ISP-FL
600+ Posts
Since going to the visitation of a buddy from Nam I hadn't talked to in over 46 years I have been doing some thinking about those past days. I am one of the younger VN vets since I was there in 71 and part of 72 while being 18 years old.
When I got home it seemed like everyone was a veteran, or at least everyone I worked with or hung out with. We didn't really talk about it much. We didn't talk about it with each other, with our families, or with anyone, we just began a new phase of our lives and that was that.
A couple weeks ago we were visiting our son in Chicago. I had just attended my buddy's visitation in downstate Illinois and told him about it. He asked me "you were in Viet Nam?" I had never talked to him about it. Then a couple days ago I got a call from my deceased buddies middle son. He had gotten my phone number from the on-line funeral home condolence entry I had posted for his Dad. He wanted to know if I was going to be in the area and if so if I could meet with them to talk about being with his Dad in Viet Nam. He said his Dad had never talked about his time in the military and they wanted to know. I told him I would absolutely meet with him and his siblings next month on our way back through.
But now it seems like some of that has changed. A couple years ago I found a VN campaign sticker. I bought a couple of them. Put one on the windshield of my Harley and one on the back of my RV. I joined the Legion and began attending once and awhile. Now I probably don't go a week without someone coming up to me at a gas station or a RV park and thanking me for my service. It is hard getting used to. I almost took the stickers off because of it. I didn't do anything special, I wasn't a hero, I didn't save anyone, I didn't kill anyone that I'm aware of. I was just a kid that went over there with some buddies, did our jobs, and when we had time partied as hard as we could.
But the stickers are staying. It is my way of honoring some of my fellow VN vets that have not been as lucky as me: My older cousin Gary Clem who survived the tet of 68 only to die of agent orange related cancer in his early 60's. My brother-in-law Bill McLaughlin who as a gunner was shot down twice and came home to die of the same cancer in his late 50's. My other brother-in-law Ken Crawford who was only in the bush for 3 months before losing both of his legs. My buddy Mark Aberle who came home and had 7 kids and 21 grandkids before agent orange cancer killed him this month at age 66. Any finally my buddy Vernon Smith who was by my side from basic until we got back from VN, who was just diagnosed with bladder cancer.
I wish all my brother VN vets would display a campaign ribbon sticker on their car, motorcycle, or RV. And to all of you out there, get used to hearing it "welcome home brother".....
When I got home it seemed like everyone was a veteran, or at least everyone I worked with or hung out with. We didn't really talk about it much. We didn't talk about it with each other, with our families, or with anyone, we just began a new phase of our lives and that was that.
A couple weeks ago we were visiting our son in Chicago. I had just attended my buddy's visitation in downstate Illinois and told him about it. He asked me "you were in Viet Nam?" I had never talked to him about it. Then a couple days ago I got a call from my deceased buddies middle son. He had gotten my phone number from the on-line funeral home condolence entry I had posted for his Dad. He wanted to know if I was going to be in the area and if so if I could meet with them to talk about being with his Dad in Viet Nam. He said his Dad had never talked about his time in the military and they wanted to know. I told him I would absolutely meet with him and his siblings next month on our way back through.
But now it seems like some of that has changed. A couple years ago I found a VN campaign sticker. I bought a couple of them. Put one on the windshield of my Harley and one on the back of my RV. I joined the Legion and began attending once and awhile. Now I probably don't go a week without someone coming up to me at a gas station or a RV park and thanking me for my service. It is hard getting used to. I almost took the stickers off because of it. I didn't do anything special, I wasn't a hero, I didn't save anyone, I didn't kill anyone that I'm aware of. I was just a kid that went over there with some buddies, did our jobs, and when we had time partied as hard as we could.
But the stickers are staying. It is my way of honoring some of my fellow VN vets that have not been as lucky as me: My older cousin Gary Clem who survived the tet of 68 only to die of agent orange related cancer in his early 60's. My brother-in-law Bill McLaughlin who as a gunner was shot down twice and came home to die of the same cancer in his late 50's. My other brother-in-law Ken Crawford who was only in the bush for 3 months before losing both of his legs. My buddy Mark Aberle who came home and had 7 kids and 21 grandkids before agent orange cancer killed him this month at age 66. Any finally my buddy Vernon Smith who was by my side from basic until we got back from VN, who was just diagnosed with bladder cancer.
I wish all my brother VN vets would display a campaign ribbon sticker on their car, motorcycle, or RV. And to all of you out there, get used to hearing it "welcome home brother".....