Were my parents able to tell people without accusations that their son had just returned from three years in Vietnam? My Vietnam service medals were always easily recognizable by these individuals, and even they did not spit on me. Vietnam In 1995 Vietnam released its official estimate of the number of people killed during the Vietnam War: as many as 2,000,000 civilians on both sides and some 1,100,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. <>3]/P 6 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> But nobody ever gave a damn about what the Vietnam vet had to endure in that war or the emotional scars that never go away. Graham was twenty-five, just months out of the army and back from Vietnam. By hippies. Each stated how happy they were that we were able to come home safely. All their families got hit with nothing. I started crying and said, "I'm sorry it's 10 years late. WebThe Vietnam War was a protracted conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam and its allies in South Vietnam, known as the Viet Cong, against the government of South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. WebStudy with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Henry Kissinger, Ho Chi Minh, John F. Kennedy and more. Those who argue that the United States opponents won the war cite the United States overall objectives and outcomes. Since 1941 Congress has declared war only six times, all during World War II. endobj I bought a ticket for a flight to Chicago that was scheduled to depart at approximately 4 p.m. Pacific Time. I'm fortunate that I returned from Nam alive and was able to handle the emotional pain of spending a year in hell. Heres how its spending your money, Parents know best: Rep. Burgess Owens wants to fund school choice at national level, 2023 Sterling Scholars semifinalists: Southwest Region. I was not met by any spitting "hippies.". We were told we were immoral because we believed in democracy and this country. No one is whine boxing around for a parade in their honor and for the most part, the Nam is in the past, where it belongs. Why Were Vietnam War Vets Treated Poorly When They 3 Why did Vietnam veterans have a hard time coming home? It would be difficult to imagine a more powerful phrase than that one, and to analyze it too deeply is not appropriate; Mr. Leary has said it as well as it can be said. What did Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming? - Answers Shaped like a camel's head. Kent State shooting where they burned the federal building. @p+B72H4FT~ q4=;Cb3L%^DzY*IUh^Brv3W}r$.| ^ vDJfp=q#_N endobj During my military career I received nothing but respect from all the civilians I came in contact with. We didn`t want to be there, but we felt stronger about going to Prison for draft dodging, than we did for defending our Flag & Country. Stopping to buy a newspaper, I ended up about 50 feet behind the line moving toward the bar. WebHomecoming by Dennis J. Stauffer I left Vietnam nearly 14 years ago and tried to put that phase of my life behind. I wish the American people could know what value they have in our men who served with honor and compassion. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 44 0 obj In early February 1972, I was in the honolulu airport -- in uniform -- with 200-plus other GIs who were returning to the world We were in Hawaii for a refueling; it was our first step on American soil, and it was very late at night. Why did Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming? 1. Congress repeals the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. 3 min read. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The Pentagon Papers were leaked by former Defense Department worker_______________, 3. William calley accepts responsibility..100 innocent Vietnamese murdered by US soldiers- which further turned Americans away from war. After hasty attempts of Vietnamizationthe process of training and arming South Vietnamese troops for fighting alone after U.S. forces would pull outall U.S. troops were evacuated by March 29, 1973. 1. The curation of this content is at the discretion of the author, and not necessarily reflective of the views of Encyclopaedia Britannica or its editorial staff. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, but his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, continued the work that Kennedy had started. nb:.V}PU(*)Pv}PhI![?cvR{hF{.i`7[_l`?,=`{d+Ugtgka| At 7 in the morning I was sitting on the front proch having coffee and a young man came by delivering telephone books. But I also did nothing to shame myself or my country. Yes. It came many years late, but dozens of Vietnam veterans gathered in Anaheim on March 29 to receive the homecoming they felt they had been denied when they returned home from war decades ago. In April 1968, the students at ____________ held a massive protest over the school's community policies. Vietnam While waiting for a bus home there, an elderly woman came up to me, looked me square in the face, and called me a hired killer. Why did Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming? Most returning veterans were 18 to 22 years old. Why did Vietnam veterans receive cold homecoming? SDS: Students for a democratic society As head of U.S. forces in Vietnam, William Westmoreland pursued a war of attrition: the number of dead enemy fighters was the key measure of merit. It was then I realized something wasn't right. 