The other day at the office, one of my co-workers asked me how it was that I served multiple tours in Vietnam as a combat infantryman and I didn’t get PTSD. My rather flippant answer was “I didn’t get PTSD in Vietnam, I gave it.”
However, this PTSD question made me wonder what PTSD is and what the symptoms are, so I did a little research on the subject and found that I did indeed possess symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) concerning a traumatic and very stressful incident that occurred during my last tour in Vietnam. I was a professional soldier when the traumatic incident occurred and had accumulated over six years in Vietnam engaging occasionally in close combat with a vicious and cunningly capable enemy, but the traumatic event was not as a result of close combat with this enemy.
One day when I was totally focused on closing with and destroying the enemy, something caught my eye, I looked around and found a new enemy had unexpectedly appeared behind me; it was the American people. The same Democrat Party who had originally sent me to Vietnam promising that, “We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty,” had now sided with the Communists I was fighting. They were parading in the streets of the United States under a Viet Cong flag, were quoting from Mao’s Red Book, and were spitting on and flinging insults at returning Vietnam Veterans. Then, a Democrat led Congress cut off funding for the Vietnam War, American combat troops were withdrawn and we abandoned a valiant ally to their fate.
I was ordered out of the country in 1972, and when I arrived at Travis Air Force Base, California, purposely in the dark of the night, I was advised to change out of my uniform and put on civilian clothing to avoid being attacked by the American people when I entered San Francisco. I was not at all surprised when a few decades later these same people elected a Marxist-Communist as President of what was once my country.
Yes, the deep, burning hatred I feel for the Democrat Party to this day could be diagnosed as a symptom of PTSD, and I wonder how many other Vietnam Veterans feel the same way.
Post of the day and sentiment of the majority. God bless you and may zero and his Marxist friends be brought to justice.
God bless you, and here's one American who, even at the age of 10 in 1967, about the time all that ugly stuff really started going down, understood how heroic Viet Nam vets were, and how cowardly it was to leave a brave ally to its fate. That must have hurt American vets as much as anything.
Please do me the honor of reading my homepage. :^) That was me at the age of 11-12 spitting in the faces of those who would spit in yours.
A lot of Americans are right there with you. Count me as one.
I met a Vietnamese woman who said that when the U.S. pulled out, they had to run for their lives and get on a boat. She was just a young girl then. She said the communists were shooting at everyone in the boat and she saw blood on the people as she stayed low to the floor. She is thankful for what the Americans did over there and she loves this country. Too bad the Democrats don’t have the same feeling about America. My brother fought in Vietnam and he said he felt sick when the Democrats caused us to pull out. He knew what would happen to those people left behind.
Thank you for your service Sir. I feel honored to be able to call you a FRiend here. Thank you for your post as well. I had my wife stop her silly Facebook crap long enough to read it. She was quite moved. Thanks again DJ Taylor.
With humble attitude, I salute you for your service to our country!
Well said. Especially the Kennedy quote. I’ve had the same thoughts Bill Ayers makes my blood boil.
Wow. Thank you for your Vietnam combat service. I was a chopper pilot (UH-1H) and was there only from Sept 1971 to August 1972 when they stood down what was left of 1st Cav assets in country (Task Force Garry Owen). A/229th AHB operating in MR III. We flew infantry, scouts, & LRPs around our AO. I hope you know that our referring to the infantry as `grunts’ meant the highest respect (my Dad was infantry but not in that capacity; we were in country at the same time, Sullivan waiver, etc.)
Little major action (FB Katum) until April when the NVA opened their Easter Offensive with tanks & artillery. Heavy going but as of 1 August we were all DEROSd. Left Tan Son Nhut on 5 August & landed in Travis. Must have been quiet; we were all wearing khakis & took a bus to San Fran Intl, no incidents. Went to Fort Jackson to finish my active duty.
I always will believe that the people stateside who hated us just for serving were a minority; McGovern getting crushed in the 1972 election seemed to prove that. For me it was simple: those who served were right, and those who hated us for serving were dead wrong.
I too hate the Democratic Party for their kneejerk antimilitary attitude & that is borne out by POTUS closing the veteran memorials which shows they really hate us & think we are an insignificant minority that can be insulted without consequence.
Only started wearing a Vietnam vet cap last year; I like to pop into Whole Foods & wait for some aging ponytail of either sex to scream “Babykiller!!!” but all I’ve gotten is the fisheye from a few skinny libs. Muslims don’t seem to like it, either.
But the fact is that the hippies & peaceniks (read: pro-Hanoi) of yesteryear are now in the driver’s seat in D.C. And that’s not good.
By the way, Vo Nguyen Giap finally croaked at 102; the MSM calls him “beloved hero of Vietnam and military genius”. Enough to make you hurl. For some insight on Giap & our last full year in Vietnam, read “Trial By Fire” (Dale Andrade, Hippocrene Books 1995). That final offensive & the near crushing of the North Vietnamese was much bigger than anyone there at the time could realize.
As for PTSD, I only invoked it once; some religious fanatic in our office was pinging on me to come & listen to their dear leader I mean preacher. On & on it went until I turned & said to her,
“Did you know I’m a Vietnam veteran?” “Yes.”
“Do you know that I still have recurring nightmares from that time?” “Uh...OK.”
“Did you know that I own not one, but two, AK-47s?” (looks at me with horror & quietly backs away)
Anyway, welcome home & please pray for our great nation.
Never feel like you are alone. Many walk in your shoes and by your side.
Stunning post. Thank you.
I agree. As a USMC infantry officer I experienced, and dished out, a lot of “trauma” in Vietnam. Thanks to excellent training and support, I think I handled OK. But, nothing prepared me for what I experienced at the hands of many of my fellow Americans once I returned home.
Yep! Welcome home, my FRiend!
That fall, they offered us a paper to sign releasing us of all further military obligations (along with any future benefits which went along with it) in return for checking out. About 90% of us signed the paper and got out. A few of my friends and classmates chose to stay and compete for the dwindling number of military positions. Most of us signed with mixed emotions.
If this country is ever to be righted again, I suppose a similar program could be instituted to clear out the "openly gay" element.