'The Wall' honors Vietnam vets for 20 years

Air Force Link ^ | 11/07/02 | Unknown

[SAMWolf]

The Vietnam Service Medal
and
The Vietnam Campaign Medal

[SAMWolf]

Thank you. A nice slow song.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks Sam.

[SAMWolf]

I know a Marine who was there real early. He says the Movie "Go Tell the Spartans" is his recollection of waht it was like. I relate more to the "Hamburger Hill" time period.

[HiJinx]

Time to call it a night...thanks for the thread, SAM, it was a winner.
And Victoria, you just keep on bein' you, okay?
(Special, that is!)

[redhead]

LARRY DU WAYNE JOHNSON was born on October 31, 1951 and joined the Armed Forces while in PROVO, UT.
He served as a 67A1F in the Army, and attained the rank of SP4/E4.
On July 22, 1970, at the age of 18, LARRY DU WAYNE JOHNSON perished in the service of our country in South Vietnam, Phuoc Long.
You can find LARRY DU WAYNE JOHNSON honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 8W, Row 42.

This is my young brother-in-law. This little profile doesn't tell you that he left a young wife and two small daughters, or that Larry and Linda were childhood sweethearts. It doesn't tell you that he and his wife were distant cousins. I am determined to honor this young man. With the exception of his parents, spouse and children and siblings, I don't think anyone has given him personal, individual honor for his service since the day the flag was presented to Linda and the casket was lowered into the ground. We all honor all our fallen heroes, but it would take forever to give each of them the recognition he deserves, so we usually honor them as a group of whatever size. For this reason, I post this information here, so you all can know that Larry has never been forgotten.

[SAMWolf]

Good night HiJinx.

[SAMWolf]

LARRY DU WAYNE JOHNSON

[Jen]

Hi there. It's nice to meet you on this thread. Thank you for serving our country!

I agree with you about biased reporting. I was a public affairs officer in the Air Force and had to deal with media daily.

Jen (USAF)

[Jen]

Good night Jinxie. Sorry I didn't see you earlier tonight. {{HUG}}

[CIB-173RDABN]

Hi Misty,

One of the first job of the 173rd Airborne Brigade was to provide security for the air base at Bien Hoa. Ask him if he was at the Bob Hope show in 1965. If so, we were in the same audience.

Memories are funny things, it is strange what can trigger a memory, a familiar sight, a sound, a smell or music. One such trigger for me is a song they came out in the 60s that includes the name of a comrade. When I hear that song, it always brings me back to the day and time I heard he had been killed.

One demon that haunts many veterans is the question "why me, why did I survive, and they didn't.

Living can sometimes be harder then dying.

[SAMWolf]

A-7 Corsair

[Jen]

In honor and memory of Larry DuWayne Johnson

<====

[CIB-173RDABN]

Hi Sam,

The only Viet Nam era movie I have seen was John Wayne's Green Beret. I have not seen any of the others. Stange huh? I have seen Civil War movies, WWI and WWII movies, but I can not bring myself to go to a Viet Nam war movie.

But, I have not been able to bring myself to go see the wall either.

[SAMWolf]

I actually saw "Green Berets" in Phuoc Vinh in 1970 at the Base "theatre".

Man, was there ever the hooting and hollering over that one.

[CIB-173RDABN]

I can top that, when we were back at the base, we would have movies and they would show us the old one hour TV show Combat with Vic Morrow. Then again, maybe it was considered training ;-)

[redhead]

"The only Viet Nam era movie I have seen was John Wayne's Green Beret. I have not seen any of the others. Stange huh? I have seen Civil War movies, WWI and WWII movies, but I can not bring myself to go to a Viet Nam war movie."

I used to be able to say that I'd never seen a Viet Nam era movie until I bought "We Were Soldiers." My husband and I watched it (I should say HE watched it. I couldn't believe how realistic it was, how agonizing, how heartbreaking. I'd come out to watch it, and my hands would involuntarily cover my eyes, and I'd have to leave the room for a few minutes. It is not for the faint of heart. Don't feel bad if you can't stand to see the things that touch those memories. Most of the rest of us can't, either. (((CIB-173RDABN))) Thanks for serving, and thanks for coming home! God bless you.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks so much, Jinx. I'm glad to have so many good friends like you.

Hope to see you soon.

[SAMWolf]

Now that was a great TV series!

[habs4ever]

You have done Larru Du Wayne Johnson proud with your testimonial to his courage and sacrifice.I am glad you have shared it with all of us.