Fathers Day

Today is Fathers Day and many, many fathers will be honored by their children and families. And there will be those fathers who will have an extremely sad day remembering their sons who were murdered in Orlando last week, killed by violence, died due to illness or in war whose Fathers Day will never been the same again. And then we have children who have lost their fathers. We must cherish our families all the time we can with those we love as no one knows how long they will be with us. I never really thought about being or wanting to be a father. Its not that I didnt' like kids, I just didn't have that desire to be a father. In Vietnam we had many kids come in who needed some type of treatment, were wounded, I sorta helped babysit them when their parent(s) were in ER or OR. Before I got out of the service I worked in a program with children with learning and physical disabilities and did the same in a job for about a year after Vietnam. I just jumped in with both feet wanting to make a difference. Now I have had my own family for over 35 Years and seem to have failed greatly. None of these children are mine as I was too afraid of being in contact with Agent Orange. When I met my wife she had a young daughter making me a stepfather and we, actually too soon after marriage, became foster parents. We ended up a three month girl who was considered non-adoptable and when it looked like she whould be going home at three years old we adopted a 3 month old boy from Korea. The young girl ended being adopted by us at around three years old due to her parents rights being terminated so we actually ended up with three children. Things ended up being difficult and I wish we had done things differently or in a different order but I guess a lot of parents feel that way. My adopted daughter had a dad and she did see him even though he lived in a different state as well as her grandparents. Being a stepfather can work out good or bad. In my case it ultimately ended up bad. As a stepfather you really are an outsider with no legal rights, well except for me I paid for all her medical, braces, school trips as well as partial costs to fly to see her father or grandparents, and just about everything else. Sad, but never a thank you from anyone. Also, there was a lot of conflict between my wife and I on this. And we have not seen her or the granddaughter for over 13 years nor never saw the second granddaughter due to a conflicts, especially one started by her mother-in-law and her failure to address a stupid issue with her son telling my wife to address it with her daughter instead. Lot's of apologies on our side but that didn't seem to matter. About the last message I had from her was to never talk to her father again. Funny how a child can blame their child for all the ills of their life and never look back and see that it was a two way street and take some responsibility especially as they became older, married, etc. where needed. My adopted daughter has disabilities and took a great of our time and enery from the very start along with some of the other children. I'm sure my step daughter was hurt and harmed by some of this for which I am sorry. Again, being just married and taking on so much was not the best decisions we made and it remains quite a struggle even today. My son is handsome and athletic who loved baseball and sports. He never seem to mind it that I didn't know much about sports, and always told me what was going on, the rules, etc. He played sports in school and was great at it. I also called him a typical Asian, very quiet and touchy/caring. I thought I was always there for him, stood up for him and loved him like no other but I know question that and would love to have him sit down with me and just talk and share his feelings. He has a girlfirend and I know a son usually gravitates to the girlfriends/wife family. However, that girlfriend/spouse also needs to acknowledge that there are two families involved, not just one. My dad and I didnt' really get along. I was the oldest of five and the second oldest. I remember him calling me names like the big queer and I never felt I stood up to his expectations. I was different and I think that really bothered him as I may not have filled the mold. I wouild tell people I was the son no one would ever want and really felt I was adopted. As I got older I realized it just wasn't him and that I did contribute to issues. I also realized how my mom played me against in and I was many times stuck in the middle between them and when he left many times put into the dad roll. I was so glad to be with him in hospice at this home and help take care of him. The first time I had to change him I told him not to worry. He took care of me when I was young and did his very best and now it was my turn to take care of him. I'd chat about anything and just do what I needed to do from then on. He pretty much lost his ability to speak but I when I was with him I told him I loved him and at night I'd tuck him in and say "I love you." and he said "I love you too Mickey." And then at night he call out for me "Mickey, Mickey" even when my borthers were there and I felt so close to him and thankful for the wonderful closure we had. Now, I am raising a 9 year old grandson with learning and physical disabilities in our home and am his legal guardian. He is a wonderful little boy and I love him to death. You know, I made the mistake of giving my kids everything I didnt' have, i.e., trips, cars, paid their car insurance, doing whatever I could for them no matter what. Now I realize I didnt' give them the chance to learn for them selves, pay for their own cars, insurance, etc. etc. I've been told by them I didn't show them how to do things, etc. Gosh, I had to work to help support a family, bought rusted out and beatup cars for transportation, worked all the time, etc. No one told me what to do, I knew what I had to do. But I do see their point and I also realize my mistakes but cannot take full responsibility for all their failures. Gosh, my retirement would be so much better if my daughters father stepped up to the plate for his daughter and if I had not bought cars, insurance, etc. for them and pushed them some when growning up, etc. So, to my children I offer my apologies for my failures this day as a father but ask you to look to your failures as my children. Afterall, it does go both ways. No matter what I will always love you. Dad

