Tribute To Vietnam Veterans....Welcome Home.......March 5, 2002

Self and Various web sites for graphics and friends

[Snow Bunny]

Even though we all were in Vietnam at different times, at different places our hearts were united and our lives they were intertwined.
After Vietnam there were no parades, not many people wanted to hear our stories, and if they did listen, they didn't really understand. I know this is a small thank you for all each of you did , but I want to thank you for serving and for being the person you were then and now.
I appreciated what you were did ,and would do in the future to secure the freedom and liberty of this nation and other nations.

A man has not lived until he has almost died…….

For those who have fought life has a flavor……..

The protected will never know.

…….. author Unknown Vietnam Veteran

THE EYES OF A WARRIOR
(A tribute to the Vietnam Veterans, and the Veterans of our past)

In the eyes of a warrior we see strength, loyalty, honor ~ we see pain, horror, and loneliness. When you look into their eyes you see the stony strength of one who has the courage to take on the world so that we may choose. You see the will that stands between fear and a belief that freedom is the most valuable gift that one can give to another. And, you see the heart ~ with its granite-hard conviction that the soul cannot survive without honor. Personal honor cannot be lost or thrown away. It is embedded in the soul of the warrior beyond this earth ~ beyond eternity, and beyond his or her own ability to survive without it.

When you look into the eyes of a warrior, you also see the dead pool of pain. It surrounds and envelopes the inner soul ~ it is a natural by-product of the prize, freedom. One cannot win this prize unless they are willing to endure the pain ~ for this is the price. No one pays this price like the warrior. The horror that is endured....remembered....is the cause of the pain but is also the means by which the warrior wins for us, the freedom and the life that we enjoy. So oblivious are we to the price they pay. The tears they shed somewhere inside where we cannot see unless we look for the brothers they were forced to leave behind, and for the loss ~ the never ending loss of war. In their eyes one will see the deepest most internal ~ and most eternal loneliness we shall ever witness. It comes from the deepest part within them, that part which suffers still, the battle.

If you look deep into the eyes of a warrior, you will see the collage of the human spirit. If you cannot envy this ~ if you cannot love, respect and honor this, then you have no right to the freedom they so willingly won, and then simply gave to you.

Have we ever stopped to think what our world would be like if we had no warriors? How would we have the right to determine for ourselves what we will do on a lazy Sunday afternoon? How would we determine for ourselves what our children will learn and how they will be raised? And the most important question of all ~~ how dare we forget these things are true?

To All Veterans:

"With all my heart I embrace you....
with all my soul I wrap you in
the protective shroud of my pride
in you and my gratitude for what
you have given me".

[Liberal Classic]

You're welcome. There's many more at Bluejacket - United States Sea Service History and Graphics Website. Semper Fi from a "tail-end of the Cold War" Marine. Of course, I didn't now the Soviet Union would collapse only a few years after I joined. I guess I did my part, though I can't say I've endured what Vietnam era servicemen did. I've been to the Wall once when visiting family in Maryland. Choked me up. Welcome home, brothers.

[JohnHuang2]

God bless you, and heartfelt thanks for your service to our country.

[scott91]

i have been looking at the website for the last 2 hours. i was not able to serve for health reasons and i felt guilty for the longest time. with the help of a viet nam vet that i mket on fr i was able to work throuh the guilt. i just ordered the "it's a nam thing" cd and i will share it with 2 of my friends that served in nam. i just want to thank all of the people who are responsible for this site and the links that i found tonight. i will bookmark this site and visit often. peace brothers, leon

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"I was not able to serve for health reasons and i felt guilty for the longest time."

Please do not feel guilty because you could not serve due to medical problems.
Please accept my Thank You for even considering that you should feel guilt.
You did nothing wrong.
For some reason GOD kept you at home.
Think of what you have done over the years.
That is what HE intended you to do.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of its Heroes and History."

I saw you post this on another thread a few days ago.
I KNEW you would post it here also.
God Bless You and Thank You

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of its Heroes and History."

