No Glory for Nam Vets
1200 word snap shot of a Nam vet31 total reviews
Comment from Cumbrianlass
Read this yesterday, but didn't have time to comment. A great piece, Ingrid. I had a lump in my throat at the end. War is such a waste of life, potential, and love. You brought that home. Also, the aftermath so many soldiers go through.
Sometimes, I think mankind is utterly mad.
See you later, my friend! Looking forward to it.
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reply by the author on 23-Oct-2014
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Read this yesterday, but didn't have time to comment. A great piece, Ingrid. I had a lump in my throat at the end. War is such a waste of life, potential, and love. You brought that home. Also, the aftermath so many soldiers go through.
Sometimes, I think mankind is utterly mad.
See you later, my friend! Looking forward to it.
Av
x
Comment Written 23-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2014
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Many thanks for stars and excellent company. I completely let the world drop away when I was with you. Thanks so much. Will check the web site. Don't forget to send me Jeff's e-mail.
Comment from DALLAS01
Wow, Ingrid. This is one powerful write. The language is spot on. This brought back a lot of memories. Your depiction of what went on in the jungle and your knowledge of the terminology, was like hearing Roger echo it once more. My ex sister in law told me he is going down hill fast. He was 'in country' and a victim of agent orange. He developed thyroid cancer, several years ago.
The response, by the Dr. in the last sentence,, emphasizes the fact that in many cases the healing is superficial.
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2014
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Wow, Ingrid. This is one powerful write. The language is spot on. This brought back a lot of memories. Your depiction of what went on in the jungle and your knowledge of the terminology, was like hearing Roger echo it once more. My ex sister in law told me he is going down hill fast. He was 'in country' and a victim of agent orange. He developed thyroid cancer, several years ago.
The response, by the Dr. in the last sentence,, emphasizes the fact that in many cases the healing is superficial.
Comment Written 23-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 23-Oct-2014
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I thought about you more than once when I was writing this, especially your helmet story, that has stayed with me all this time.
Thaks for the stars.
Comment from judiverse
This is haunting story of the aftermath of the Vietnamese War. Men like your Private Colbert had no choice but to go. I was disgusted that John Kerry camp back from the war and bad-mouthed others who served as murderers and sadists. Some may have been bad actors, but it was unfair to paint them all like that. Interesting and accurate observation that the Viet Nam vets were not treated very well when they returned. Excellent characterization and description of the atmosphere of the war and later in the hospital. judi
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2014
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This is haunting story of the aftermath of the Vietnamese War. Men like your Private Colbert had no choice but to go. I was disgusted that John Kerry camp back from the war and bad-mouthed others who served as murderers and sadists. Some may have been bad actors, but it was unfair to paint them all like that. Interesting and accurate observation that the Viet Nam vets were not treated very well when they returned. Excellent characterization and description of the atmosphere of the war and later in the hospital. judi
Comment Written 22-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2014
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There were many atrocities, but the GIs could not distinguish between friend and foe. The drug and alcohol abuse is well documented--some say as high as 80%. And remember these soldiers were 18-20 year old kids.
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It would have made things easier for the Viet Nam vets if they had been treated better. It wasn't their fault they were sent there. judi
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You are absolutely right. They came home to be treated like scum with less compassion than POW.
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I think we're doing a little better with the vets from Iraq and Afghanistan. If only they get the jobs and medical care they need. judi
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58K died in the VN war. So far, the death toll from the current wars is less than 10% of that total. If the children of the politicians who made these decisions were forced to serve, the support might be stronger.
Also, a huge difference in today's military is that it is voluntary. Not so in the VN days.
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That was probably another reason the war was unpopular. The country had the draft. My brother escaped it by taking a teaching job in Florida. Not sure how that helped him avoid the draft, but I guess it did. judi
Comment from Nosha17
I wonder how many veterans of Vietnam suffered in the way you described in your story, lots I am sure. What a horrible war, bad enough being shot at on foreign soil, but then to suffer from the after effects of that dreaded pesticide. Well narrated with good descriptions, emotive writing. Enjoyable read, but sad. Good luck in the contest. Faye
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2014
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I wonder how many veterans of Vietnam suffered in the way you described in your story, lots I am sure. What a horrible war, bad enough being shot at on foreign soil, but then to suffer from the after effects of that dreaded pesticide. Well narrated with good descriptions, emotive writing. Enjoyable read, but sad. Good luck in the contest. Faye
Comment Written 22-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2014
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The addiction levels in some units were as high as 80% of the men using. PTSD was only barely acknowledged in the 70s but was rampant. Many, many GIs, an overwhelming number, got cancer and if you read my notes. 5 million deaths in VN were directly linked to agent orange. Sad facts.
