Fort Campbell welcomes home Vietnam vets

Associated Press ^ | 08/16/2009 | KRISTIN M. HALL

[neverdem]

Tears filled the eyes of some Vietnam veterans who were warmly greeted with cheers from their family and friends Sunday in an re-enactment of their original return from the war, when they were often met with angry demonstrators and harsh headlines.

The ceremony was a first for the 101st Airborne Division and the Army, said Maj. Patrick Seiber, an Army spokesman based at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

"Our hope is that other units and other posts will follow our lead in having this type of ceremony," he said...

[Deagle]

Hard to believe that his is happening for Vietnam vets...but I really appreciate it...

[neverdem]

AP has a good story for a change!

[easternsky]

Read this on their site the other day. They did a air show a few years back a reenactment of the war, not a dry eye anywhere near where We were. We just all stood there, sights and sounds were so very real. A very nice Base to visit. They treated us like we were the Hero's all week and We had went to welcome Our old unit Home from Iraq. Made us Old guys very proud.

[justkate]

"We realize that many of you did not receive the honorable homecoming you deserved as American heroes," Campbell said. "We wanted to make sure that another day doesn't go by when you did not have a proper welcome home."

I wish that this could make up for the truly shameful way these men were treated, but I think not. In spite of it all, these Vets have carried themselves with dignity & have never failed to honor their brothers who did not come home.

If they didn't get the respect & thanks they deserved, and they didn't, this country was forever diminished by it.

[skinkinthegrass]

A Kentucky Ping.

[BIGLOOK]

Heartland no ka oi....ping!

Thank you, Neverdem, for the best news all day.

[PzLdr]

They had a ticker tape parade for us in New York City in the ‘70s or early ‘80s. Westy was there, along with something like 21 holders of the Medal of Honor. Afterwards, they threw us a beer blast on the U.S.S INTREPID. So I got a parade, and a free beer [or two]. Better late than never. Didn’t get to kiss a pretty girl, but two out of three ain’t bad.

[ConservativeColumns]

That’s beautiful, thanks for sharing!

[MadJack]

Pat Sieber is a class act.

[neverdem]

I’m glad I made you smile.

[radu]

News Channel 5, out of Nashville, aired a really nice piece about this tonight. Video at the link. If you're anything like me, it would be a good thing to have a tissue handy when you watch it. I needed a couple when I watched it on the evening news. *sniff*

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome home, 101st Airborne Vietnam Vets, welcome home.
Thank you for your service to our country.

[askrenr]

I still carry some baggage from being spit on at the airport when I returned in 1969.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[SE Mom]

Thank you and Welcome Home!

Screaming Eagle Mom :)

[DeaconRed]

Thanks Fort Campbell.
I can still feel the spit and my right hand (knuckles) still feel the jaw that took my venom. US Army 1964-1968 SGT E-5 ASA (Army Security Agency)

[beachn4fun]

(hope you know by now that it was the wacky liberals and terrorist supporters who greeted you on your return?)

[unkus]

Thank you very much neverdem. After the 101st “Stood Down”,(my unit left Cam Rahn Bay) we all had 30 day leave and reported to Fort Campbell. Too many memories and forgotten instances but we were all glad to be back in “The World”.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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NEVER FORGET

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MEL’s -PASSION- sparked by -WE WERE SOLDIERS-

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085111/posts

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They are still soldiers

http://www.ArmchairGeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66978

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NEVER FORGET

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