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

Coming back from Vietnam in 1970 the flight from California to New York was great. The flight crew upgraded my ticket from economy to first class (didn't matter, I slept all the way home). Back in NYC, at the airport a remember a Marine recruit walking by me and calling me a baby killer. I was a little shocked and saddened. That boy didn't have a clue as to what he was heading into. I was just happy to have made it through the crucible in one piece. And have a home to return to.

Did my tour in Germany 64-67 , was lucky. Took a Europen discharge and knew what was going on re protests and even got caught up in one in my car with US plates on in Germany. I flew home in civies because of it and would have come home in uniform but for! To this day I will never forgive this country for how the Vets were and are treated especially combat ,. I can only imagine how they feel if I feel PO'd. Sadly to say many of these "people" are still embedded in politics and education etc. and are still making decisions based on their philosphy. I am glad the Vets today are getting all their due but for my generation it's a dollar short and day late. We may all want to consider exactly why
the quotas are not being filled based on my comments vis-a-vis the "embedded" and their policies.

SPC Joseph Gibbs -
I derosed at Dix after returning from Vietnam in 71, taxied to Phi to catch a flight to Atlanta. While waiting for my flight some unknown guy came up and called me a MF baby killer. I wanted to kick him in the nuts but since I was in uniform and officer, I refrained and just responded with "Sorry you feel that way but if you bring me your wife or partner, I will put a smile on her face that you have never seen. Then after boarding the plane and sitting in my tourist seat- poor boy from the south- the stewardess asked if I would like to sit in first class. My response was sure-better food and free drinks. As I was heading to first class, I asked the stewardess why the move. Her response was that on previous flights there had been trouble between vets returning and other passengers. I kept quiet but thought to myself- those hyprocritical POS's- f**k them.

Went through the same shit at LAX on my way home on leave.

[ po2-russell-russ-lincoln ] PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln - I understand your perspective, but I don't believe we would recruit the most qualified service members through that approach. Conversely, it could be similar to the draft, where most individuals are trained for front line combat—and we're aware that not everyone is suited for that role either.. I fail to perceive any significant advantages in having everyone undergo a brief period of military training during their youth, especially when it entails a substantial cost to the taxpayers.

I understand your perspective, but I don't believe we would recruit the most qualified service members through that approach. Conversely, it could be similar to the draft, where most individuals are trained for front line combat—and we're aware that not everyone is suited for that role either.. I fail to perceive any significant advantages in having everyone undergo a brief period of military training during their youth, especially when it entails a substantial cost to the taxpayers.

Mandatory service means everyone of service age serves. You never have a shortage of military personnel like recruiters experience now. There is no need for bonuses to get people to sign up or retain them. You have to have a clean record for 6 years before even being even considered for any special forces. You will get the cream of the crop as well as basically people who can't get jobs because they are from depressed areas because of economics. In Switzerland everyone is in the military their entire life and after they serve their required active time, they take their rifles home and wait if needed and serve 2 weeks ACDUTRA every year until a certain age. I don't quite think that would work here though. If everyone served, then everyone has pride in their country and themselves, everyone belongs, everyone grows up, no one is reaping the benefits of freedom without paying the price. It makes everyone cohesive instead of at odds. It promotes comradery among the population and dispels racism. It would never be that 1/2 the country was against the military as it became during Vietnam. It saves the country money! That's just my two cents.

SSgt Grover Nunnery - Do you think that all of us who got drafted in the 60's and 70's were ready for combat? I sure as hell wasn't but the Army trained us and the soldiers in Nam trained us when we got there and we did the job. I never went hunting as a kid but carried a M60 in Nam and hunted then. I was able to turn into a combat soldier at 18 and many others did so don't say they werent prepared for combat. We did the job as well as as an enlisted soldier today.