why did vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming

2 0 obj 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. NV full scale invasion of SV and the capture of Saigon-there were no US troops there when the NV won. Did Richard Nixon won support during the presidential race by vowing to restore ______________ to the country. It does not store any personal data. Most of them look like the hippies that were supposedly doing all the spitting back in the '60s. Quickly, though, just the point that what Mr. Leary and so many others are talking about, clearly, is catharsis. I have a difficult time writing about things I would just as soon forget. 2023-01-20T17:35:10-08:00 It was like being bombarded all day every day with utter disrespect for all we were trying to live and teach our children to value. Yes, we were spat upon --- in Vietnam with Agent Orange and again when we came home with Uncle Sam's indifference to our plight. Diems heavy-handed tactics against the Viet Cong insurgency deepened his governments unpopularity, and his brutal treatment of the opposition to his regime alienated the South Vietnamese populace, notably Buddhists. It took us 10 years to be able to start to read again about that period, and to be able to discuss it. I remember landing in San Francisco and the wild cheering among us in the plane and the feeling of making it home. endobj No. They believed that it was not fair for antiwar protesters to question their actions during the war. 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. I entered civilian life with no problems and continued withy my life. And who did I really fight for? HW%HY&YXh-G5\9U)8ulr.\LoZ?\ry{[pMI;%bIfRl>TFh= My husband and I love to read. xXKsHWLq2U=XBx$A'@6G#YJru\=z4,oM1zxaaQFdS_ qeoGIjO` 1}#B `|4yAr4~~G>q6G!r=LS[Q5gsq|^u(DGIh|>6kK8 NO}HgipK, Were They Spat On? 80% of soldiers were from lower economic levels and college was a way out only those with $ could afford college. WebWhy they received a cold homecoming is because the us government turned its back on them and refused to take responsibility. Men came home on an The veterans of the Korean War received a warm homecoming. Vietnam becomes divided along the 17th parallel. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. It is even harder to think about good Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice -- they died for their country. If the subject is understood, write it in parentheses before the sentence. My Vietnam tour was from June 1968 to May 1969. The banner said "Vietnam -- 10 years -- We Remember. 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 endobj These and other incidents made me question, to this day, why I went. As the plane took off, the cheering and tears exploded with the feeling of being off the ground. They believed that it was not fair for antiwar protesters to question their actions during the war. Purpose was to remove Vietnamese and VC supply centers from Cambodia-many Americans see escalation of war & become angry. 20 0 obj The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". I guess guys who lose a war get pretty unpopular. All their families got hit with nothing. I kept my experiences private, as did many Vietnam veterans, to avoid the pain of that war. The security officer calmed me down and stayed with me until my flight left. Ngo Dinh Diem, he thinks the communists will win. 3 0 obj<>stream He reflected Monday on the cold homecoming many Vietnam servicemen experienced upon returning. 8. 50 0 obj 1 0 obj<> endobj WebWhy did Vietnam veterans have a hard time coming home? Although North Vietnamese and Viet Cong casualty counts vary wildly, it is generally understood that they suffered several times the number of American casualties. Its genesis was a controversial newspaper column of <>1]/P 6 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> What does it mean when you wear a bandana in your back pocket? 5 0 obj We were told that we were materialistic asses because we wanted a nice home for ourselves and our children. Those who argue that the United States won the war point to the fact that the U.S. defeated communist forces during most of Vietnams major battles. 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. 7. After serving in Vietnam from June '66 to June '67, I returned to the States to a wonderful reception. Let. When I returned to my hometown, I was greeted as a patriot, with an interview by our local paper replete with frontg page story and photo. The result was an expanded U.S. military presence and increased military activity in neutral Cambodia. The U.S. Constitution grants Congress sole authority to issue declarations of war. Their remarks and tone escalated very quickly from crude, to rude, to vulgar. How did most Americans react to President Johnson's decision to commit troops to the war in Vietnam? The heated arguments within the United States over military involvement in Vietnam kept most people from welcoming the veterans or They believed that it was not fair for antiwar protesters to question their actions during the war. when I returned from Nam I was an emotional wreck, but I kept it all to myself so my family and friends thought I was OK and acted like I had never left. I started crying and said, "I'm sorry it's 10 years late. Americans were torn and bitter about the war and didn't not honor returning soldiers I took it. 