Posted on Jan 18, 2019
If you served in Viet Nam, have your feelings about US involvement changed or evolved? If so, how? What’s changed for you, or what hasn’t?
12.3K
188
75
21
21
0
I returned home in 1972. Though I remained in the service, I also reengaged civilian life. I went to college and faced many of the negative pressures that society, in general, exhibited back then towards the country’s military. No one said “Thank You” until 1983. I didn’t visit “The Wall” until 1997. And I did not become anti-involvement until the ousting of Hussein in 1991, became the Southwest Asian outhouse quagmire that it now is today. What a fucking mess that is.
When I think of Viet Nam, I will always think that we bottom-of-the-ladder people did our best and tried to help some of the people a lot of the time. I know today that we were lied to by the highest brass and the top leadership in Washington. Politics and politicians got a lot of good boys killed in Southeast Asia for the sake of politics, and reelection potential, or “to save face.” Goddamn those people to Hell for what they did. I lost several friends in that war, and I will never forgive the people ultimately responsible for their deaths.
Today, it’s Southwest Asia, and we are engaged in another, mainly, political quagmire. Thousands more American men and, this time around, several women have been killed, and for what? Are we any closer to an end, political or military? I don’t know whom to believe, whom to trust? I know one thing about these two conflicts that is uncannily alike: our enemy in Viet Nam dressed and looked just like those we were trying to help. In Southwest Asia, the exact same issue has gotten more American lives lost in similar fashion.
Like a lot teenagers in their day, I, too, had all the answers when I was eighteen. Today, staring my seventies in the face, I realize I’ve never been as smart as I’ve been just opinionated.
Back to the point, have you changed your thoughts about or your opinions of your service in Viet Nam?
When I think of Viet Nam, I will always think that we bottom-of-the-ladder people did our best and tried to help some of the people a lot of the time. I know today that we were lied to by the highest brass and the top leadership in Washington. Politics and politicians got a lot of good boys killed in Southeast Asia for the sake of politics, and reelection potential, or “to save face.” Goddamn those people to Hell for what they did. I lost several friends in that war, and I will never forgive the people ultimately responsible for their deaths.
Today, it’s Southwest Asia, and we are engaged in another, mainly, political quagmire. Thousands more American men and, this time around, several women have been killed, and for what? Are we any closer to an end, political or military? I don’t know whom to believe, whom to trust? I know one thing about these two conflicts that is uncannily alike: our enemy in Viet Nam dressed and looked just like those we were trying to help. In Southwest Asia, the exact same issue has gotten more American lives lost in similar fashion.
Like a lot teenagers in their day, I, too, had all the answers when I was eighteen. Today, staring my seventies in the face, I realize I’ve never been as smart as I’ve been just opinionated.
Back to the point, have you changed your thoughts about or your opinions of your service in Viet Nam?
Posted in these groups: 
Vietnam War
Selective Service (the Draft)
Military HistoryVietnam Veterans of America
Vietnam War Selective Service (the Draft) Military HistoryVietnam Veterans of America
Edited 7 y ago
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 19
SCPO (Join to see) I believed that aiding South Vietnam was a just cause, and still feel that way. My feelings of serving have not changed, as I am proud of serving my country. I came back from Vietnam in 1970 to a country that I did not recognize. My best friend was killed the day after I left country, so I was not in a good frame of mind to have to be confronted by maggots at LAX. To this day, I still have the same feelings about protestors. I fault our government for abandoning South Vietnam. In addition to American deaths, our government was responsible for the South Vietnamese that were killed in re-education camps.
If we are going to war, let the military do the job without meddling from our government.
https://thevietnamwar.info/vietnamese-re-education-camps/
If we are going to war, let the military do the job without meddling from our government.
https://thevietnamwar.info/vietnamese-re-education-camps/
Vietnamese Re-education Camps - The Vietnam War
Following the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, Vietnamese Communist government began to open hundreds of “re-education” camps throughout the country. Those camps, as Hanoi officially claimed, were places where individuals could “learn about the ways of the new government” through education and socially constructive labor. In 1975, it was estimated that around 1 … Continue reading Vietnamese Re-education Camps
(16)
(0)
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
CPT Jack Durish Sad that the term Communism has faded from use. Countries like China and Russia still have the same goals but now its called spreading influence or some similar balderdash. I sometimes think the whole political mess we have in our country now started when Republicans no longer had their staunch stopping the spread of Communism goal.
(1)
(0)
SSgt Terry P.
Sgt (Join to see) Excellent statement,Ted,i am in complete agreement. I also returned in !970 to a situation i couldn't phantom.
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
(1)
(0)
11
11
0
It saddens me when I hear or read Vietnam Vets complaining that our war was a political sham or that we lost. They've bought into the excuses invented by those who simply feared going to war. All Vietnam Vets should be proud of their service, their sacrifices, and their accomplishments. They shouldn't buy into the propaganda that is still oft repeated today.
