why did vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming

It was the fall of 1970 and I was in Sacramento, Calif., bus station. Thirty three veterans gave interviews on various topics relating to Vietnam including: basic training, the trip to Vietnam, being in the field, helicopter and aircraft stories, support groups, the Vietnamese, and their general thoughts on the war and the country. Instead, most Vietnam veterans returned to a society that did not seem to care about them, or that seemed to view them with distrust and anger. Clemons, a pastor at the Lane Memorial CME Church in Jackson, received a commemorative pin and a "thank you," from U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg in a Memorial Day ceremony at South Jackson Community Church. To end US involvement in Vietnam; replace troops with South Vietnamese troops which establishes "peace with honor". 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 . "Bring the boys home." <>0]/P 17 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> 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. On board the plane, I noted several other Vietnam vets in uniform. <><>19 20]/P 25 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> War is immoral, this was isn't our concern, and war was draining our economy. WebThe Vietnam Veterans Memorial was completely funded by veterans, individuals, corporations and other organizations. ", We were both crying, and then he said, "Lady, it is never too late.". The real issue isn't whether or not we received a ticker tape parade down Fifth Avenue. endobj Kent State shooting where they burned the federal building. What is the Vietminh declare as its main goal? 1. As president of South Vietnam (195563), Ngo Dinh Diem assumed dictatorial powers. 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. 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 These women did not spit on us, nor did they inquire as to how many people we killed. The only harrassment I ever received was a half-cocked remark from an uncle who asked, "What's your hang-up, George? "It was a time when America itself was in turmoil," he said. Was I able to find a job when a prospective employer found out I was a Nam vet? I have a difficult time writing about things I would just as soon forget. The symbols of this new attitude are many -- the Vietnam Memorial in Washington is the most dramatic, but the box-office successes of such movies as "Platoon" and "Full Metal Jacket" also are testimony that, while the nation may still be divided over the politics of the war, the soldiers themselves are finally being welcomed home with warmth and gratitude.Yet even while the country has begun to tell the Vietnam veterans that they are loved and respected, the stories have continued to ciruclate: When those veterans returned from Vietnam, they were spat upon. I apologize for taking so long to send this letter. A young lady dressed in bell-bottoms, love beads and a peace symbol came up to me as the elderly woman walked away. The couple just walked away and melted into the crowd. What did Eisenhower compared to a row of dominoes? Why? 19 0 obj The result was an expanded U.S. military presence and increased military activity in neutral Cambodia. In that respect, it failed: the two Vietnams were united under a communist banner in July 1976. 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? `GY }*wYZ. V;.;Tqs?__D`ngP/S:LG-Jf}Xl\d#?r=H+J(CP\BQhG? If they were myth, we should know that, too. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. To prevent Communism from spreading. "My people" were angry. But I could never forget her face and those few kind words. I never got the chance to thank her, nor even got her name. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 1 0 obj Agent Orange is a mixture of herbicides used during theVietnam Warby the U.S. military to defoliate forests and clear other vegetation. stream Kent State shooting where they burned the federal building, Congress repeals the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, Purpose: to protest Nixon's bombing & invasion of Cambodia without first notifying congress- attempt to gain control over US. application/pdf For years I had been hearing stories that when American troops returned home from Vietnam, they were spat upon by anti-war protesters. 38 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: Continue Learning about Movies & Television. Needless to say, my son doesn't venture to church very often, even after all these years and different ministers. 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. I was wearing my Air Force uniform when my plane landed at Los Angeles International Airport. It was the first week in June. For Leary, the catharsis came on the day of the parade. As the plane took off, the cheering and tears exploded with the feeling of being off the ground. It was not built with federal government money. I'm fortunate that I returned from Nam alive and was able to handle the emotional pain of spending a year in hell. Suddeny one of the females began calling me a baby killer and spat on me. However, I just walked away. What Vietnam veterans received a Cold homecoming? 45 0 obj Identify the following term or individuals and explain their significance. Purpose to protest the invasion of Cambodia. Sergeant First Class Jorge A. Otero Barreto (born 7 April 1937), a.k.a. what were the terms of the Geneva Accords? Gave the president military powers in Vietnam. 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. Two young guys -- complete with beards, long hair, John Lennon glasses and garbed in the appropriate apparel that the times dictated -- came into sight. