Tomorrow is Veterans Day and today at the VA there are cookies, juice and coffee from volunteers passing it out and thanking veterans for their service.
I have had only one or two thank you's for my service. You see, I come from the Vietnam War which was unpopular here at home and our service and return was not met by enthusiastic Americans. In fact, we seemed to carry a lot of blame for something we had no control over and just did duty called when called by our Country. Myself and many of my brothers were treated poorly upon their return. And I don't believe our Military Branches knew what to do with us. The war was going badly and I believe many of us carried that burden unjustly. I believe that carries on much today as it did way back then.
Veteran's day will be a very quiet day for me as usual and I'll keep a low profile. I'm sure I'll also watch some war movies that will be on and will just be focused on the war and all of my brothers. There will be lot's of tears and sadness as I remember the GI burned in the plane crash who died with the hospital staff around him, the two soldiers who died when their APC flipped over on them and the GI who had a RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) go off in his face and the sign that the hospital staff had by his bed that said "Don't say anything on how he looks as he is coherent at times". And I'll remember the night when mass casualties were coming in and we literally climbed into the chopper to get off the wounded who were pretty much piled on one another. One of those soldiers head was in my hand and I helped get him off the chopper. He was dead but I did not know it at that time. It was pretty bad as the NVA reversed a Claymore Mine, made a noise and they literally blew themselves up. As I went though his belongings there was a bloody card from his wife that said, "Just think honey, you'll be home in 33 days".
Veterans day is for remembrance. I will always remember all my brothers and you and your families will always be in my heart, memories and prayers.
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1 comment:
Yeah Brother, I hear you. Be at peace with the knowledge that you did all that you could do and none of the Jane Fonda loving ass holes back home will ever understand the brotherhood that we have now.
Be at Peace My Brother
Charles "Doc" Nordan
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