Posted on 05/28/2007 3:05:59 PM PDT by mdittmar
THE ponytails might have greyed, and they're not as lithe as they were 40 years ago, but for the Harley-riding Vietnam veterans who descend on Washington for Memorial Day, it's a chance to remember and reflect on the war that changed their generation.
An estimated 400,000 motorcyclists swarmed the capital at the weekend for the 20th Rolling Thunder event. Many were veterans sporting leather vests advertising their platoon, their tour of duty, fallen comrades — and their devotion to their Harley-Davidson.
Some had ridden across the US in a pilgrimage to "the Wall", the name given to the stark yet moving monument that records the names of the 58,000 US servicemen who died in Vietnam.
Others had come from closer states. Like Jim Burgess, from Florida. He flew reconnaissance planes out of Thailand along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
"I got 10 people up on the Wall — one from my squadron. You gotta come and visit them once in a while," he said.
Ben Ompad served at the Phan Rang Air Base alongside Australian servicemen in 1967-68. "They were flying Canberras (bombers) back in those days, and I was like an adopted son," he said.
Dan Watson didn't serve in Vietnam, but he'd ridden the eight hours from Pennsylvania to spread the word on behalf of the Christian Motorcyclists' Association.
"I'm president of our chapter and I come every year to hand out Bibles and just talk to people," he said.
There was also a smattering of newer vets, several of whom were still recovering from injuries sustained in the Iraq war.
Specialist Adoph Morciglio, who drove convoy escorts, is now on disability leave from the US Army after a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy in Iraq. One of his team died a couple of months later from his injuries. It was his first time at the Memorial Day event.
The polls show that Americans are deeply dissatisfied with the way the Iraq war has progressed. But in this crowd at least, President George Bush would find vastly more supporters than critics.
"I don't doubt in my mind that there were weapons of mass destruction. Saddam just had too much time to get rid of the stuff, " said Sam Clark, a Vietnam veteran who survived the 1968 Tet Offensive.
Keith Eastman, from Dayton, Ohio, who served in the US Air Force on gunships out of Nha Trang, wants to see America stay the distance. "I want us to leave but after we win, and I think you'll find most of the vets feel the same way. We were pulled out of Vietnam and we didn't like it," he said.
By mid-afternoon the air around Constitution Avenue was thick with exhaust smoke and the smell of synthetic motorcycle oil. But the parade kept coming and the crowd kept cheering, even though by now every shape, size and modification of Harley had passed them by.
I was there,I saw that.
To all the Vietnam Veterans,Welcome home.
Rolling Thunder is just absolutely amazing. Thinking about what I witnessed in DC a few years ago makes me hate liberals even more....
John Kerry didn’t make it??? Not even John Edwards??? Did Al Gore????
I’m glad!
I wonder if he did....
Last Wednesday, a lot of the Rolling Thunder came through town, and a lot of them got their bikes serviced at the dealer. Poor kid didn't get home until after 10:00 that night, says he has NEVER seen so many bikes getting oil changes in his life!
I stopped in on my way home from work to see how he was doing, and chatted with some of the members of Rolling Thunder. I plan on having a Harley of my own and traveling with them next year....God willing....
400,000 amazin any pictures?
None from me,I’m not a big picture guy,I keep it all in my head.
I’ve scoured the internet since yesterday. nada.
Thanks, I should have said I was looking for the BIG picture.
Well, yeah, but we can’t get too many pics, right? :-)
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