Lest We Forget: June, 1968

#28
#28
CountVolcula said:
My father got that treatment when he flew back into San Fran for leave. Told me that it was one of the worse things he had ever gone through. This is from a man who spent months in the jungles setting up ambushes along the Vietnam/Laos border.

My grandmother would tell me that when he got home, for the first few months, he would stay up all night, sitting in the dark. Said he wouldnt make a sound. It took him forever to readjust to being "normal".

My mother still says he has nightmares and wakes up in the middle of the night.

He did and saw things over there that he wont tell anyone about
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Unfortunately my dad had similar experiences returning. Still remember him leaping behind a couch when we came in the living room loudly. He actually refused his second purple heart because he didn't want to advertise he was in Nam because of the reactions back home. So glad things have changed in regards to treatment of soldiers. Now it is common practice to pay the tab for soldiers in airports and often people walk up and thank someone in uniform.
 
#29
#29
utvolkyle06 said:
Thanks so much. June 14, 1968 I boarded a Fairchild Hillar twin engine prop out of Tri Cities. My first flight ever. My mother refused to go to see me off to basic training. She could not handle to goodbye just her way. It was very strange as I looked down as we flew over Carter County I actually looked out the window and saw my mother hanging out clothes. my mother and father have mountain ways and they do this to bury theirselves in work to hide their emitions and I was amazed at the sceene and I wondered if I would ever see home again. I was blessed to never see actual combat although it was all around me. I was air traffic controller and moved all through southeast Asia for the next three years as controllers were in short supply and the need was great. I was honorably discharged June 1972 and received an electronically signed letter from President Nixon as I am sure many others did. I torn it to pieces out of frustration. Wish I had kept it as a souvenir now. But I saw it as an insult at the time. I used the GI bill and pat time jobs and finally graduated from the University of Tennessee a very proud moment for me and still is. I let too many behind to never return from that war. Robert Shaffer my class mate from Hampton H.S. Harold Wilson from Happy Valley H.S. and one of my first commanders Captain Wilholt who as I was told later flew a Cessna 152 Observation plane straight into enemy to try and help some marines under fire with no relief in site. All and other are on the wall in Washington DC and I visit them as often as I can. Then their others who served but were affected much later in life. Like JC Watts from Elizabethton HS who recently died much too early in Utah. He and I became friends over the radio in the control tower and it was weeks before we discovered we both were from Carter County and big UT fans. Over the next next twelve months we became fast friends and I miss him. He was a professional and took his role very seriously. But the toll of that time finally was too much for his mind and body. Thanks Vol Nation for allowing me to write down things that I have not expressed in many years. And thanks to the OP for a great Memorial day gift of saluting those who gave all. And most of all I praise God that I returned safe and never had to endure what so many others did. Please excuse typos using iPhone :)
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thanks for sharing and for your service
 
#30
#30
Some of the most powerful posts I have ever read. God bless all the vets and their families this Memorial Day. With all the changes going on in our country today (won't get political because it's not the time) we should all take a moment to try an understand what ultimate sacrifice means.
 