I saw you post this on another thread a few days ago.
I KNEW you would post it here also.
God Bless You and Thank You

[zeaal]

W E L C O M E H O M E !

Thank you for your service.

[onedoug]

Thanks for that flag.

As senior officer on the POW repat plane out of Hanoi to Clark AFB in the Philippenes, Jeremiah Denton spoke their first words:

"We are honored to have had the opportunity to serve our country under difficult circumstances."

He speaks for me, in tribute to all - living and dead - who made that possible for me to say.

[firewalk]

Good morning bump! Thank you!

[T'wit]

There IS a movie of it, dating all the way back to the war years, but it got decidedly weak reviews. That is, the book is better -- if you can find one. It's easy, breezy reading, not terribly long.

Maybe I should start a snailmail lending library :-)

[oldvike]

Dude, I've been reading your posts on these various Vietnam threads and I have to say that you are one of the most hororable people around here. Your humility and love for this country and its citizens is unquestionable. Thank you.

[ImpBill]

I appreciate your time and effort on building this thread. I accept your motivation as sincere. I hesitate to reply for fear you and others will misunderstand. Perhaps it is just a timing thing, but just last night my wife of 34 years prevailed upon me to attend, with her, a seminar put together by our local VFW and American Legion where VA reps came in to "present" their program of bennies that vets are entitled to. It was a 3 hour presentation and I had to leave after about half of it.

Most in attendance in the room were Korea or WWII vets and their families. I would guess, out of about 3 hundred folks in attendance perhaps there were a dozen VN (in country) vets present. Other than a semister in college, where I partied out anyway, I have not sought any "benies" and quite frankly don't want any. They are great for the guys that need them and can go through the process to get them, but I found out last night I ain't ready yet and may never be.

As I was leaving a Vet rep from somewhere came up and asked "Viet Nam vet?", I said yeah and he handed me a coin with a map of VN on one side and the serenity prayer on the other. He said, "I thought so. Why you leaving?" I wasn't rude but direct in replying "30 plus years of being a bitter bastard ain't easily left behind". He shook my hand and asked me to call him.

I might send him a note thanking him for his genuine concern as I also don't want you to think I don't appreciate your genuine sentiment in this thread and others like it you and some others here support.

Some of us, and I know I have no right to speak for others but I do know they are out there, still have a hard time accepting gratitude, never sought, and then offered 30 plus years later.

My wife has been after me for years to get some "professional help" to which I reply, "It ain't no thing baby. I just deal with it, one day at a time." Many days I get through without stroking the fires of my resentments, but then ... well, something happens to remind me that years later I am still a "sick and bitter bastard" at times. But it ain't no thing. Life will go on.

So again, thanks for the sincere effort but for some of us it doesn't totally have the desired result. That ain't your fault. It's just the way poop happens.

God and Soldier, all men adore
In time of danger, and not before.
When the danger has passed,
And all things righted.
God is forgotten,
And the Soldier is slighted.
Anon.

So many have given so much to so few, who really care!

Thank you and others for at least caring and God Bless all who have and continue to serve.

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you for your post and for coming to the Tribute. I will add into my heart the rememberance for Sp. 4 Thomas Anthony Eckl. Thank you my friend.

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you for sharing ImpBill. Sometime if you have time and are not on a web tv to get online, please go to my Profile Page. I know it will not help how you feel but it is done from my heart just as this Tribute has been done.

Thank you again ImpBill. I understand what you are saying.

[Snow Bunny]

I love to read and I think many FReepers do too. Thanks again T'wit.

[Critter]

From the Vets With a Mission Homepage:

A great site, don't miss it.

A special thanks to all who served!

[Snow Bunny]

HI Zeaal. Thank you so much!!!!!

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you for your post.Thank you for being a FReeper and for being here.(((( hug)))))

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you for the link and for your post.

[Snow Bunny]

Great post #238.Thank you my friend.