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Copyright 2023 WittyQuestion.com | All rights reserved. However, I don't hink it's unreasonable for us as veterans to want and even expect medical assistance and/or compensation for war-related health problems that have all but devastated whole families. uuid:180705bb-b618-11b2-0a00-c02f5b020000 Domestic support for the war plunged as U.S. deaths rose. WebWhy did Vietnam veterans receive cold homecoming? What was the challenge that the Framers faced when setting out to write the Constitution, and how did they meet it? <>31]/P 28 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> Who canceled the Vietnamese elections? For me it's been 16 years, and it's a shame that ridiculous movies like "First Blood" and "Apocalypse Now" had to be made before anyone cared enough to ask questions about us and our experiences. endobj How do you convert bonds to common stock? What authority did the Tonkin Gulf Resolution grant to the U.S. president? Shaped like a camel's head. All that can be said is that 2023-01-20T17:35:10-08:00 WebStudy with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Henry Kissinger, Ho Chi Minh, John F. Kennedy and more. To Those Who Returned -- Welcome Home.". uuid:180705bb-b618-11b2-0a00-907dfefefc7f WebWhy did South Vietnam surrender to North Vietnam? What is the answer punchline algebra 15.1 why dose a chicken coop have only two doors? William calley accepts responsibility..100 innocent Vietnamese murdered by US soldiers- which further turned Americans away from war. <>3]/P 6 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> The heated arguments within the United States over military involvement in Vietnam kept most people from welcoming the veterans or Were you spat upon when you returned from Vietnam? Were They Spat On? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The U.S. Constitution grants Congress sole authority to issue declarations of war. Appligent AppendPDF Pro 6.3 Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 19. How did Ho Chi Minh respond to the return of the French? 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. Explain the significance of the following key terms The Silent Majority and the Pentagon Papers. The question of who won the Vietnam War has been a subject of debate, and the answer depends on the definition of victory. 2. WebAs waves of Vietnam veterans returned home in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the nation was locked in a bitter debate about the war. I raised the question in my syndicated newspaper column. No. WebVietnam. Neighbouring Laos and Cambodia similarly fell to communists. After serving in Vietnam from June '66 to June '67, I returned to the States to a wonderful reception. <> jl/Y'RF]FckKOUNH6t9p%q>v'~FJSjW5,?{R `,:Z6FmK(eZ$4'}iy:s{w{? Example (You){\color{#c34632}{(You)}}(You) 1. one woman was standing alone and clapping her hands and sayig "Welcome home." 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. Told to report back to the plane in an hour, the vast majority of us headed immediately for a cold one in the airport lounge. What difficulties did US troops encounter in Vietnam? 13 - The Roaring Life of the 1, Unit 9- chapter 22 moving toward conflict s, Eric Hinderaker, James A. Henretta, Rebecca Edwards, Robert O. Self, Unit 16 | Colligation: adjective + preposition. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". endobj The group of antiwar protesters who many believe had come to the Democratic National Convention to provoke violence and chaos were called the ________________. endobj 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. 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. 0 Both of these incidents have bothered me for years. Yes, we were spat upon by an older gentleman in a red, white and blue outfit who answers to the name of "Uncle Sam." Jackson Cit Pat: Vietnam veteran remembers cold homecoming, savors appreciation ceremony | Congressman Tim Walberg He wasnt sure he 1. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. But I know, there were not many veterans who didn't envy the hostages and feel despair about their own "return.". Once he became president, he sought to establish enough stability in the region for the South Vietnamese government to take over. 1 0 obj endobj My husband and I love to read. "It was a time when America itself was in turmoil," he said. You see, most of us still want to put the war behind us. endobj We returned to political turmoil, peace marches, anti-war and anti-veteran activities and one giant lack of appreciation. <>stream No, I was never spat upon by a civilian, I was just ignored by a country that didn't care. Americans were torn and bitter about the war and didn't not honor returning soldiers And the media telling us over an dover that our boys were on dope, were murderers and fools for being soldiers. It occurred to me that one of them resembled my best friend back home. Is the singer Avant and R Kelly brothers? 1. Vietnam becomes divided along the 17th parallel. Considering the source, I passed it off. Graham was twenty-five, just months out of the army and back from Vietnam. The first time I was in transmit from my ship to a temporary duty station. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Prince 14.2 (www.princexml.com) As I drew nearer, they began with some remarks and grins to each other, and then directed them toward me. In what ways did they show their opposition to the war? To win Vietnam's independence from foregin rule. they receive a cold mist or frost on the plants. A! What did Ho Chi Minh declare after Japan was forced out? 4 When did American troops return home from Vietnam? 2023-01-20T17:35:10-08:00 Was I even welcome at the local American Legion post as a Nam vet? 33 0 obj No one knew what to say. I took it. He promised to help South Vietnam and kick out the French. During that time I experienced two spitting incidents. But did that make sense? They went to college to get college deferment, got doctors excuses from service, and coast guard jobs. At that relatively young age it is almost impossible to express having your feelings hurt an dhurt deeply, especially after trying to prove your "manhood" in Vietnam. 