Posted on Feb 17, 2021
Why are the younger Veterans avoiding the Veteran Service Organizations? - US Veterans and...
3.18K
58
25
14
14
0
Nothing new in the observations found, but some good recommendations here as well!
Why are the younger Veterans avoiding the Veteran Service Organizations? - US Veterans and...
Posted from usveteransmagazine.comPosted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Disabled Veterans
The American Legion
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Disabled Veterans The American Legion
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 11
8
8
0
Returning from Vietnam in 1969, I took a break in service. I joined the local VFW, but quickly got tired of hearing how "my war" was not really a war like "their war. This post was mostly a bunch of old men sitting around and talking about "the big one," telling war stories.
They did not like our music, they did not like our dancing, they did not like the race of some of us. Overall, they did not like anything about us and did not want us in "their" post.
So, I obliged.
Now those organizations are crying?
They did not like our music, they did not like our dancing, they did not like the race of some of us. Overall, they did not like anything about us and did not want us in "their" post.
So, I obliged.
Now those organizations are crying?
(8)
(0)
MSG Stan Hutchison
SPC (Join to see) - Probably so. And I wonder if they are doing the same as the old WWII vets,,,,,
(1)
(0)
SGT Lorenzo Nieto
Brother I could not have said it better, I tried just like you did and got kicked to the curb, I just wanted to become a part of something but it seemed like I wasn’t worth it that’s how it made me feel to this day I am a member of nothing, I was proud to serve my country just to stupid to see my country was not proud of me it’s something you never get over you just give up on the system I know many Vietnam veterans that feel the same way.
(1)
(0)
7
7
0
My guess is many are doing so for the same reasons we did during and after Vietnam. We weren't welcome. So we told them to F*** all the way off and went our own ways. Many of us discovered the value in them too many years later.
(7)
(0)
PO2 Joseph Chantiny
I had a first class PO tell me about this: "Either you'll move on or they will" (talking about our division and why I shouldn't be bothered by anyone).
(0)
(0)
4
4
0
Based on my clinical research here I offer my observations. None of us can compete w/ the Worlds Greatest Generation who saved the world. Korea is the forgotten conflict. Vietnam is the most despised, detested and protested conflict ever. The Middle East conflicts are invisible. WW Two is a significant victory the others are not. I served from 1969 to 1973 and upon discharge no one but family members knew of my service. I felt ashamed and betrayed.
Rich
Rich
(4)
(0)
COL John McClellan
I can only partially understand your situation Richard but my observations in the last few years has been that there's been a long, gradual lifting of that burden of "shame" you describe regarding our time in Vietnam. Here at VFW 3282 we have Vets from all those conflicts and post-911. My service spans 1983-2014 w/Desert Storm to Iraqi Freedom, and GWOT. I have spoken to many, many Vietnam Vets who had the same experience as you describe, and yet I think tensions have eased and much reconciliation has taken place between those generations of warriors. The local VVA (Vietnam Vets) meet here at our Post every month and our largest cohort of members is now Vietnam - so these along with Vets of some of the post-911 conflicts are running our Post. It doesn't forgive anything you went through, but your brethren now have a strong voice in this organization!
(3)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google