(11)
(0)
Sgt (Join to see)
CPT Jack Durish Well said. I have had more than one discussion with folks that say we lost the war. The bombing was hurting North Vietnam, but our government sold us out by giving up. I am proud of my service, and would do it again.
(5)
(0)
SCPO (Join to see)
I am proud of my service there, Jack. I am not a fan of the LBJ and/or RMN administrations, nor a few 4-stars who ran the show over there.
(3)
(0)
SFC William Farrell
Sgt (Join to see) - WE DID NOT LOSE Ted. The politicians and the American public lost that war, not us soldiers.
(5)
(0)
(4)
(0)
9
9
0
I served in Vietnam during the early years 1966-67 ,My feelings on US involvement haven’t changed,my feelings about the Government have ,the misuse of the Military in these endless wars in the Mideast,the constant failure of the VA system to treat our Veterans,what’s changed for me is the American public’s favorable view of the current Service members ,what hasn’t is the honor and pride I have for the people that served in Vietnam,Welcome Home Brothers.
(9)
(0)
(1)
(0)
CPT Jack Durish
The government that sent us to Vietnam was no paragon of virtue, that's for damn sure. But it was a helluva lot better than the ones that bungled the Middle East, beginning with President Carter
(2)
(0)
7
7
0
No, feelings haven't changed, just been authenticated over the years.
(7)
(0)
7
7
0
6
6
0
Was proud to serve, but never felt the politicians or the media had our back.
The military was not allowed to fight to win; had to get permission from Saigon or Washington to engage the enemy toward the end with reporters following everything with their own slant of events.
Will never go to San Francisco again.
We continue to fight piecemeal with no real end game.
The military was not allowed to fight to win; had to get permission from Saigon or Washington to engage the enemy toward the end with reporters following everything with their own slant of events.
Will never go to San Francisco again.
We continue to fight piecemeal with no real end game.
(6)
(0)
6
6
0
Wow, is this eerie. My husband and I were just talking about this last weekend. We finally finished Ken Burns' Vietnam documentary and were talking about the various issues that arose from that war, mostly political. For him, his opinions of his service in Nam haven't changed. He's still proud of his service. What changed for him as to his opinion of the war happened during the second or third month he was in the field. He no longer hated the enemy. What if our country had been invaded? Wouldn't we fight the same way? And wouldn't we use our children to fight the invaders? At that point, he realized that everything had a different perspective. War only serves to destroy and no one ever wins, except the Grim Reaper.
What changed about his opinions on the war itself came about from the various news articles, etc. that showed how our involvement was driven by politicians, generals, etc. And reading about the history of Viet Nam from prior to the French colonization through WWI, WWII and the rise of Ho Chi Minh. What if we had actually kicked the French out and let the Vietnamese determine their own government? Would they have chosen democracy as Minh had argued for? These were the things that changed his view of our involvement in the early 70s after he returned home.
Today, he's much more wary of politicians who say that we need to go to war than he was when he was a teenager. While he certainly agrees with our having gone after those who perpetrated 9/11, he doesn't agree that we needed to go into Iraq. And he wonders if we ever learned the lessons of Viet Nam as they apply to Afghanistan. He has concerns that politicians never seem to have a mission plan that includes withdrawal. He is concerned we have very few politicians who have actually served in combat to guide us away from war.
Excellent thoughts on the issue. BTW, you are/were smart...and opinionated. It's just that with more information and more years on the planet, your opinions have evolved. This is a good thing. ; )
What changed about his opinions on the war itself came about from the various news articles, etc. that showed how our involvement was driven by politicians, generals, etc. And reading about the history of Viet Nam from prior to the French colonization through WWI, WWII and the rise of Ho Chi Minh. What if we had actually kicked the French out and let the Vietnamese determine their own government? Would they have chosen democracy as Minh had argued for? These were the things that changed his view of our involvement in the early 70s after he returned home.
Today, he's much more wary of politicians who say that we need to go to war than he was when he was a teenager. While he certainly agrees with our having gone after those who perpetrated 9/11, he doesn't agree that we needed to go into Iraq. And he wonders if we ever learned the lessons of Viet Nam as they apply to Afghanistan. He has concerns that politicians never seem to have a mission plan that includes withdrawal. He is concerned we have very few politicians who have actually served in combat to guide us away from war.
Excellent thoughts on the issue. BTW, you are/were smart...and opinionated. It's just that with more information and more years on the planet, your opinions have evolved. This is a good thing. ; )
(6)
(0)
SCPO (Join to see)
Patricia, I could not ask for a better response. I believe you and your hubby and I are singing off the same sheet of righteous music. Thank you.
(1)
(0)
Patricia Overmeyer
SCPO (Join to see) - You're welcome. Sometimes it's good to hear someone else has the same opinion and you aren't walking down a path by yourself.
And uh, you don't want to hear me sing....even in the shower. Cats have been known to attack. Lol!!
And uh, you don't want to hear me sing....even in the shower. Cats have been known to attack. Lol!!
