Minnesota's Vietnam veterans honored on a day deserved and overdue

One night, after Carzell Payne returned home from the Vietnam War, a woman spat on him because he was wearing his Army uniform at a nightclub.

[Paul M]

I only talk to other Nam vets about what happened. And not even very much of that. Most of the vets that I know just want to forget what heppened. When someone asks all that I ever say is that I was there and leave it at that.

[Fed up with bailing out]

I cannot begin to wonder what it must have felt like to come home from a war and be treated badly after serving your country. Paul, I am and will always be thankful for our Viet Nam soldiers. I have never met a Viet Nam vet that ever wanted to discuss that war. A gentleman I met started telling me some things and had to stop. He shook his head and told me he couldn't go on. It was just too difficult.

[Tired]

Welcome home, brother Vietnam veterans!

[Kathy]

I was on the return of our Vets from Viet Nam that this country really changed; for the worse. This was the time the libs stated spewing their hated for all things American.

God speed Vets...

[Workaday Oakdale Brother]

That sounds very common. I know a guy who had a family friend who was a Vietnam vet. When the guy was a kid and asked the vet questions about the war, the vet didn't want to talk about it. However, once the guy grew up and served in the Gulf, the vet was willing to discuss his Vietnam service with the guy.

Thank you for your service, Paul M.

Paul M wrote:

I only talk to other Nam vets about what happened. And not even very much of that. Most of the vets that I know just want to forget what heppened. When someone asks all that I ever say is that I was there and leave it at that.

[Tinksmom]

My father fought and served in the Korean War. He often told us of the treatment the military received when they came back home. They were shunned and most could not find jobs for a while because of their service in the war. But, once again the Korean War is the Forgotten War. If anyone would care to review the casualties in that war compared to Vietnam..being as Korea was a far shorter war with more death. But, I digress, it just seems that the Korean War Vets have always been made to take a back seat to Vietnam.

[griddy]

Tinksmom wrote:

My father fought and served in the Korean War. He often told us of the treatment the military received when they came back home. They were shunned and most could not find jobs for a while because of their service in the war. But, once again the Korean War is the Forgotten War. If anyone would care to review the casualties in that war compared to Vietnam..being as Korea was a far shorter war with more death. But, I digress, it just seems that the Korean War Vets have always been made to take a back seat to Vietnam.

"..being as Korea was a far shorter war with more death."

That's not true. American soldier loss in the Korean conflict: 54,000+. Vietnam war: 58,000+. You right about the Korean conflict becoming the "forgotten war" but this isn't the time or place to whine about it.

[Bill Hicks]

The veterans probably do not want to talk about it because they are completely distraught as war is not natural.

Also being that the Vietnam War as based on a False Flag terror attack called The Gulf of Tonken incident. Much like the Iraq war and the 'war on terrorism' you can read how our leaders mislead us into yet another war.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_I...

"...The Hanyok article stated that intelligence information was presented to the Johnson administration "in such a manner as to preclude responsible decisionmakers in the Johnson administration from having the complete and objective narrative of events." Instead, "only information that supported the claim that the communists had attacked the two destroyers was given to Johnson administration officials."

[A wonderful ceremony]

It was overdue but just wonderful. Gov Pawlenty's speech was sincere, heartfelt and moving. Amputee vet Jon Hovde was humorous and enterntaing. Don Shelby was sincerely greatful. The band, the vets, the flyovers, the displays, the friendly people were truly welcoming. I didn't go to Nam but served in the USMC and I think all the vets there walked away proud and feeling appreciated, finally. Semper Fi brothers.

[Bob the Bilderberg]

I'm a Vietnam vet and I never experienced shunning or people spitting on me. Of course, I didn't wear my uniform at nightclubs when I came home either.

And as far as looking for work goes, I wrote letters and sent my (thin) resume around to several different companies when I got home. The chief engineer at WCCO TV offered me a job at that station, even though I had zero qualifications. I interviewed with a local computer company and the guy basically hired me BECAUSE I was a vet.

My only point is, for those of you too young to remember, not all Vietnam vets were spit on and came home to shunning. Some went on to lead normal lives with full employment, thanks to those people who actually supported what we did, which was fight communism after all.

You need to ask yourself who would be upset because the U.S. was fighting against a communist army?

[Dublin]

One way people can show their appreciation to our Vets is to fly the flag - today is Flag Day. If people can knock themsleves out putting up Christmas lights and decorations for holidays surely you can put up a flag holder and fly the flag.

