How were you treated after you got home from a combat deployment?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 18:00:24 -0400

We all know how Korean and Vietnam Vets were treated when they came home. I'm interested in how you were treated. Was it a great reunion, sort of, or not at all?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2015 6:18 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 18:18:51 -0400

My mother and close friends were relieved. We went out to eat a few times and spent some quality time together. Otherwise, there was nothing special. I will say share that upon arriving at Bragg, all barracks Soldiers had awesome stuff in their new rooms to begin living comfortably.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Mar 9 at 2015 6:22 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 18:22:20 -0400

Like the hero I was not

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made Mar 9 at 2015 7:04 PM

SFC Collin McMillion — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 19:04:47 -0400

Nam vet, so I'm not going there!

Response by CPL Ron Williams made Mar 9 at 2015 8:48 PM

CPL Ron Williams — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:48:26 -0400

My first deployment it was a good homecoming now the second was bad Stephen king could not have wrote it better. My kids were there to welcome me home and so was my wife and her boyfriend she told my I had no home no cars and no money and walk away with my kids. So yeah my second homecoming was a full blown nightmare.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2015 10:18 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 22:18:06 -0400

I stood proudly in front of my formation, surveyed an array of ecstatic family members who couldn't wait to run out and hug their Soldiers.
And then I saw my wife.
I grinned from ear to ear, momentarily losing my military bearing.
But she looked down.
And I knew.
She was the only one there who wasn't happy we were there.

Some truly hard things have happened since, but right then and there I knew that it would never be the same.

Response by MSgt Jamie Lyons made Mar 9 at 2015 11:28 PM

MSgt Jamie Lyons — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 23:28:59 -0400

My very first deployment didn't go so well on our return. I was a single airmen living in the barracks. We were transported home on a C-141 from Taif, Saudi Arabia to Eglin AFB. When we landed we could see all the people waving flags and cheering with banners all over the place as we approached to park. Before we were allowed to disembark, some Cheif and Capt jumped on board and told all the single guys to form a line and walk out the back and around as to not to interrupt the celebrations. There I was marching single file out the back and away from the soldiers who were being greeted as heros. That was the first golf war mind you and one of the first units to return. It was funny because I remember seeing ourselfs on the local news stations that night. To add insult to injury, we had to break down the pallets so the luggage was ready for the married soldiers when they were done celebrating and talking with the media.

Response by MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2015 11:58 PM

MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 23:58:51 -0400

I had a horrible reunion. Textbook sad story. This is personal, but I want to share.

I got off the plane and was really looking forward to seeing my then-significant other and newborn son. You know, that moment you turn the corner and get a little excited to see your family waiting in the wings? Maybe even with a cheesy banner or tee shirts? Yeah...no.

She was 45 minutes late. No remorse. No apologies. Annoyed. No hug. No kiss. Not even a smile. She just handed me the keys as she walked over to the passenger's side.

Come to find out she felt I had abondoned her during my deployment. Apparently, I should have tried to avoid it as opposed to be excited by it.

Typical "girl cheats on Soldier" story. However, instant karma was applied. That's another story in itself, but a page turner!

She

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 12:32 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 00:32:09 -0400

On my first, I got off the plane and for some reason we had to wait 1 1/2 hours before seeing my family. Other than that is was better than what Korean War and Vietnam vets got.

On my second, it was really good except my wife and daughter was disrespected by our BN XO. She is very nice but amazing at reading people. She didn't tell me until years later for obvious reasons. But people olin the community were very supportive.

Response by SSG Leonard Johnson made Mar 10 at 2015 12:34 AM

SSG Leonard Johnson — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 00:34:11 -0400

Treated good by coservative and patriots

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 3:45 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 03:45:24 -0400

With the exception of heading out for my first tour in 2003, I was treated decent enough going out and coming back on all three tours. The only issue I had was a group of ridiculous protestors in my hometown. They were saying some fairly disgusting things about the military.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 3:55 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 03:55:24 -0400

I participated in the initial invasion during OIF I and the return home was pretty ho hum. I would say about the same as coming back in from a long field problem.

The five tours after that were ridiculously different. Marching into some big redeployment building while music was blaring and people cheering. The general talking like he was some UFC ring announcer. I actually preferred the first one over the rest, at that point you just want to go home, get some chow, see the family, and get some much needed sleep.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 12:48 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 12:48:33 -0400

It was pleasant. When I had returned home from Desert Storm, even towards the end of August, 1991, people were still congratulating me and welcoming me home.

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Mar 10 at 2015 1:27 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 13:27:42 -0400

When I came home from Iraq, the first CONUS airport the plane touched down was at D/FW airport.

The Airport FD gave the plane a double-water-cannon salute, and there was a gauntlet of people cheering as we exited the jetway: Boy Scouts, VFW, random civilians...

It was pretty cool.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 3:14 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 15:14:51 -0400

I was greeted by my wife and son. Then wife thought it would be funny to drag me into walmart, I lasted 2 minutes inside and had to leave to keep from harming the idiots working and shopping there.

