tours and won a bronze star. If ya asked him he deserved none of the awards and was just lucky. To me my Dad is a hero! No matter what he did in Nam he will always be the man to me. He took alot of shit when he got home. Thoughts may have changed since then but you got to realize that that's whats sticks out in my fathers mind most about the war. I'm not preaching about Vietnam or what happen 30 years ago and don't think my Dad would want me to. I Just want to make sure we thank our Vets this time cause they didn't ask to go.....we sent them. To all the guys and gals out there protecting my freedom THANK YOU!!!!!

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

agreed. i have a buddy who talks about iraq constantly. we think he is FOS. cause my bro who went dont say shit.

I tend to agree with you on this. We have a guy who I go to church with was a sniper in Iraq. When he came back after his 2nd tour, he was a completely different guy. Has night terrors, PTSD, and is really not all there anymore. I feel very bad for he and his family. My dad's old Ken-Po teacher was a 2 tour Vietnam Vet, he was a Green Beret. Toughest SOB I've ever seen in my life, my dad said he would never talk about what he saw. The only guy who ever talked about his service was a guy at Church who served in WWII, he was on the Beaches of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. I interviewed him for a middle school report, and some of his stories were frightening. He made it back, but lost his left arm.

Major Respect to all who have served, not a day goes by I don't thank the Lord for the freedoms we have, and what was sacrificed to keep them.

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

I think most vets I know that have really been in the shit don't talk about much or at all.

That might be a general rule but it's also dependent on personality type or upbringing too. A lot of people are an open book about everything, even the things that hurt.

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by Phobia

That might be a general rule but it's also dependent on personality type or upbringing too. A lot of people are an open book about everything, even the things that hurt.

I guess most vets have that tough guy persona, don't want to act like anything bothers them. Others may be of the philosphy that things don't need to be bottled up, and may feel it best to let those things out. FTR, I am not a veteran, just what seems to be most prevelent with my friends that are serving.

[38yrsfan]

Didn't read all the posts but ...

War sucks ... Nam sucked even coming back home ....

At one time my father, my brother and I were all wearing OD ... both suffered and died from the results of war .....

Originally Posted by mauifan

I'm a Vietnam Vet.., 1st Cav, 67-68 RVN, 11 bravo

I spent my whole tour in the bush, but I still can't comprehend what the guys went through in Korea. Those sonsobitches were true heros.., They call it the forgotten war but, I don't think there is one of us today that could be that cold, under supplied, ignored, half killed and overfrickinrun and not have it leave an impression.., They didn't get a parade either.., God bless em.., Don't ever forget those guys..,

Maui, very unselfish of you, dude. You went through plenty. But this is just the type of guy you are. Miss seeing you once a year. Holler next time you get back.

[mounged]

My father was WWII and Korea. The only time we heard about it was when he had had too much to drink. WWII wasn't his bad memories, but Korea was. He was a prisoner of war during it and retired rather than go to Vietnam. After he and mom died we found a purple heart and a bronze star. He never told us anything about the medals so we have no idea if they came from his prisoner of war days or not.

Originally Posted by mounged

My father was WWII and Korea. The only time we heard about it was when he had had too much to drink. WWII wasn't his bad memories, but Korea was. He was a prisoner of war during it and retired rather than go to Vietnam. After he and mom died we found a purple heart and a bronze star. He never told us anything about the medals so we have no idea if they came from his prisoner of war days or not.

You should request his citations. That would make for some interesting family heirlooms - medals accompanied by citations.

[Rain Man]

My family is just a bunch of civilians.

During WWII, one grandfather was a farmer (sharecropper, actually) and was exempt because he worked in a "necessary industry" or whatever it was called, and the other was a truck driver at an army base when the war started, so he was exempt for that reason. One great uncle survived getting shot by a sniper in the Pacific (could never bend his arm after that), and another one was an ambulance driver in Europe, but I met him maybe once in my life.