12. He was tall and lean, with deep-set brown eyes and a receding hairline. 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? The country went wild and it was great to me to see our country unified and celebrating. NV full scale invasion of SV and the capture of Saigon-there were no US troops there when the NV won. Was I able to get a date with a girl if she knew I was a Nam vet? The U.S. military reported 58,220 American casualties. endobj Many Vietnam veterans blamed the antiwar movement for the chilly reception they got upon returning to the United States. While my son was home on leave from Vietnam, a Presbyterian minister refused to shake his hand as we were leaving church. <>stream Stand there and take it? You heard that at every peace rally in America. I asked the potential respondents to provide approximate dates, places and circumstances. WebWhy were Vietnam veterans treated so badly when they came home? It granted him broad latitude in handling the struggle against communism in Southeast Asia. 4. What's sad is that when the smoke cleared and most of us were lucky enough to come home, our calls for help remained unanswered. endobj The U.S. military has estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died. WebVietnam veterans. 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. He reflected Monday on the cold homecoming many Vietnam servicemen experienced upon returning. One fellow was leaning against the wall, the other half-kneeling, half-sitting on the floor. - tunnels made by vietcong that allowed them to stand air strikes The hurt stuck in real deep, and it is hard to think about. A Vietnam vet could take being spat on by one person. WebHomecoming by Dennis J. Stauffer I left Vietnam nearly 14 years ago and tried to put that phase of my life behind. Congress authorized troop deployment in Vietnam, but, because it did not issue a declaration of war on North Vietnam or the Viet Cong, the Vietnam War is, technically speaking, not considered a war in the United States. <>6]/P 32 0 R/Pg 48 0 R/S/Link>> The United States entered Vietnam with the principal purpose of preventing a communist takeover of the region. When did American troops return home from Vietnam? 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. Rewrite each sentence so that it is clear and correct. What did the Nazis begin using gas chambers instead of mobile killing units and shooting squads after a while? In retrospect, putting aside the issue of the rightness or wrongness of the war or how it was handled, all I know is that when my country asked me for help, I answered the call and to this day, in spite of everything, I'm proud of that. I kept my experiences private, as did many Vietnam veterans, to 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. Is it OK for a 13 year old to shave their legs? <> In recent years, as we all know, there has been an undeniable shift in the public's attitude toward the men who fought the Vietnam War. I don't mean to make it sound melodramatic, but I've never forgotten it. What organizations and groups of Americans tended to oppose the war? Why did Vietnam veterans have a hard time coming home? 5 0 obj Stopping to buy a newspaper, I ended up about 50 feet behind the line moving toward the bar. <> I felt so good to be marching with thousands of Marines who were bursting with pride singing the Marine Corps Hymn. I was never spat upon or even harassed. In the 1960s my husband and I were in our 20s and raising three little boys. 4 0 obj What Vietnam veterans received a Cold homecoming? I bought a ticket for a flight to Chicago that was scheduled to depart at approximately 4 p.m. Pacific Time. Ngo Dinh Diem, he thinks the communists will win. 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 seemed to me that if the spitting-on-soldiers stories were true, we should know it. Who is Jason crabb mother and where is she? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I guess guys who lose a war get pretty unpopular. We were working hard trying to raise our children and teach them what we considered the real values of life. The veterans of the Vietnam War returned to a cold shoulder and a country on the verge of tearing itself apart. By 1967, how did most Americans feel about U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War? The stories were usually very specific. These and other incidents made me question, to this day, why I went. this may not seem so bad, but when you are a wide-eyed 20-year-old who is soon to learn that he was lied to by his country and made fun of by a lot of people who would never serve in any way, it hurts. The banner said "Vietnam -- 10 years -- We Remember. On the 10th anniversary of the end of the war, my son made me up a banner on the computer, which we put across the front of the garage. Personally, my famiy and friends telling me that it was good to have me home again was all the welcome home I ever needed. I am a 30-year veteran and served during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Thanks to him, his chemical companies, and "Operation Ranchhand," you might say we were spat upon and didn't even know it. 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. I served in Vietnam from May 1969 to May 1970 in the 101st Airborne and spent 11 of my 12 months at a small landing zone. 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. 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. William calley accepts responsibility..100 innocent Vietnamese murdered by US soldiers- which further turned Americans away from war. Congress does this to take away some of the Presidents abroad powera, Purpose to force a negotiated peace settlement-north Vietnamese. That depends in which cold desert. Even during the msot fervent days of anti-war protest, it seemed that it was not the soldiers whom protesters were maligning. @p+B72H4FT~ q4=;Cb3L%^DzY*IUh^Brv3W}r$.