When Vietnam vets came home (Soldiers being spit on is just an urban myth)

News and Observer ^ | Nov 10, 2004 | JOHN LLEWELLYN

[zip]

After reading the posts (through 198)I realized how many FReepers were/are vets or veterans' family members. THANK YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE FOR YOUR SERVICE AND/OR SUPPORT FOR THE SERVICE OF LOVED ONES.

[BIGLOOK]

In VN, most of the Vietnamese were nice, some weren't so nice, some were VC. Arriving back in the world, glad to be coming home, stepping off the Freedom Bird, we were briefed to report quickly to our processing centers. We were told to not react to protesters.

Before I'd left for overseas, waiting in an airport bar, someone I'd never met bought me a beer and wished me well. When I returned after 2 yrs & 4 mos, I found a few were nice, most were indifferent or not very nice and some were F***ing vicious nuts.

LLewellyn, the writer of the article above, hasn't a clue.

Chieftain, kellynla, and 68 grunt:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

[marmar]

We say "What goes TDY stays TDY"......I still love my Marines. I think they are quite a pretty bunch.......their uniforms fit well........if I do say so myself. I was an onsite Medic for some reserve Marines........interesting......then from Mar-Jul I got to bring home the Wounded Warriors. Their stories were sad and some where funny......for example did you know that when you hit a cow with a rocket it blows up like a video game? I really miss not being in the loop right now, but I will get my chance again.

[Zacs Mom]

I've been married to a Marine for 27 years and I thank the Good Lord every day for having blessed my life with such a man!!!

[Fzob]

Only 3 percent of returning soldiers recounted any unfriendly experiences upon their return.

Even if true, it's three precent too many.

[Lady Jag]

I guess I was a mere country bumpkin. Around here, our guys came home to love and respect. I never saw any anger at our servicemen.

I did see a demonstration on Boston Common but they were weirdo hippies against the war itself.

[Howlin]

This is a total load of crap, don't you think?

[marmar]

I know they are out there.......I have just seen the other side of the coin. They still fascinate me.

[68 grunt]

It used to be, I'm not sure if it still is, that the Marine Corps had tailors custom fit each Marine's uniform. Trouble was, they took the measurements at the beginning of bootcamp, and by the end, when you got to wear the uniform, your body had changed, radically.

Thanks for your kind words, and the work you do.

[marmar]

Your welcome and I am not complaining about the fit.....

[68 grunt]

OoohRah and Semper Fi

[Lady Jag]

We can never thank you enough for you and your Marine's service to this country. Bless you.

[sport]

'Twerent a myth my friend. It actually happened.

[TADSLOS]

Not a Vietnam Vet, but I did get spit on and labelled a killer of babies, amongst other things, while wearing the uniform in the early-mid seventies. No myth, all fact. Every Vietnam Vet I've ever served with has a story similar or worse. This was a universally accepted practice by the general population of youth and young "adults" at the time. Another sorry attempt to revise history to meet a leftist agenda.

[willyboyishere]

"Certified as an expert on the subject in the federal
courts"
___What stupid organization certifies stuff like
that?
--- My thought exactly. This is the kind of guy
who always includes the "PhD" after his name,
as if to say "None dare refute me!" ( As if there aren't tens of millions of PhDs foisting their expertise
everywhere)

[JoJo Gunn]

I noticed you'd been absent. Good to see you back.

As far as the "myth" crap, what of the guy who was attacked at the Toby Keith concert about a month ago?

[TexasCowboy]

"I wasn't part of the story just an observer."

Hummm.....were you there that night that..........uh, well, maybe it's better to let sleeping dogs lie.

Not that you were one of the dogs, mind you!
My buddies had all of them occupied!
I'm glad it was dark.........and we were over-indulged in alcohol.

[Mannaggia l'America]

This isn't a spitting story, but I have a friend who was in Vietnam during the war.

He said when his tour of duty was over, he and others were flown to California. When he got off the plane, there was no fanfare, etc. There was one guy waiting there to greet them - Jimmy Stewart. He came out to meet them by himself, on his own.

He said it was probably his fondest memory of that time.

[ditto h]

Dear Mr. Llewellyn. You are wrong. Many people who served during that time were treated in a hostile behavior. As a person in your position would have no idea of what happened during that period,many of my fellow servicemen were subjected to harsh treatment. Had I faced these morons, I would have reacted in a negative way.

[jwalburg]

Republican offices were shot at? Really? I didn't see that story on CBS. 20 years from now it will be as widely known as it is now.