The generations didn't work for Korea since my dad's generation was too young and the grandparents were too old.

In Vietnam, all my uncles and my dad were married with kids and in their mid to late 20s, so they didn't get drafted for that reason. One younger uncle got drafted and should've gone, but my grandmother loved him more than all the other kids put together, so I think she made up some medical reason or something to get him out. I don't know exactly what happened there, but it wasn't stoic heroism. I had one semi-uncle who was in the Air Force, but I think he was in Japan or something, not Vietnam.

I've got a picture of my great-great-great grandfather in what looks like a Civil War uniform, but I can't tell if it's Union or Confederate. Either way, he served somebody.

[mauifan]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Maui, very unselfish of you, dude. You went through plenty. But this is just the type of guy you are. Miss seeing you once a year. Holler next time you get back.

Gonna try and get back this year.., First beer is on me.

BTW.., did you have to wrestle Aretha for that hat ???

[KCChiefsMan]

ya my Dad was in Nam too. He wouldn't ever talk about it though. I guess he was a helicopter pilot and also a gunman on the copter. I asked him once if he ever killed anyone (when I was like 5) he said he wasn't sure because you just spray that gun at the tree line. That's about all I got out of him, wish I could have a conversation about it now, guess I'll have to wait until I see him again. He got some medals, I believe it was the purple heart and silver star. His love for helicopters carried over after the war as he was an engineer for GE after that for 25+ years and was part of the team that did something to make the blackhawk engine better. He also worked on apache engines. My dad was a smart man, wish I could be more like him.

[KC2004]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsMan

ya my Dad was in Nam too. He wouldn't ever talk about it though. I guess he was a helicopter pilot and also a gunman on the copter. I asked him once if he ever killed anyone (when I was like 5) he said he wasn't sure because you just spray that gun at the tree line. That's about all I got out of him, wish I could have a conversation about it now, guess I'll have to wait until I see him again. He got some medals, I believe it was the purple heart and silver star. His love for helicopters carried over after the war as he was an engineer for GE after that for 25+ years and was part of the team that did something to make the blackhawk engine better. He also worked on apache engines. My dad was a smart man, wish I could be more like him.

Asked my dad that question to and he just said I fired into the jungle. Maybe that helps them sleep a little better at night.

[KC2004]

Top! Just wanted to say thank you again. We cant say it enough.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

My family is just a bunch of civilians.

During WWII, one grandfather was a farmer (sharecropper, actually) and was exempt because he worked in a "necessary industry" or whatever it was called, and the other was a truck driver at an army base when the war started, so he was exempt for that reason. One great uncle survived getting shot by a sniper in the Pacific (could never bend his arm after that), and another one was an ambulance driver in Europe, but I met him maybe once in my life.

The generations didn't work for Korea since my dad's generation was too young and the grandparents were too old.

In Vietnam, all my uncles and my dad were married with kids and in their mid to late 20s, so they didn't get drafted for that reason. One younger uncle got drafted and should've gone, but my grandmother loved him more than all the other kids put together, so I think she made up some medical reason or something to get him out. I don't know exactly what happened there, but it wasn't stoic heroism. I had one semi-uncle who was in the Air Force, but I think he was in Japan or something, not Vietnam.

I've got a picture of my great-great-great grandfather in what looks like a Civil War uniform, but I can't tell if it's Union or Confederate. Either way, he served somebody.

You could tell (my guess) by the shade of the coat and perhaps a hat, if he did wear one.

[Lzen]

My FIL did time in Nam. He doesn't ever talk about it. I remember when Platoon came out. My wife said that he had a really hard time watching that flick. Brought back some fugged up memories, I guess. Those guys went through Hell. I never was in the military but I sure as heck respect them for what they had to do for their country.

[RJ]

My step-dad and also a few close friends served in Vietnam. I've heard some interesting stories. Really interesting stories. I'm glad I wasn't old enough to go and they all have my respect.