| ^ vDJfp=q#_N I was not met by any spitting "hippies.". 28 0 obj I walked past him and proceeded to my destination. This is due mainly to the Watergate Scandal: nixon S administration found corrupt Richard Nixon, arguably, tried to prolong the Vietnam War during the 1968 presidential campaign in an effort to win the presidency. endobj Why did many Americans lose faith in their government? That one didn't make headline status. I started after him, but I lost him in the airport crowd. The Vietnam War lasted from 1964-1973the longest war in I have heard about the spitting stories. endobj As for my job in Vietnam, I was a crash/rescue team member and killed no one. What does it mean when you wear a bandana in your back pocket? endobj It does not store any personal data. HW%HY&YXh-G5\9U)8ulr.\LoZ?\ry{[pMI;%bIfRl>TFh= It would be ludicrous, all these years later, to pretend to remember exactly what was siad. 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. He earned 38 military decorations during his career, and has been called the most decorated U.S. soldier of the Vietnam War. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> What were some of the ways that young American men avoided military service in Vietnam? As they were smiling and seemed friendly, I said yes. Her choice of gift for a grandparent or an aunt or an uncle is often inappropriate. They believed that it was not fair for antiwar protesters to question their actions during the war. I was not a hero. Many Vietnam veterans blamed the antiwar movement for the chilly reception they got upon returning to the United States. endobj I remember looking down at the scarred landscape, waiting until we got enough altitude to be completely safe. No signs. Why did Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming? 3 Why did Vietnam veterans have a hard time coming home? What was the homecoming like for Vietnam Veterans? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". I wish some attention would be paid to the humor, compassion and heroism exemplified by our men in Vietnam. 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. 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. If the subject is understood, write it in parentheses before the sentence. Ana has done a very (credible, creditable credulous) job. 2 0 obj<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/ExtGState<>>> endobj Not Hollywood dead, not like in war movies, but dead and gone just like warriors in World War I, World War II, Korea and all the others. In 1963 he was murdered during a coup dtat by some of his generals. WebThe veterans of World War II were welcomed home as heroes. many supported his decision because he was following the policy of confronting communism. 20 0 obj ^8 I will remember vividly for the rest of my life leaving Vietnam on a plane loaded with Marines. then include cold deserts). We were told that drugs were fine -- they didn't do anyone or society any harm. What broke our hearts was being spat on by our country. WebWhy they received a cold homecoming is because the us government turned its back on them and refused to take responsibility. 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. It lasted from 1954 to 1975. At no time have I eve rheard him state that he had been spit on. For large numbers of others, the catharsis comes when they visit the Vietnam Memorial in Washington. Then I remember walking by myself through the San Francisco airport to complete indifference. What prompted the war between the Vietminh and the French? Vietnam and anything associated with the Vietnam War was not popular. Men came home on an These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. I`ve always felt that disrespecting But the homecoming was very different for most Vietnam veterans. I also kept quiet because the war was not a welcome topic outside the walls of veterans clubs. No. No 'Welcome Home' parades for Vietnam vets. U.S. military aircraft attacked targets throughout North Vietnam, group in Cambodia that seize power and want to establish peasant society. What is the labour of cable stayed bridges? WebWhy did the U.S. get involved in the struggle? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. At 7 in the morning I was sitting on the front proch having coffee and a young man came by delivering telephone books. Let. endobj We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. An airport security guard saw this and came over to help me. %PDF-1.4 The United States committed some 550,000 troops to the Vietnam front at the height of the conflict, suffered more than 58,000 casualties, and engaged in battle after battle with communist forces in the region until its withdrawal in 1973. 44 0 obj Those who argue that the United States opponents won the war cite the United States overall objectives and outcomes. I probably would have broken him in two. codename for an American bombing campaign during the Vietnam War. /r"U,fJV09HL@M`! I was recovering from injuries received in Vietnam at a military hospital near Philadelphia. I did not ask the question lightly, or out of idle curiosity. "To wipe a little spit off our hearts." They felt Johnson should escalate war more quickly. In what sense was the Vietnam war a "working class" war? WebVietnam Vet facts like Dax Cowart, a Vietnam vet who suffered devastating burns after a gas explosion in the 1970s, and who endured 14 months of agonizing treatment that he did Each sentence contains an error in the use of modifiers. Each stated how happy they were that we were able to come home safely. Nothing. My Vietnam service medals were always easily recognizable by these individuals, and even they did not spit on me. (#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