The Pulse Attack Orlando

As most people have heard by now there was a Terrorist attack at a Gay Club, The Pulse, in Orlando early this morning. There are approximately 50 People killed and over 53 injured. The person who did the killing was apparently from Afghanistan and born and raised in the United States. He pled his allegiance to ISIS and then committed this horrific crime against Gay, Lesbian, etc. people out for a night of celebration. Over the few days and weeks we'll hear from politicians, people who hate Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, etc. and from just about anyone else. So, I wanted to express my views. I'm going to be 66 in August and should be one of those offended by the LGBT community just because of my age. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. I always say that there isn't anything I haven't seen, heard or done in my life. So although this is not a surprise to me something like this would happen I am sickened by it or any act where innocent lives are taken for no reason. I hear about how horribly killed and wounded they were and it brings back memories of the wounded I saw and helped at the 24th Evac. I know the look, smell, feel of death all to well. In this case we had a large group of LGBT people enjoying Latin night a the Pulse. They were someone's son, daughter, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, husband, wife and father or mother. They were there for nothing but enjoying the night dancing, drinking, and enjoying themselves. They were good people not hurting anyone. Now, there is nothing but a bloodied and destroyed night club filled with the stench of death and families coping with the news of death or injured loved ones or those still hoping that their loved one was not there at the time. I cannot comprehend just how horrific their loved ones must feel. I've already read of horrific anti-gay comments coming out. I have been blessed to have people of all races and religions cross my path and touch me in some way. I have also been honored to know and have as friends people from the LGBT community. I found them nothing less than funny, loving, caring, helpful, wonderful people. And after all, aren't we all people? Shouldn't we all be treated with the respect and dignity as everyone else regardless of who we love? So in closing I just want to say that hatred will not win, refusing to serve an LGBT member will not win, those who use religion or politics to spew hatred will not win and those who do will surely lose. In closing I want to say that you and your families are in my thoughts and prayers and that you are loved and will be missed.

High School Social Studies Class - Back Again

I was asked back again to the High School Social Studies Class who started studying Vietnam. I was asked to speak to three classes, each one hour and forty-five minutes. The teacher and I spoke and decided I'd follow the same format that we did late last year. I would speak of things in my life prior to being drafted and the being drafted, my time in the service - especially Vietnam and finish off with what happened to me after the service. I gave them some books, my helmet, dog tags, web belt, etc. along with some letters that I wrote home. They would have these for a week or two to look over before I came to school. My rules were that I do not consider myself a Mr. and to call me Mic and that any question is good. Based on the question I may answer it, not answer it or answer it privately. It's odd just how much I had to say and talk about and that each class was so different. I didn't have to really write anything down as it is always in my thoughts. Luckily, the teacher was there and would jump in with a question on something I had talked about in a different class she thought was important or just switch it up. The classes were very respectful and, except for one, the questions were few. One that I talked about that was of great interest was drugs in Vietnam, did I use drugs, etc. Those were not asked but some of my letters I gave to them addressed drug abuse since I worked at a hospital and we had that coming into the ER. The second was whether or not I used drugs which was a no. On that, I told them of growing up in a family with an alcoholic father and what I saw as far a GI's on drugs and the impacts to them and that because of that I had no desire to use drugs. However I did tell them that there were several times I did drink and it somewhat disatrous. My biggest concern was that I was telling them stories of my time in Vietnam is that I would not do it honorably. I tried to cover all the bases, the strange, the funny, the painful, death and the terrible sadness. A week or two after the classes I again received a large envelope with notes from some of the students. I was so touched by them and answered a number of them who had questions or said something that touched me and I want to respond to them. What I'm thinking is that over the next week or so I'm going to put the words of a few of them on this blog. I was touched and pleased with what they had to say and want to share them should anyone read this blog.