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. codename for an American bombing campaign during the Vietnam War. You want dates, places and circumstances? how did it become one? However, I just walked away. <><>19 20]/P 25 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> Was I able to get a date with a girl if she knew I was a Nam vet? Understanding The Homecoming Experience of Vietnam Veterans. endobj I don't mean to make it sound melodramatic, but I've never forgotten it. No 'Welcome Home' parades for Vietnam vets. To win Vietnam's independence from foregin rule. The United States entered Vietnam with the principal purpose of preventing a communist takeover of the region. I was wearing my dress blue uniform with my Vietnam service ribbons, and I was carrying my sea bag over one shoulder. The couple just walked away and melted into the crowd. I cried, it felt so good, even 17 years laters. What were some of the ways that young American men avoided military service in Vietnam? what were the terms of the Geneva Accords? I could give you many such stories that would counterbalance the classic image of "Apocalypse Now," "Platoon" and "Full Metal Jacket." Mi Kyung saw a huge boulder. For the thousand-plus people who wrote to me, there was probably a measure of cahtarsis just in the act of writing. Analyze why Vietnam veterans received a cold homecoming? In my opinion, most veterans were not even sure what they felt at the time. The only harrassment I ever received was a half-cocked remark from an uncle who asked, "What's your hang-up, George? The Pentagon Papers were leaked by former Defense Department worker_______________, 3. Graham was twenty-five, just months out of the army and back from Vietnam. Veterans views of the antiwar movement. ;&~em)UQvyX#P( Held anti-war demonstrations, burned draft cards, and head to Canada and other foreign countries. What did Eisenhower compared to a row of dominoes? 16 0 obj I`ve always felt that disrespecting It was not built with federal government money. He was president of North Vietnam from 1945 to 1969, and he was one of the most influential communist leaders of the 20th century. Heres what you need to know, Japanese official denies Lee statement on commitment to expedite release of Lt. Ridge Alkonis, Utah Legislature finalizes record $29B budget. All that can be said is that <>3]/P 6 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> A young lady dressed in bell-bottoms, love beads and a peace symbol came up to me as the elderly woman walked away. The protesters couldnt confront Johnson or Nixon At 7 in the morning I was sitting on the front proch having coffee and a young man came by delivering telephone books. 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. What did Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming? - Answers % 2. I never got the chance to thank her, nor even got her name. SDS: Students for a democratic society However, from a constitutional perspective, this conflict did not technically count as a war. !k9jwj-STo [&F_+JEy_<2:?B0@+/"? 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. 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. To end US involvement in Vietnam; replace troops with South Vietnamese troops which establishes "peace with honor". What did Eisenhower compared to a row of dominoes? What is the answer punchline algebra 15.1 why dose a chicken coop have only two doors? No. At no time have I eve rheard him state that he had been spit on. 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. We returned to political turmoil, peace marches, anti-war and anti-veteran activities and one giant lack of appreciation. That one didn't make headline status. We were the visible manifestation of the unpopular war. Their backpacks were beside them, and it was rather obvious that they were simply waiting on a plane. endobj The Hawaii Vietnam Veterans Project surveyed two samples, one of Native Hawaiians (the indigenous peoples of the Hawaiian Islands, who constitute about 22% of the permanent population in Hawaii) and another of Americans of Japanese Ancestry (the descendants of Japanese immigrants who comprise about 24% of the permanent WebDuring the late 1980s and early 1990s, years after the Vietnam War ended, the proliferation of these spitting stories increased greatly. Were you spat upon when you returned from Vietnam? 3 min read. FSM: free speech movement He earned 38 military decorations during his career, and has been called the most decorated U.S. soldier of the Vietnam War. Judge Newman issued a withering rebuke of Murdaugh in Friday's sentencing. 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. THE BITTER Were They Spat On? Understanding The A declaration passed by Congress that gave the president broad military powers in Vietnam. ursa major is the scientific name for the big dipper. Why? What is error code E01-5 on Toyota forklift. In response to Westmorelands requests for more forces, the American presence in Vietnam grew to well over 500,000 troops. Imagine helping your neighbor move a piano for a full day. Copyright 2023 WittyQuestion.com | All rights reserved. If they were myth, we should know that, too. For Leary, the catharsis came on the day of the parade. I'm fortunate that I returned from Nam alive and was able to handle the emotional pain of spending a year in hell. <>>> application/pdf But the homecoming was very different for most Vietnam veterans. How do you convert bonds to common stock? 2 0 obj<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/ExtGState<>>> endobj In that respect, it failed: the two Vietnams were united under a communist banner in July 1976. I was recovering from injuries received in Vietnam at a military hospital near Philadelphia. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Many Vietnam veterans blamed the antiwar movement for the chilly reception they got upon returning to the United States. Wounds of War So we shut if off and shut it out. After all, most protesters had not been to Vietnam. It was then I realized something wasn't right. What did this Vietminh victory cause the French to do? The real issue isn't whether or not we received a ticker tape parade down Fifth Avenue. 