(1)
(0)
4
4
0
I was a little too young to make it to Viet Nam, I graduated High School in 1974 and got my commission in 1978. I will say that as a Lieutenant I served with and for some Viet Nam veterans who were consummate professionals. They taught me what it takes to lead by example and have the moral courage to stand by my convictions. Unfortunately, I watched a great many of them being forced out of the USAF in the mid 1980's as they were passed over for promotion or reached high year tenure. They were proud of their service in Viet Nam, but didn't brag about it. They commanded my respect by doing their jobs and doing them well whether they got the recognition they deserved, or not. I am blessed to have learned from some of the finest officers and NCOs to ever wear the uniform!
(4)
(0)
Col Carl Whicker
Amen to that! I am the 7th son of 10 children and siblings do love to pick on each other, but woe to anyone else who tries to do it!
(1)
(0)
SCPO (Join to see)
Col Carl Whicker I retired from the military and civilian law enforcement in 2002. I'm right there with you.
(1)
(0)
4
4
0
Outstanding piece, you hit the bull's eye. The only thing that has changed for me is respect for my enemy. Today, I would share a drink with a NVA Soldier or Charlie Cong. However, what has not changed is my disrespect for those that treated me and my Brothers like hog shit & nothing stinks worse! Years ago, I got the opportunity to work in Iraq as a DOD Security Contractor. It was great to be around Soldiers again. Surprisingly, I heard some Soldiers talk about Vietnam Veterans at a few DFACs which I heard some say to affect their Squard Leaders said most all Vietnam Veteran were doper; no shit! I am sure what or why it was a topic was because most of the contractors back in 2003 and later were Veterans. Contractors were not appreciated by most of Big Army. They couldn't understand why they made more money than they thought we did. Today's Soldiers have it a hell of a better life than we did. No KP, PX, Burger King, Mr Bean Coffee, Pizza Hut and several others. Dining Facilities that serve steaks, lobster and everthing you can get a a restraunt in the World except pork products. Today's Sodiers have showers, gyms, places to relax, swimming pools, computers and ability to call home almost anytime. All of which is is no where near what we had in Vietnam. Mud, Bugs, snake, Gooks, and a shower every three to four weeks. Opinions vary.
(4)
(0)
SGM Larry Lane
You mentioned something that I totally forgot about: That all Vietnam Veterans used drugs, and smoked pot. I will not deny that there a lot of guys that smoked pot, I don't know of anyone personally using the harder drugs. The 2 yrs I was in VN, I was in helicopter units. None of us could risk our lives, and the lives of others, by using the hard stuff. Quite often at night, after a very 'hot' mission, the crew members would fire up a fatty to help relieve the stress from that day's mission. (Hot LZ's, taking fire, picking up wounded from the LZ's, getting your aircraft all shot to hell and back, seeing pilots get hit and still fly the a/c out, etc.) One thing I did notice is that the effects of smoking a joint at night were completely gone by the next morning, and crews were back in the air. Having a few too many beers at night left you with a major hangover the next day, and flying on a helicopter did not help your head one bit. Me personally, for the most part I worked in maintenance or flight operations, and very rarely went on combat missions. And no, the entire 2 yrs I was in Nam, I never did any type of drugs, not even taking a hit on a fatty. But when I returned stateside, I was still labeled a drugie. Sad
(0)
(0)
MSG Danny Mathers
The drug of choice during OIF was steroids. I observed a bag stuffed under a gap in a T-Wall from the other side in the IZ by the river and less than a minute later pickup stopped, someone grabbed the bag and was gone. I reported the incident the MP detechment commander and asked him what it might be; I had no idea. He told me most likely it was steroids which surprised me was their number one problem. He didn't say who but I think it was contractors doing the steroids that didn't get drug tested and got huge working out in the gyms for hours. I knew a few Iraqis that used them and got built in a matter of months. We had some guys on our PSD Team that came over small and gotten huge in a year. I spent 5 years in & out of Iraq as a hated DOD contractor because it was perceived we made the big bucks.
(0)
(0)
SPC Kurt Hesselden
SGM Larry Lane - In my infantry unit out in the field weeks at a time there was no dope usage. If someone was even suspected of having any, much less using any they were taken aside and schooled that it was not tolerated in the bush and they can transfer to be an REMF if that was their choosing. Self policing was the best deterrent.
In a small typically 90-100 man company, squad and platoon sizes were miniscule compared to the almost battalion size companies in the states and the reliance on your squadmates was intense. Dopers, shirkers and cowards were simply not tolerated in field combat units and were removed rather quickly.
In a small typically 90-100 man company, squad and platoon sizes were miniscule compared to the almost battalion size companies in the states and the reliance on your squadmates was intense. Dopers, shirkers and cowards were simply not tolerated in field combat units and were removed rather quickly.
(0)
(0)
3
3
0
SCPO (Join to see) My opinion will not change about my service there, I am in agreement with Sgt (Join to see) and others here.We fought for what we considered right and our brothers in arms. After seeing the aftermath of pulling out of Vietnam only affirms,we should have stayed and finished it.Our politicians betrayed us by succumbing to pressure from the media and the minor percentage( protesters) of the population.
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
(3)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google