Memorial Day - 2016

Today is Memorial Day and we went to the different cemeteries to put flowers on parents, grandsons, sister, and loved ones graves. I also stopped at the gravesite of a young man, whose mother I worked with when I was 14. He was a year older than I and went to Vietnam a year or so before I did. He was killed in Vietnam in a helicopter crash after serving approximately 43 days. As usual I looked for graves of Veterans with military headstones especially those from Vietnam, and paid my respects. I have to go to another cemetery tomorrow to pay my respects to a guy I knew when I was 14. He was also a Vietnam Veteran. His family is gone and there is really no one left. I don't want him to be forgotten. It is hard to explain this but I find myself so saddened seeing graves of Vietnam Veterans. More so than my families. I try to figure this out and come up with some reason for this and try not to feel so uncaring for my own family and ashamed my feelings aren't as strong. I guess that I feel a closer connection to those who served. They were a real family to me. We knew no one, were young, and put in the same situation. Friendships seemed to grow fast and we laughed, borrowed and lent money, got drunk together, shared our lives and were showed our many emotions. I have always felt a loss especially for those I was with prior to, or at the time of, their death while at the 24th. I'm just feel so confused right not at this time. I also feel a loss for my friend Norm who I was stationed with at Ft. Carson after Vietnam. I found out he had died at 29 and never got the chance to meet up with him after I left Ft. Carson. He helped me a great deal after my return to the states. I'm rambling so much in this so I have just sign off. To all who served, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Vietnam Veterans Day - March 29.2016

Well, tomorrow is Vietnam Veterans day - 50 years or so. For me it's 46 years since I was there and assigned to the 24th Evacuation Hospital. To some it may seem like a long time ago but to me it is like yesterday. It is something I have never forgotten from getting my orders for Vietnam, the flight there (R2B3), the smells, sounds, people, etc. I remember those I served with and their dedication and skill that saved so many lives. I especially remember the radio crackling to life with the call coming in "Queen Tonic", this is "Wide Minnow". The call would then go into the casualties on board be it urgent urology, frag wounds, traumatic amputations to limbs, head wounds, a "Stewardess" injured in turbulence on an incoming flight or DOA's. Regardless of the call one could not be sure of what was truly on that chopper, the condition of GI's or just how many may be on board. No matter what, the 24th and their staff were there waiting to treat those incoming causalities. I have kept so much inside for all these years and have always carried such guilt tor not being wounded or killed. I guess I am in some ways coming to terms with that and that I did my very best and hopefully saved lives because of my actions. It may sound odd but I have felt such loss since being in the service, especially from my time in Vietnam. I miss those I served with, my friends and those incoming GI's whose path crossed with mine. I so want to know how their life ended up and for those who died how their families are and to let them know I always have them in my heart and prayers. So, on the 50th year I just want to say I was honored to have served, to have met and served with some of the best people one could want to serve with and to just say I remember and will never forget.

At times he is coherent.

When the 24hr Report was added to my duties at the 24th I was required to gather a sheet from all the wards that listed discharges, deaths, patient moves, reason for admission, type of injury, type of amputation, DOA, etc. Once I gathered that information I had to compile it into a report and call it in right around midnight. That in itself was a huge challenge as I barely made it through high school and my math skills were non-existent. I struggled trying to put that report together and during the first few weeks held up the personal putting together the report for all hospitals. I felt so stupid and dumb. Luckily I was finally able to master this report. Some time ago I was attending at church and was hit with the vivid memory of the worst wound I remember from Ward 5. It was the last ward to gather this information was Ward 5 for GI's with Head and Maxofacial injuries. It was when I first started gathering the reports. As I picked up the report and walked through that Ward I saw and stopped by a young GI's bed. He had bandages wrapped around his upper head. At the area of where his forehead was, or would appear to be, were two metal posts coming out of that area. Attached to them were wires that then went down to where his cheeks would have been and attached to that area. He had no face and just slits as to where his eyes and nose would have been and I believe one for his mouth area as well. Above him was a sign which said "Do not say anything about how he looks. At times he is coherent". From what I remember, this young GI was hit in the face with a rocket propelled grenade. Years later in the 90's People magazine ran an issue regarding the war, Vietnam and people who served. My mom sent me this issue as I lived in Denver and has not seen it. In this issue was pictures and a story of a young GI at the 24th who had been hit in the face with a Rocket Propelled grenade and had his story as well as one of the nurses who took care of him. I have wondered if this was the young man I saw or it was different GI. I think of that young man I saw and wonder what happened to him. Sometimes I want to know so much about those that crossed my path but know I never will. Perhaps it is better that way, I don't know but I do remember them and my thoughts have always been with them.

Promises for Veterans by Presidential Candidates

Well, it is getting close to the time that we will be choosing a new President. I believe all of them who have thrown their hat into the ring is bringing up their support for Veterans. I find that rather odd as many of them who are currently in office or have been office have not been supportive of veterans. One only needs to take a look at their voting record. Have they voted for or against bills favoring veterans? Have their actions in office actually hurt veterans, veteran care, veteran families, etc. I find it a shame that one expects, or tries, to get their support by their promises to veterans yet they have proven failure in supporting veterans. I guess this issues is like other issues / promises they will be making. Regardless, they will be the Head of this Country when elected and hopefully they will truly support current service men, veterans and their families. Without them we would not be the free and great Country we are.