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

It was 1970, There was no one at the airport to say "Welcome Home, Thank you for your service". It was just the opposite, Groups for people protesting the Vietnam War, being cursed at and spat upon, being called names. It was not a good time.

I remember my Cold War redeployment in July 1984. During those days, the periodic heightened tensions between USSR/East Europe and USA/UK/Canada/West Germany kept us on our toes while deployed and many make home seemed oblivious. Thankfully that aspect of the Cold War never went hot - although terrorism was hot during those days.
When I returned to the USA I was warmly welcomed by many friends and my family.

Image: Cold War Deployment and Redeployment
FYI SSG Bill McCoy SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SPC Woody Bullard COL Lisandro Murphy SGM Major Stroupe LTC Tom Jones SFC Terry Fortune PO3 Edward Riddle PO3 Edward Riddle SSgt David M. SGT Mary G. CPL Douglas Chrysler Sgt (Join to see) CWO4 Terrence Clark SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. SSgt Kelly D.CPL Ronald Keyes Jr
CMDCM John F. "Doc" Bradshaw

Back home in Oceanside, NY I had to figure out what I would do with the rest of my life. I was still reeling psychologically, not so much outwardly, but inwardly from my sudden transformation from being a Marine in Vietnam back to being a Civilian in the States. In the Marine Corps I had awesome responsibilities, which sometimes could literally mean life or death. Now I had no responsibilities – at least none nearly as important as before.

When I arrived home, my family had a party for me. It was great to see everyone again, but something was amiss. Conversation was strained. It occurred to me later that no one had even mentioned the word “Vietnam.” All talk was about other, happier things.

Approximately 20 years later, I mentioned the party in a seminar when a student asked about my homecoming. My sister was a guest in the class that day. She told me later that back then everyone had wanted to ask me about the war, but they were afraid to ask, because they were unsure how I would react. It shocked and hurt me to learn that my family had been afraid of me and were fearful about how I would respond when questioned about my experiences in the war. I guess the war had changed them as well.

I had needed to talk. There was no counseling or therapy for veterans back then. There was no debriefing by the military upon return from the war. 'Here’s your separation papers, goodbye.' We were told to forget it, to put it behind us, and to get on with our lives. So, I tried. But the fog in my mind, the surreal glimpses of my war experiences, would not let me rest. The obscure events surrounding the seemingly endless day-to-day drudgery in the war, were always slapped away by horrific events that would just not leave my mind.

In Vietnam, my past life was a dream, like it never happened. The war became my life. It became my everything. I accepted it and kept moving on, kept doing my job, kept trying to stay alive. I had enlisted in the Marine Corps to serve my country. But in the fight, no one thinks ‘I’m doing this for America.’ Your conscious thoughts are of keeping yourself and your buddies alive. Your sole purpose is to kill or drive off the enemy for your friends.

Then suddenly, the war was my past life and it was like a dream, like it never happened. My original life had returned, but it had been turned upside down. Friends in Vietnam were who I fought alongside. I would give my life for them, and they for me. Surely, old friends from home could be depended on, as well.

No such luck. I was ostracized by most of my old high school friends. They were either embarrassed they hadn’t served in the military or they didn’t want to be around someone who did. Perhaps they felt I was no longer the old Bill Stilwagen they once knew. Maybe I was the new Bill Stilwagen who was now old. Their idea of fun was to sit in someone’s basement, smoke dope, and watch Sesame Street. I was perplexed and disgusted that this was as far as they had come in their suburban, privileged lives, content with someone else sacrificing on their behalf.

I was never spat upon or called baby-killer. I was just shunned. That hurt most of all. I no longer fit where I used to fit.

Felt relieved to be back safe and sound around love ones

For me I it was a mixed bag. I was single and look forward to deployment. After I got married it was struggle to stay connected to the family

I just wanted to be alone. I appreciated the love and attention everyone was giving, but I really didn't want to answer questions. It felt more comfortable being around people who were deployed with me. We didn't have to say anything. We could just chill, have some good food and a nice cold beer.

I was in a "restricted zone" in Northern South Korea, six miles South of the DMZ, from Nov 1968-Jan 1970. By "restricted", it meant no dependents, no POVs, no civilian clothes off post, no GOING off post without a pass, no "greenbacks", etc. To me, it was a greater "culture shock" coming home to CONUS than it was going to an Asian culture I'd never before visited. In the time I was in Korea, man walked on the Moon, Woodstock had "happened", "hippies, long-haired men, and mini-skirts" were "born", anti-military/anti-Vietnam sentiment had mushroomed, and the U.S. was a whole "different world". Disappointingly (to me) there was also no "Welcome Home, Serviceman" that I'd seen so many times in WWII and Korean War-era movies.

WOW!! As a Marine coming back from the "vacation land of Southeast Asia" my family was overjoyed but for some others I could feel the dislike, even the hatred for who I was. It still hurts a bit today after 50 plus years when I think about it.

I was deployed 3 times each time when the ship docked , No Band , No one to greet us . 1969 to 1971 . Today the Military is tops . Long overdue . About time . I would still do it all over again . i watched my son return home from oversea 2005 , i was so proud . Band playing , Family and Friends greeted them all.

It was 1972, and if I wore my uniform in the civilian world people would ridicule me, spit on me or try to start a fight. I’m glad our vets today get the respect they deserve.