33 0 obj 64 0 obj This is due mainly to the Watergate Scandal: nixon S administration found corrupt When I entered the bar, I found several waitresses wiping ahstrays, and a bartender wxplaining to 200 Vietnam veterans that the loung had closed five minutes earlier, and she was really sorry, but no, they couldn't serve us coffee, either. endobj To end US involvement in Vietnam; replace troops with South Vietnamese troops which establishes "peace with honor". The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It has been my experience that people who come up with statements such as this are the same type who walk around with a chip on their shoulders just begging for trouble. they receive a cold mist or frost on the plants. In the 1960s my husband and I were in our 20s and raising three little boys. What was the homecoming like for Vietnam Veterans? Americans were torn and bitter about the war and didn't not honor returning soldiers As both a Vietnam veteran and a member of At me. It was the leaders of gobernment, and the top generals -- at least that is how it seemed in memory. I took it. 2023-01-20T17:35:10-08:00 The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". `GY }*wYZ. I started after him, but I lost him in the airport crowd. I never got the chance to thank her, nor even got her name. favored stronger military force in Vietnam, allowed students to put off military duty (mostly wealthy upper class people, founded Students for a Democratic Society, system that calls up citizens for military service, Served in disproportionate numbers in Vietnam, after the Tet Offensive, the renowned journalist ____________ declared that the Vietnam War seemed destined "to end in a stalemate.". I`ve always felt that disrespecting AppendPDF Pro 6.3 Linux 64 bit Aug 30 2019 Library 15.0.4 Two young guys -- complete with beards, long hair, John Lennon glasses and garbed in the appropriate apparel that the times dictated -- came into sight. Homecoming: When the Soldiers Returned from Vietnam The stewardesses would not allow us to sit in the coach section, and insisted that we sit in the first-class section. I served by tour of duty at Bien Hoa Air Base. Prince 14.2 (www.princexml.com) Was I able to find a job when a prospective employer found out I was a Nam vet? War is immoral, this was isn't our concern, and war was draining our economy. The Vietnam War was a protracted conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam and its allies in South Vietnam, known as the Viet Cong, against the government of South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. I was in the U.S. Navy from 1967 until 1971. US soldiers that were required to go to war did not want to go so they did drugs and alcohol; government was negotiating to end; didn't understand values. 2. I guess guys who lose a war get pretty unpopular. What actions by US troops hindered the effort to win the support of Vietnamese villagers? <>>>
:@h@tt@68U=iQc\YZHlSVBk9WdJ^7Vr%h2Ks=5!t5sbM(xvm 8{3T Agent Orange was used along with several other herbicides, code-named Agents White, Purple, Blue, Pink, and Green. From every section and corner of the country, well over a thousand people took the time to sit down, put their thoughts on paper, and tell me what happened when they returne dto the United States from Vietnam. They believed that it was not fair for antiwar protesters to question their actions during the war. Their backpacks were beside them, and it was rather obvious that they were simply waiting on a plane. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The result was an expanded U.S. military presence and increased military activity in neutral Cambodia. It blew me away. Purpose was to remove Vietnamese and VC supply centers from Cambodia-many Americans see escalation of war & become angry. I was not a hero. Congress does this to take away some of the Presidents abroad powera, Purpose to force a negotiated peace settlement-north Vietnamese. Why US veterans are returning to Vietnam - CSMonitor.com He reflected Monday on the cold homecoming many Vietnam servicemen experienced upon returning. Domestic support for the war plunged as U.S. deaths rose. However, while I was standing in line at the ticket counter, there was a well-dressed gentleman behind me who asked sarcastically, "How many people did you kill over there?" No. L'5ffO:NgrrQ 7$5[6'y"}K2.`F$h*,au(1 _U{.k.n"PpuB8v4-7 Mq#3h##0T-{9+=8y6j,8Q&7uQlk]ie/S2$m^HE9J6q It never occurred to me to do anything else. <> What did Eisenhower compared to a row of dominoes? many supported his decision because he was following the policy of confronting communism. The only harrassment I ever received was a half-cocked remark from an uncle who asked, "What's your hang-up, George? As I walked through the terminal, I noticed several long-haired people but thought nothing of it until I was approached by a young couple who stoped me and asked if I were returning from Nam. I cried, it felt so good, even 17 years laters. how did it become one? Their remarks and tone escalated very quickly from crude, to rude, to vulgar. Instead I can happily state that I was responsible for helping to save the lives of several of our aircrew members whenever their planes came in disabled. It granted him broad latitude in handling the struggle against communism in Southeast Asia. SHARE VIETNAM VETS RECALL THEIR HOMECOMINGS -- OFTEN PAINFULLY Email Flipboard For years I had been hearing stories that when American troops returned WebNot successful- sustained bombing campaign Ho Chi Mihn Trail In 1959, Ho Chi Mihn supplied military arms to the Veitcong from North Veitnam via a network of paths along the boarder of Veitnam and Cambodia Strategic Hamlet Ran Go on "search & destroy" missions to eliminate the Vietcong from South Vietnam villages -jungle terrain, snakes 80% of soldiers were from lower economic levels and college was a way out only those with $ could afford college. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? endobj ;&~em)UQvyX#P( What was the challenge that the Framers faced when setting out to write the Constitution, and how did they meet it? But many returning vets needed more help, and if the country woul dhave opeend its hearts to us, like it did to the Iran hostages, then the pain would have been easier to bear. What did this Vietminh victory cause the French to do? Identify the following term or individuals and explain their significance. In response to Westmorelands requests for more forces, the American presence in Vietnam grew to well over 500,000 troops. It was the first week in June. Once he became president, he sought to establish enough stability in the region for the South Vietnamese government to take over. <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 9 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> %PDF-1.7