Comment from nancy_e_davis
Agent Orange killed my wonderful son-in-law. He was there when the fine mist washed over them. He was there and his body soaked it up and he suffered and died as cancer spread and ravaged his poor body and he fought it and fought it in a battle of his own making until he finally died of it in 2010.
This story made me cry bitter tears Ingrid because he was a wonderful person and we miss him so. The story needs to be told though, over and over. Thank you. Nancy
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2014
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Agent Orange killed my wonderful son-in-law. He was there when the fine mist washed over them. He was there and his body soaked it up and he suffered and died as cancer spread and ravaged his poor body and he fought it and fought it in a battle of his own making until he finally died of it in 2010.
This story made me cry bitter tears Ingrid because he was a wonderful person and we miss him so. The story needs to be told though, over and over. Thank you. Nancy
Comment Written 22-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2014
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Although Hollywood probably did more to shed light on the real story, VN remains the dirty little story in American history that government does not want a spotlight on, forgetting and forgoing so many very young men who came home completely ravaged, emotionally, physically and spiritually--not too mention the 58K US men who died there--for nothing.
You have experienced it personally, but millions who were not forced into that arena continued their lives as if absolutely nothing was happening.
I'm sorry for your loss--I really am. Thanks for the generous feedback.
Comment from Dean Kuch
Vietnam was a FUBAR affair of the ultimate magnitude. Vietcong patrols would hop across the borders of Cambodia, slaughter a few good soldiers or Marine Corps grunts, then high-tail it most riki-tic back across the border to Cambodia. To go after them and onto Cambodian soil was forbidden by our government. But I ain't gonna sit here and tell you that it never happened, heh-heh... Those punji stakes you made mention of were also covered in human feces. If they didn't kill you right away after having your skin pierced by them, you would die a slow and agonizing death from gangrene infection in the middle of the jungle.
Not a pretty sight...
There are many men just like Private First Class William Colbert still around today. Lied to and forsaken by their governments, thrown into a "police action" that kept their hands tied and incapable of doing what needed to be done to be effective on many occasions.
Your well written tale speaks of just one such individual. It could be any number of men who felt they were doing the honorable thing and fighting for a worthy cause.
They were wrong...
Well done, Spiritual Echo. Very gritty and realistic.
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2014
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Vietnam was a FUBAR affair of the ultimate magnitude. Vietcong patrols would hop across the borders of Cambodia, slaughter a few good soldiers or Marine Corps grunts, then high-tail it most riki-tic back across the border to Cambodia. To go after them and onto Cambodian soil was forbidden by our government. But I ain't gonna sit here and tell you that it never happened, heh-heh... Those punji stakes you made mention of were also covered in human feces. If they didn't kill you right away after having your skin pierced by them, you would die a slow and agonizing death from gangrene infection in the middle of the jungle.
Not a pretty sight...
There are many men just like Private First Class William Colbert still around today. Lied to and forsaken by their governments, thrown into a "police action" that kept their hands tied and incapable of doing what needed to be done to be effective on many occasions.
Your well written tale speaks of just one such individual. It could be any number of men who felt they were doing the honorable thing and fighting for a worthy cause.
They were wrong...
Well done, Spiritual Echo. Very gritty and realistic.
Comment Written 22-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2014
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When I read the death toll from VN it's a horrifying number--58K and still I remember how the protesters were treated. The disdain towards them and the blind eye to the casualties is much to ponder.
Yes, even PTSD was barely acknowledged and war-related addicts often died in dirty back alleys in their own county with nothing but spit and disgust to honour often very short lives. Sometimes worse--long lives with fractured bodies and minds.