2 0 obj s-?1R[][St=OsK5H9-`# @f"|D_[]/3(x1X&xo]]T\E|zAC+o"#UuD8Fiz00TnUPy2|U]YN^&?@k;k2 V^(u_b^d,YJtWS1!g\W51,l: I'm sure they hoped I would react violently. In the 1960s my husband and I were in our 20s and raising three little boys. No. No signs. Tensions escalated into armed conflict between the two sides, and in 1961 U.S. President John F. Kennedy chose to expand the military aid program. Agent Orange was used along with several other herbicides, code-named Agents White, Purple, Blue, Pink, and Green. 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 write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 1 Why did Vietnam veterans receive cold homecoming? endobj Some college students/ young people. 1. 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. During that time I experienced two spitting incidents. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Once he became president, he sought to establish enough stability in the region for the South Vietnamese government to take over. 18 0 obj 21. A nicely dressed woman in her 20s blocked my path and hissed "(expletive) murderer" in my face. &;&BE"7;2wk{z X1}&Ds(=6m7WH\cVaadQdr4c{SB;&F54zF~-t~z2g.?/ 8`}a~XV@s. - tunnels made by vietcong that allowed them to stand air strikes xZmo8 (/R'YtmWJ,,%E%Y\\Eg>C}]\|tb>^-7n$_22%w!}6|q!? Appligent AppendPDF Pro 6.3 Vietnam and anything associated with the Vietnam War was not popular. More generally, they receive little "precipitation" (this can Why Were Vietnam War Vets Treated Poorly When They What Vietnam veterans received a Cold homecoming? I was in the U.S. Navy from 1967 until 1971. For Vietnam veterans, this is a day when they finally receive the recognition and respect that was missing so many years ago. They came back to find the United States torn apart by debate over the Vietnam War. One fellow was leaning against the wall, the other half-kneeling, half-sitting on the floor. I started after him, but I lost him in the airport crowd. DiH"nE#y04tJ4j:$;S{NipK[td. 1 <>stream 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. But there is no forgetting the spitting. Yes, we were spat upon! <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> We were told that drugs were fine -- they didn't do anyone or society any harm. 38 0 obj <>/Metadata 2 0 R/Outlines 5 0 R/Pages 3 0 R/StructTreeRoot 6 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> What Happened After Americas Soldiers Returned from the Her choice of gift for a grandparent or an aunt or an uncle is often inappropriate. considerable snow. What is the labour of cable stayed bridges? ", We were both crying, and then he said, "Lady, it is never too late.". Rather than being greeted with anger and hostility, however, most Vietnam veterans received very little reaction when they returned 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. An airport security guard saw this and came over to help me. But did that make sense? endobj 1 0 obj Why Did Vietnam Veterans Receive A Cold Homecoming? By hippies. When I cam back from Vietnam, I was dumb enough to wear my dress uniform in the San Francisco International Airport. (#fcL8uJQT3dR hrww9G4[I ZyPtb8QAdXY> ;B3f!^}Iiz/;.A' #&JHfe*)3(|a 5a(J4:p1fP^8(u398YZ)Q#N=h_^v`"D'hG9gyRRyjDtHhs]E{qJ8gx NIACTV4^E=z yIuT`3Q9Wa{[_A7+R`D8euEqu~ ]z!q!B{PP3&\(!mcg P.j uzQA*&A/C/8Y:%55A< 8sieYFa& /AU9B+F(JHQuR~f2vkBUtYZ-i~1kS WebWhy were Vietnam veterans treated so badly when they came home? Write a speech in which you attempt to persuade other lawmakers to vote for or against Clinton's impeachment. 46 0 obj I coul dhave dwealt with being spit on by a hippie. What was the homecoming like for Vietnam Veterans? WebHomecoming by Dennis J. Stauffer I left Vietnam nearly 14 years ago and tried to put that phase of my life behind. 17+ Astounding Vietnam Vet Facts Be Surprised Why did Vietnam veterans receive cold homecoming? After all, most protesters had not been to Vietnam. WebWhy they received a cold homecoming is because the us government turned its back on them and refused to take responsibility. Then I remember walking by myself through the San Francisco airport to complete indifference. 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. jl/Y'RF]FckKOUNH6t9p%q>v'~FJSjW5,?{R `,:Z6FmK(eZ$4'}iy:s{w{? endobj Was I able to find a job when a prospective employer found out I was a Nam vet? WebThe veterans of World War II were welcomed home as heroes. No. endobj Nixon adopts a policy of Vietnamization. VIETNAM VETS RECALL THEIR HOMECOMINGS -- OFTEN endobj The group of antiwar protesters who many believe had come to the Democratic National Convention to provoke violence and chaos were called the ________________. From Vietnam I went directly to Berlin for a four-year tour of duty. This herbicide mix was deployed in urban, agricultural, and forested areas in Vietnam to expose the enemy and destroy crops. The question of who won the Vietnam War has been a subject of debate, and the answer depends on the definition of victory. `GY }*wYZ. I landed at Travis Air Force Base in California, went to the Oakland Army Terminal, and was cleared to go home for 30 days' leave. WebVietnam. They also assert that the U.S. overall suffered fewer casualties than its opponents. Is it OK for a 13 year old to shave their legs? They believed that it was not fair for antiwar protesters to question their actions during the war. No one knew what to say. 64 0 obj As I drew nearer, they began with some remarks and grins to each other, and then directed them toward me.