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They aimed at my feet. I raised the question in my syndicated newspaper column. How did the Geneva Accords change Vietnam? 6 0 obj For some reason, in the stories it is always an airport where the spitting allegedly happened, and it is always "hippies" who allegedly did the spitting. Political turbulence there and two alleged North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. naval vessels spurred Johnson to demand the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in 1964. I walked past him and proceeded to my destination. In the wake of the Vietnam War, Cambodia fell to the brutal Communist regime known as the______________, 6. Why did many Americans lose faith in their government? THE BITTER HOMCOMING Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. It was great to be home. endobj All the countless others that left chunks of their young and healthy bodies behind returned not as heroes but to a complete lack of appreciation. 21. To see people step forward with a picture of their dead son or brother to see disabled veterans step out to shake hands .. for all of us to wipe a little spit off our hearts. "It was a time when America itself was in turmoil," he said. "To wipe a little spit off our hearts." Why did Vietnam veterans receive cold homecoming Were you spat upon when you returned from Vietnam? How did Ho Chi Minh respond to the return of the French? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. My Lai Massacre: makes some Americans view US military as 'baby killers', Chapter 23 Section 2 Guided Reading Women Fig, Chapter 32 Section 2 Guided Reading - Waterga, Watergate: Nixon's Downfall Guided Reading, Eric Hinderaker, James A. Henretta, Rebecca Edwards, Robert O. Self, John Lund, Paul S. Vickery, P. Scott Corbett, Todd Pfannestiel, Volker Janssen. And although I was a bit conservative at the time, I thought, "my people." 2. To Those Who Returned -- Welcome Home.". Being 21 and not being able to get a job, a date, a place to live, or a drink with other vets was the hard part. Understanding The Homecoming Experience of Vietnam Veterans Webhow Vietnam veterans were treated upon their return home, several did detailed that experience, reporting disturbing opinions regarding the activities of the anti-war They felt Johnson should escalate war more quickly. Men came home on an The response was astonishing. His seminal role is reflected in the fact that Vietnams largest city is named for him. Veterans views of the antiwar movement Many Vietnam veterans blamed the antiwar movement for the chilly reception they got upon returning to the United States. If the subject is understood, write it in parentheses before the sentence. Draw three lines under each lowercase letter that should be capitalized and a single slash (B/ ) through any capital letters that should be lowercase. After serving in Vietnam from June '66 to June '67, I returned to the States to a wonderful reception. I am a 30-year veteran and served during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. the Puerto Rican Rambo and Sergeant Rock, is a former United States Army soldier. As president of South Vietnam (195563), Ngo Dinh Diem assumed dictatorial powers. endobj What is the Vietminh declare as its main goal? We put the banner up at 6 in the morning before my son left for college. What did the Nazis begin using gas chambers instead of mobile killing units and shooting squads after a while? We weren't spat upon by one person, but by the entire country. What did Operation Rolling Thunder do in North Vietnam? An airport security guard saw this and came over to help me. By 1967, how did most Americans feel about U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War? My husband and I love to read. 0 You see, most of us still want to put the war behind us. stream
For approximately eight years, over thousands of acres in Vietnam, we were spat upon -- not with a drop or two of saliva, but rather with millions of gallons of Agent Orange. It took us 10 years to be able to start to read again about that period, and to be able to discuss it. Sergeant First Class Jorge A. Otero Barreto (born 7 April 1937), a.k.a. What difficulties did US troops encounter in Vietnam? I'm sorry for what happened to them, but I was very bitter about their reception home and the praise and admiration they received. But I know, there were not many veterans who didn't envy the hostages and feel despair about their own "return.". <>stream
May I share my homecoming experience with you? What did Eisenhower compared to a row of dominoes? 9 Noteworthy Bog Bodies (And What They Tell Us), 12 Novels Considered the Greatest Book Ever Written, Inventors and Inventions of the Industrial Revolution, https://www.britannica.com/list/9-questions-about-the-vietnam-war-answered. usually in airports. In the No signs. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This herbicide mix was deployed in urban, agricultural, and forested areas in Vietnam to expose the enemy and destroy crops. During this time my oldest son, still on active duty today in Germany with the U.S. Army, did his tour at Long Binh about seven miles from Bien Hoa. These women did not spit on us, nor did they inquire as to how many people we killed. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The U.S. military has estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died. It would be ludicrous, all these years later, to pretend to remember exactly what was siad. Example (You){\color{#c34632}{(You)}}(You) 1.