Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Thunder rolls, tears rain on Vietnam vets' parade
The Age ^ | May 29, 2007 | Anne Davies

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.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: gatheringofeagles; memorialday; rollingthunder; veterans; vietnam; vietnamvets
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-28 last
To: dirtbiker

If Edwards did lead an anti-war protest, he is darn lucky I wasn’t nearby to call him traitor. I am a Tar Heel and I don’t take kindly to his kind.


21 posted on 05/28/2007 5:21:54 PM PDT by Truth_will_rule_eventually
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar
....and the smell of synthetic motorcycle oil.

Something tells me that the writer would not know the difference.

22 posted on 05/28/2007 5:38:13 PM PDT by perfect stranger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EternalVigilance
thx. these guys look serious. i appreciate that.
23 posted on 05/28/2007 5:38:25 PM PDT by kvanbrunt2 (I can't believe people still watch tv)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: knarf
truly awesome thx
24 posted on 05/28/2007 5:43:18 PM PDT by kvanbrunt2 (I can't believe people still watch tv)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: perfect stranger
....and the smell of synthetic motorcycle oil.

Something tells me that the writer would not know the difference.

I doubt the writer would know the difference between the clutch and the front brake, and probably thinks the throttle is that foot pedal on the right hand side....

25 posted on 05/28/2007 6:40:38 PM PDT by dirtbiker (I'm a liberal's worst nightmare: Redneck with a pickup, library card, and a concealed carry permit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: dirtbiker
As long as her readers don't understand the difference she can lie all day long.

The MSM relies on the ignorance of the masses to push their agenda.

26 posted on 05/28/2007 7:37:09 PM PDT by perfect stranger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar

....sigh.....

Perhaps NEXT year.

Got the bike, got the desire.

Montanny was just a bit too far this year....


27 posted on 05/29/2007 3:10:56 AM PDT by JB in Whitefish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: perfect stranger
"....and the smell of synthetic motorcycle oil."

"Something tells me that the writer would not know the difference."

Something tells me those are not synthetic motorcycles.

28 posted on 05/29/2007 3:18:21 AM PDT by azhenfud (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-28 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson