Can you describe how you felt coming home from a deployment or combat?

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Returning stateside after a year in 'Nam was exciting. I did not take R&R after 6 months like a lot of soldiers did so I was really anxious to see my wife and two kids. We stopped in Hawaii but couldn't leave the airport. I remember I was solicited by a mother and daughter prostitution team at the airport. Once we got to Fort Ord, CA we had to change into civilian clothes to avoid harassment as traveled home. I don't know anyone personally who died or was injured in Vietnam, but it was a war that never should have happened.

For me it was pretty benign. I left Vietnam and went to join my wife and two young children who had stayed in El Paso while I was overseas. Most of my thoughts were of them, and especially of getting to know my now 1 year old daughter who was weeks old when I left for Vietnam. I don't recall a single negative interaction with the public during my travel home, but did not get a single "welcome home" either. And some of my thoughts were already thinking about my next duty assignment. I had been told that my early departure from Vietnam (two weeks before my expected DEROS) was because I was so needed at this next unit. For the same reason I was only allowed 15 days, rather than the normal 30 days of leave between Vietnam and the next duty station. And of course, when I arrived at the new duty station they were surprised to see me, saying another Captain had filled that slot but not to worry, they would find a job for me. 51 years ago this summer.

Felt like shit , not many people my ethnicity saw me as doing a great job. The only great was un even my family ask what are you doing here. 2nd time even worst . Ungrateful som of a itch

Happy to be home. Mostly red-eye flights from Germany until LAX (1969). It was ugly and was close to kicking some butts. My savior was being picked up by a former girlfriend (in a mini skirt and my favorite perfume - married her) so didn't want to get in trouble. I salute those who served in combat. None of us deserved the welcome we received.

My return from Vietnam was somewhat interesting to say the least. If you are truly interested I have written a memoir and am willing to share it. Bill Culotta PNSN in Seabees. [login to see]

Being aboard USS Kearsarge and then the USS Coral Sea. After the first deployment (3 total) I realized that life had moved on without me. Music, clothes, cars, and most important family and friends. Some were uncomfortable around you, some just didn't want to be around you. So I just didn't want to head back to the States, would have crossed over if the opportunity presented itself. The comments were there but I just moved on. The hard part was when I got out. I went in right out of High School and really didn't know any life outside the military life. That was the hardest part of it all, learning what everyone graduated with me had experienced while I was in. Mainly education, thankfully for the Union building trades, they were my band of Brothers than. That is why I push for the younger members in now, to get a reentering education. Six months before they get out.

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Can you describe how you felt coming home from a deployment or combat? Sure, it was not good... July 20, 1968 after 2 years in the Jungles with the 4th ID & 25th ID, then being called "baby killers" etc etc etc, a bunch of rotten eggs and tomatoes at our bus as we left Travis AFB.... Just a great welcome home from a very traumatic and deadly period both in the War and an angry society

I did a lot of ecstacy pills and cocaine and drank, and had lots of sex.

I arrived in South Korea as an Army PVT/E1 in November, 1968, fresh out of AIT. I was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division at Camp Casey in TongDuCheon, about seven miles South of the DMZ. I'd always had a "fascination" with "things Oriental", so I was especially pleased to BE in South Korea (and not Vietnam, or even in Germany, for that matter). Because Camp Casey was considered to be in a "tactical zone" (which stretched from Seoul to the DMZ), we couldn't have dependents or POVs, and we had to be in uniform any time we went off post. In spite of that, I grew quite fond of South Korea, and VERY fond of the South Koreans (a sentiment which continues to this day). Initially earning about $68/month, a phone call to the West Coast of the U.S. was $13/minute - plus the toll to the East, where I was from. I didn't talk with anyone in the U.S. for the whole time I was in Korea.

In January, 1970, as a SP5/E5, I returned to CONUS. In my absence, mini-skirts came into being, men had long hair and lots of facial hair, "hippies" were anywhere one looked, psychedelic music was prolific, all three major American auto manufacturers had models and sizes that didn't exist in 1968, McDonald's restaurants seemed to be EVERYwhere, driving more than 30 mph (and at night!) was frightening - especially on those roads that had more than one lane in each direction - anti-military sentiment (largely due to the U.S. being in Vietnam) was palpable, and, worst of all, the "average American" didn't seem to have ANY respect for the U.S. Military. In summary, returning to the U.S. was a greater culture shock than going to Korea.