#33
#33
utvolkyle06 said:
Thanks so much. June 14, 1968 I boarded a Fairchild Hillar twin engine prop out of Tri Cities. My first flight ever. My mother refused to go to see me off to basic training. She could not handle to goodbye just her way. It was very strange as I looked down as we flew over Carter County I actually looked out the window and saw my mother hanging out clothes. my mother and father have mountain ways and they do this to bury theirselves in work to hide their emitions and I was amazed at the sceene and I wondered if I would ever see home again. I was blessed to never see actual combat although it was all around me. I was air traffic controller and moved all through southeast Asia for the next three years as controllers were in short supply and the need was great. I was honorably discharged June 1972 and received an electronically signed letter from President Nixon as I am sure many others did. I torn it to pieces out of frustration. Wish I had kept it as a souvenir now. But I saw it as an insult at the time. I used the GI bill and pat time jobs and finally graduated from the University of Tennessee a very proud moment for me and still is. I let too many behind to never return from that war. Robert Shaffer my class mate from Hampton H.S. Harold Wilson from Happy Valley H.S. and one of my first commanders Captain Wilholt who as I was told later flew a Cessna 152 Observation plane straight into enemy to try and help some marines under fire with no relief in site. All and other are on the wall in Washington DC and I visit them as often as I can. Then their others who served but were affected much later in life. Like JC Watts from Elizabethton HS who recently died much too early in Utah. He and I became friends over the radio in the control tower and it was weeks before we discovered we both were from Carter County and big UT fans. Over the next next twelve months we became fast friends and I miss him. He was a professional and took his role very seriously. But the toll of that time finally was too much for his mind and body. Thanks Vol Nation for allowing me to write down things that I have not expressed in many years. And thanks to the OP for a great Memorial day gift of saluting those who gave all. And most of all I praise God that I returned safe and never had to endure what so many others did. Please excuse typos using iPhone :)
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God Bless you
 
#34
#34
God bless Bobby and all others like him. I served in Viet Nam from August '68 'til September '69. God saw fit to allow me to return in one piece, and I am so saddened to this day for all the young men just like me who did not return alive, or did return but were permanently disabled in some way either physically or emotionally. I pray my brothers rest in peace.
 
#37
#37
CountVolcula said:
My father served in Vietnam

Those guys deserve all the honor and respect we can give them. They fought in a war that was very unpopular in this country.

Good piece
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My dad as well. They certainly got the short end of the stick in many ways.
 
#38
#38
Many outstanding posts here. Thanks to all. I have never understood the rational behind mistreating a returning soldier.
 
#39
#39
vol_in_il said:
The Vietnam Center and Archive: The Oral History Project

maybe he would particpate in the oral history project
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Thanks for sharing that link. I've not seen it before. I shared it on FB. :good!:
I have held a belief that vets should, if they wish, put their stories in words for all times. This site is helping do that.
I have done this myself a few times, I've put a personal story on FB, and some just on paper that I would rather leave alone until I've passed. So, once I'm gone hopefully someone will care to add them to a page like this for future generations to read. BTW correct any spelling mistakes you find. lol
 
#41
#41
AllVols said:
Thanks for sharing that link. I've not seen it before. I shared it on FB. :good!:
I have held a belief that vets should, if they wish, put their stories in words for all times. This site is helping do that.
I have done this myself a few times, I've put a personal story on FB, and some just on paper that I would rather leave alone until I've passed. So, once I'm gone hopefully someone will care to add them to a page like this for future generations to read. BTW correct any spelling mistakes you find. lol
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no problem...
 
#43
#43
Just about the time I get the feeling that all the good posters at VN have moved on, you see a thread like this. Good job.
 
#44
#44
MikeTheVol said:
God bless Bobby and all others like him. I served in Viet Nam from August '68 'til September '69. God saw fit to allow me to return in one piece, and I am so saddened to this day for all the young men just like me who did not return alive, or did return but were permanently disabled in some way either physically or emotionally. I pray my brothers rest in peace.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your service, my brother in arms.
 
#45
#45
CountVolcula said:
My father got that treatment when he flew back into San Fran for leave. Told me that it was one of the worse things he had ever gone through. This is from a man who spent months in the jungles setting up ambushes along the Vietnam/Laos border.

My grandmother would tell me that when he got home, for the first few months, he would stay up all night, sitting in the dark. Said he wouldnt make a sound. It took him forever to readjust to being "normal".

My mother still says he has nightmares and wakes up in the middle of the night.

He did and saw things over there that he wont tell anyone about
Click to expand...




Did your Dad wear a red diamond patch ?? I worked in that same area in 1970.
 
#47
#47
rs16 said:
Did your Dad wear a red diamond patch ?? I worked in that same area in 1970.
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He wore a subdued Black Heart patch on one arm. Army of Vietnam on another. The where on Tiger Stripe battle uni

He was with the 1st Cav
 
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