What are some of the best and worst things you experienced after coming home from Vietnam?

SSG Carlos Madden I left Vietnam and went to Okinawa for four days to pick up my uniforms, get a haircut, etc, before returning to the states. While there, a Marine that arrived after me told me that my best friend had been killed the day after I left country. I was in shock. Days later, a bus load of Marines traveled from MCAS EL Toro to LAX. At LAX, I was not in a good mood and was confronted by folks that tried to block our way and were yelling everything they could think of at us. One middle aged women told me to repent for my sins, while her daughter (I think) asked me how many babies had I killed.

I started college and found a good paying job at a chemical company. I had to take a bunch of tests before being hired at Diamond Shamrock. I interviewed with three different managers, and one of them put me through the wringer by asking me if I was negatively affected by my Vietnam War experiences. He kept asking the same question in different ways to see if I would crack. I could tell that he did not like Vietnam Veterans. The other two interviewers were great.

My first two years of college were at a junior college and many of my classmates did not like veterans/Vietnam Veterans. When I finished my degree at a four year university, I had no issues with other students.

When I first contacted the VA, I was told that they did not treat Vietnam Veterans. Fast forward many years, and with the help of VFW and VVA VSO's, I was able to navigate the VA system. The Houston area VA was bad, very bad. The VA campuses in Vancouver WA/Portland OR, are both excellent.

I have had sincere folks thank me for my service and that is good. At COSTCO, a lady handing out samples saw my Vietnam cap and told me that her brother died of Agent Orange exposure. She was very appreciative of my service.

To answer MSG (Join to see). Vietnam was an unpopular war, so that is the only reason that I can think of for so many folks that despised us.

For future potential warriors, I would tell them that to train for war is necessary, but if you go to war, you will be changed forever.

I'm obviously not the target of this question, but I'll take this moment to thank those who dug through the memories of their Vietnam experiences sufficiently to write books and manuals that have and continue to save lives.

Another follow on question could be:

Why was their treatment coming home worse than the way SMs coming home from the Gulf Wars and Afghanistan? When I stepped off the plane in Dallas Airport coming home from Iraq.....I lost count how many people were clapping and thanking us after walking 20 feet.