[Rockin John]

To all of my fellow veterans, thank you for your service, sacrifice and welcome home!!

[Chuck]

I was in Vietnam from mid 1967 until late December 1968. I was an infantry advisor to an ARVN unit and never did I or the vast majority of Vietnam Vets ever kill a baby or rape a Vietnamese woman. We did our duty. As far as the Welcome Home goes, the hard work putting it on is appreciated but sadly after all these years I can only coin a well used phrase from Vietnam "it don't mean nothin'". How about all the Vets that have passed since they returned home and never received a proper thank you and wecome home? Why did we have to be treated the way we were??

[Seinstein235]

griddy wrote:

<quoted text>
"..being as Korea was a far shorter war with more death."
That's not true. American soldier loss in the Korean conflict: 54,000+. Vietnam war: 58,000+. You right about the Korean conflict becoming the "forgotten war" but this isn't the time or place to whine about it.

On the contrary, 480,000 troops participated in the Korean War of which 11.25% died.

In the Vietnam War 553000 troops participated resulting in a slightly lower 10.49% death rate.

So using the ratio method, Korea was a deadlier war. I'm not implying that means anything, just laying the facts out.

[SunShine]

Seinstein235 wrote:

<quoted text>
On the contrary, 480,000 troops participated in the Korean War of which 11.25% died.
In the Vietnam War 553000 troops participated resulting in a slightly lower 10.49% death rate.
So using the ratio method, Korea was a deadlier war. I'm not implying that means anything, just laying the facts out.

Then start your own stats thread.
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Thank you ALL that Served!!!!!

For those of you that came home to Baby Killer.

For those of you that came home to be spat on in the airport while traveling in Uni.

For those of you that came home to have pigs blood thrown upon your Uni.

For those of you that came home to be ostrisized.

For those of you that came home to no one to speak with.

A very special thanks.

[Bob the Bilderberg]

Seinstein235 wrote:

<quoted text>
On the contrary, 480,000 troops participated in the Korean War of which 11.25% died.
In the Vietnam War 553000 troops participated resulting in a slightly lower 10.49% death rate.
So using the ratio method, Korea was a deadlier war. I'm not implying that means anything, just laying the facts out.

Actually, over 3 million American troops served in Vietnam over the 10-year period. So your numbers are wrong.

Here's some other little-known facts:

http://www.landscaper.net/timelin.htm#Partici...

[Nam Vet 67 - 68]

Chuck wrote:

I was in Vietnam from mid 1967 until late December 1968. I was an infantry advisor to an ARVN unit and never did I or the vast majority of Vietnam Vets ever kill a baby or rape a Vietnamese woman. We did our duty. As far as the Welcome Home goes, the hard work putting it on is appreciated but sadly after all these years I can only coin a well used phrase from Vietnam "it don't mean nothin'". How about all the Vets that have passed since they returned home and never received a proper thank you and wecome home? Why did we have to be treated the way we were??

I hear you....
Nothing jerked my chain more than when the WWII vets said to me, "that wasnt a war you were in"
I dropped my membership in the VFW.
It was truly sad when your brothers, turned their backs on you.
Live long and well my friend.
Chu Lai RVN 67-68

[USAF]

I was in the Gulf War, when I came home I realize what a Great and Beautiful country we live in. After a few weeks of being home, I realize America is a country of spoiled brats that takes everything for granted and has no appreciation for their troops. When you think about it, it makes you wonder why you even serve?

Thank you Vietnam Vets!!

[John K]

Yesterday was a day to spend with our fellow veterans, to enjoy a beautiful day, and a time to share stories with our comrades.

Yesterday there were tears, listening to the reading of the names of the men who died and visiting the wall, but Jon Hovde, a man with a broken body and pain that he lives with today, gave us a chance to laugh.

We came home to a lot of unpleasent things but we came home. Some of our comrades are still unaccounted for. The Duluth NVVA carries a cage and a message about our POW/MIA's at every opportunity.

Thank you NVVA, Thank you Minnesota and Thank You Gov Pawlenty for giving us this day.

[DFL]

USAF wrote:

I was in the Gulf War, when I came home I realize what a Great and Beautiful country we live in. After a few weeks of being home, I realize America is a country of spoiled brats that takes everything for granted and has no appreciation for their troops. When you think about it, it makes you wonder why you even serve?
Thank you Vietnam Vets!!

I enlisted to fight the communists and to preserve our freedom and way of life. When I read comments here from American leftists and witness the election of a socialist POTUS, I'm beginning to believe that our enemies actually won.