Response by SPC Bernie Davies made Mar 10 at 2015 5:04 PM

SPC Bernie Davies — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 17:04:33 -0400

As a Vietnam veteran who simply tried to distance myself at the time I would like to know how older veterans can come alongside "the new guys" to walk with them back into a more normal life. Being deployed overseas to a combat area is very difficult and I really don't know anyone who is not adversely affected by the experience. We know, we have been there and have walked these many years to sort out matters. It would be nice to help others.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 11 at 2015 12:41 AM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 00:41:52 -0400

Since 1980, I never faced anything but a positive return ceremony, and very welcoming and thankful attitudes from our communities. I always preferred low and fast, as all I cared about was getting to my family and finally getting home.

It is unfortunate, that our Korean War and Vietnam War brothers and sisters did not receive the same reception and thanks.

Response by SGT S Johnson made Nov 13 at 2015 3:30 PM

SGT S Johnson — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 15:30:42 -0500

This is How GOV Kasich & the Kroger co Treated a Combat Vet #COMBATVETSMATTER
PLZ Sign http://www.change.org/p/potus-all-congress-combat-vets-lives-matter?recruiter=278863106&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_twitter_responsive … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

POTUS, ALL CONGRESS: COMBAT VETS LIVES MATTER

WHERE IS MY PROTECTION UNDER THE AMENDMENTS?????????????? This is How SHADY, UN-TRUTHFUL HYPOCRITICAL People RUIN A VETS REPUTATION!!! I am a Disabled Combat Veteran of ( 2005-2006 )Operation Iraqi Freedom. I have a CCW lic. I am told I SCARED MGT because I am a Member of the CVMA (COMBAT VETERANS MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION) VETS HELPING VETS !!!  I have been working for the KRoger co as a Butcher, for Over 28 yrs. I have been Demoted 2...

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Nov 13 at 2015 3:48 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 15:48:34 -0500

Hurry up, hurry up, turn in your weapons and sensitive equipment, get your shit off the trucks, and get in formation. BDE CDR runs his gums for 10 minutes, and you're dismissed.....hold up...gotta get info on where you're going, safety brief, hold on....more needless crap heard, and dismissed at 0300. Be back in formation 0600 to begin gear turn in. No band, no cheerleaders, no news, just tired, stinky from the long flight, and bad jet lag. I'd do it all again though.

Response by MSgt Daniel Attilio made Nov 13 at 2015 4:59 PM

MSgt Daniel Attilio — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 16:59:18 -0500

We took a 56-day boat ride home from OIF I in '03, so I do not recall any hoopla when we stepped off the LCU onto Camp Del Mar, was just glad to be home. I was OPP and when we were called up on Jan 4 '03 it took matter of hours to be aboard MPF and only couple days to be in Kuwait.

Return from OIF II in '04 was very different. Got off the bus after the ride from March AFB to be greeted by bands and motorcycle club and all sorts of well wishers on the grinder at Camp Del Mar. Among that crowd was not the (now and deservedly ex-wife) wife. She posted and I had to thumb/bum a ride to my empty house on the day I got back from my Fallujah deployment. I was bitter for a looonnnggg time. My wife (current and #3) often tells me she is surprised I am not more broken than I am. She is a former squid, can always count on the Navy for support. :)

Response by PO2 Jw Chadwick made Nov 9 at 2021 11:39 AM

PO2 Jw Chadwick — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 11:39:17 -0500

Once, after returning from my last and longest deployment, the woman I rented a room from decided to go Vietnam protest on me, called me a baby killer, will stupid claiming I was killing innocent civilians. This was directly after I decided to purchase the house bc I just didn't want the hassle of finding a new place to live. Looking back, I think she was just emotionally jaded bc I didn't accept or even consider her advances and she was deeply scorned, felt the juvenile inclination to lash out verbally. I just looked at her in disgust, no real reason to fed her idiotic assumption with a reply. I was in my early 30s, she was was mid 50s? Never even considered having any type of relationship with her, Ever.. But I think that was her sole intention from the start and I just didn't see it.

Response by SP5 John Clark made Nov 17 at 2021 10:17 PM

SP5 John Clark — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 22:17:56 -0500

Disappointed the WWII and Korean Vets wanted nothing to do with us Nam vets

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 20 at 2022 9:45 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 21:45:16 -0400

Yes it was a disappointment.

Response by SN Trevor Sanchez made Jun 24 at 2023 2:21 AM

SN Trevor Sanchez — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 02:21:56 -0400

I got a 10 point advantage for hiring at various jobs. Seemed like everyone wanted me. I went to work in the Pacific Northwest Forests and later became a Timber Administrations Administrator. I enforced logging contracts. I'm retired now. When I came home, I met no crowds (although I had been told to not wear my uniform home because of incidents at airports I was flying to). But no, protestors, no crowds. Mostly just people getting on with their daily lives. It was surreal.

Response by MSgt Gene Jine made Aug 6 at 2023 11:01 AM

MSgt Gene Jine — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 11:01:36 -0400

More than disappointed, Traumatized.!!!