Thanks for the excellent feedback.
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You're very welcome.
Comment from gypsycaravan
This event truly was a specific and horrible tragedy for our beloved American troops. My ex was the recipient of a small amount of the "orange" bullet. He was one of the lucky ones who got off with just one melanoma event they attributed to that and even survives it to this day. Your writing of this story is excellent. Thanks for posting.
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2014
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This event truly was a specific and horrible tragedy for our beloved American troops. My ex was the recipient of a small amount of the "orange" bullet. He was one of the lucky ones who got off with just one melanoma event they attributed to that and even survives it to this day. Your writing of this story is excellent. Thanks for posting.
Comment Written 22-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2014
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Thanks so much for your feedback. It's truly appreciated.
Comment from michaelcahill
The memories from this time always come flooding back for me. I never was drafted. I was born twenty days too late. Everyone born twenty days earlier was drafted. I still spent those years expecting and planning to be though. It's funny that I have the whole range of normal high school memories in spite of that hanging over my head. Proms, girls, football games, all the typical stuff. A lot of friends died over there. Young kids. A great many more came back ruined. You capture everything here perfectly. If I have such clear memories, I can't imagine what someone truly affected must feel. I've seen a couple die in homeless shelters here where I live. There's a small group of us that try to help, but it's a drop in the bucket. A real shame that we don't take care of our vets. Well, beautifully written as always, michael
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2014
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The memories from this time always come flooding back for me. I never was drafted. I was born twenty days too late. Everyone born twenty days earlier was drafted. I still spent those years expecting and planning to be though. It's funny that I have the whole range of normal high school memories in spite of that hanging over my head. Proms, girls, football games, all the typical stuff. A lot of friends died over there. Young kids. A great many more came back ruined. You capture everything here perfectly. If I have such clear memories, I can't imagine what someone truly affected must feel. I've seen a couple die in homeless shelters here where I live. There's a small group of us that try to help, but it's a drop in the bucket. A real shame that we don't take care of our vets. Well, beautifully written as always, michael
Comment Written 22-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2014
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Imagine that--20 days--a slice of time so narrow and yet one that defined obligation and patriotism with such precision. Just a birthday 3 weeks earlier and your destiny would have been completely different. Imagine...if you'd avoided the draft and run to Canada, you'd have been labelled a coward. But because of your birthday, you got to have a normal life and no one ever questioned your patriotism. What a mind blowing thought.
Comment from djsaxon
This write has a horrible gut punching twist like no other. The set up is very well conceived and written. The ultimate aftermath is more horrifying than the war itself. And so it goes on. DJ
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2014
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This write has a horrible gut punching twist like no other. The set up is very well conceived and written. The ultimate aftermath is more horrifying than the war itself. And so it goes on. DJ
Comment Written 22-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 22-Oct-2014
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Thank you for your very generous review. Greaty appreciated.
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still thinking about your write days after - DJ
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Then that truly is more significant than any other acknowledgement I might receive. That I evoked a long-lasting thought also indicates that deep inside you are thoughts that took you back to those times. Perhaps you should write your own story. If there is stored passion, the write will be significant. I think there's a day left for non-fiction essay contest.
Comment from N.K. Wagner
You've done an excellent job with this difficult subject, Ingrid. Agent Orange caused cancer in many veterans (including the son of General Westmoreland, commander of US forces in Vietnam) and is blamed for birth defects (including schizophrenia) in children fathered by exposed soldiers (including hospital staff).
It may be an American vs Canadian thing, but US soldiers never put an "s" on Cong.
Outstanding. :) Nancy
reply by the author on 21-Oct-2014
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You've done an excellent job with this difficult subject, Ingrid. Agent Orange caused cancer in many veterans (including the son of General Westmoreland, commander of US forces in Vietnam) and is blamed for birth defects (including schizophrenia) in children fathered by exposed soldiers (including hospital staff).
It may be an American vs Canadian thing, but US soldiers never put an "s" on Cong.
Outstanding. :) Nancy
Comment Written 21-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 21-Oct-2014
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I'll change that. Thanks for the feedback.
There are many tragedies during war, in many countries, but Viet Nam was a horrific season of horror--in every way.
