Comment from JudyE

Excellent

What a harrowing time these young soldiers had and you've done well to relay these stories to us without sentimentality. If I may make one suggestion. The sentence:

One casualty died in my arms as I was carrying him from the shack where he was being held for interrogations to safety.

I might have made it: One casualty died in my arms as I was carrying him to safety from the shack where he was being held for interrogations.

Lovely writing and thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 21-Feb-2019

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reply by the author on 21-Feb-2019

Thank you for the excellent review and critique. That does sound good, I will change that right now. Thank you.
All my best,
Sal :+)

Comment from Kathleen Washnis

Exceptional

Wow, nothing like something that hits home. You did a great job remembering your stepbrother Steve and I'm sure he is proud that you chose to honor him here. The sacrifice, the mental torture let alone the physical pain is hard to fathom. War is hell and I so appreciate all he did for his country. Freedom isn't free, it is fought with blood, sweat and tears. Thanks for sharing this personal story Sally. I give you 5 stars plus one for Steve! He deserves it!

 Comment Written 20-Feb-2019

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reply by the author on 20-Feb-2019

Thank you for the superb heartfelt review. I am deeply honored. He was a real hero. He was not the brooding veteran at all. He was such a selfless person who knew he was special and had been given a special gift. We would watch him bend iron with his hands or just entertain us for hours on the piano. He was exceptionally kind to us girls, too. He warned us not to sneak up on him, though. It cost our family a lot personally. Thank you for your appreciation and kindness.
All my best,
Sal xo

Comment from poetwatch

Excellent

I feel for you, I know how hard is to lost someone to Agent Orange because of a conflict of interest in governmental thinking. No brains and greed was what killed many of our soldiers. No brains from our commander, greed was in the use of new weapons in war. We, our soldiers, were used as puppets like in every war. Now, war will likely be a our doorsteps as the US prepares for Venezuela. Thanks for the memories.

 Comment Written 20-Feb-2019

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reply by the author on 20-Feb-2019

Hopefully, we can stop the new Hitler, President Maduro, from killing his nation. I have several close friends and workers employed to me from Venezuela so I know their plight. They stay tuned daily to what is transpiring there day by day, as they still have relationships trying to leave the country and cannot. My company has sent aid and relief, but seldom gets into their hands. The president of the poor country is a monster. I doubt we drop heracide on them as we have seen the devastating effects of Agent Orange, banned since the sixties I believe. Hopefully things turn around before it is too late. Many lives are in balance. My workers are rooting for the new conservative taking office as the tide turns. Maduro has to go. So much going on as I posted this. Timely in its message and the sacrifices of war. My family personally sacrificed a great deal.
All my best,
Sal :+)

reply by poetwatch on 20-Feb-2019

Can you see the sacrifices that we as American people will be faced with if we force another country to comply? If we cannot sit at the table and talk of peace then we will start another war where the outcome will be Nations against us. Venezuela is in our side of the hemisphere, Russia, China and all those powers that hate us will get involved. We cannot force our beliefs on another people without suffering greatly. Maybe our way of life. Venezuela is just a pawn where our enemies can use to bomb our Nation.

reply by the author on 20-Feb-2019

Russia, China and Cuba are already involved. They support and have vested interests with Maduro and Venezuela. That includes Iran. Sanctions are not working and I know for a fact, all humanitarian aid has been purposefully blocked by the evil regime. Are we to stand by and do nothing while he murders his people and starves them to death? I say no. If I were there living, I would be thankful for any help. I cannot in good conscience turn away from helping Venezuela. Our enemies are within and without our nation right now and will strike when we are weakened and distracted. Dear poet, I think we are close, anyway. This is just my opinion and I respect yours. Thanks for confiding in me. :+)

Comment from Teresa Alford

Excellent

Thanks for sharing. I have a few VN bets on my caseload. They all have PTSD. VN was a war that should have never been. But, all vets who served should be honored and respected. TA

 Comment Written 20-Feb-2019

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reply by the author on 20-Feb-2019

Thank you for stopping by today with the excellent review and insight. My stepfather has PTSD and early onset Alzheimer?s. We didn?t know what was going on with him, but he had loads of issues. He and my mom divorced in 1975. He was 16 years older than mom and had served in WW2 and the Korean War, he was a career Marine Corp Major. I am glad if you could relate and appreciate my article, it?s not for everyone.
All my best,
Sal :+)

Comment from LIJ Red

Excellent

An excellent retelling of your stepbrother's experiences in Viet Nam, a war with
monstrous moments and not a lot of bright ones...I missed the chance to see the clone wall when it came to our town...

 Comment Written 19-Feb-2019

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reply by the author on 19-Feb-2019

Thank you for the excellent review and kind comments. I am glad you could appreciate my article and tribute to Steve. He was a kind man and a hero. I saw the wall but was unable to wait in line to see his name. I saw the memorial,with his name.,it is a fine monument and a sacred place. Everyone is generally very respectful.
All my best,
Sally

Comment from tbacha58

Excellent

Hi Sally, such a sad story, as usual, any kind of war is terrible to hear the tragic news of death to our amazing sacrificed soldiers. But your story is deep and sadder. Memories hurt so much in our past. I hope you are well. Terry xoxo

 Comment Written 19-Feb-2019

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reply by the author on 19-Feb-2019

Thank you, Terry for your kind words and review. This is not for everyone, but something I wanted to do. I have been blessed with a good memory. I guess it works both ways.
All my best,
Sal :+)

Comment from Chris Davies

Excellent

That's a tough memory. He sounds like a wonderful man. My husband and Dad did tours there, as well. It wasn't an easy war. Thank you for sharing - Chris

 Comment Written 19-Feb-2019

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reply by the author on 19-Feb-2019

Thank you, dear Chris. Please thank your family members for me for their sacrifice and service. Are they still living? I hope for the families to recover, too. So many are still unable to speak of it. I tried to respect that and keep this rated ?G??for generally everyone. So glad you could stop by.
All my best,
Sal :+)

Comment from Sugarray77

Excellent

Good job on this very meaningful write, Sally. Your use of good descriptions flesh out this tale and make it personal and believable. Well written.

Melissa

 Comment Written 19-Feb-2019

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reply by the author on 19-Feb-2019

Thank you for the excellent review and kind encouragement. This was emotional and deep for me. I had to keep it rated G for all my readers, too. He used to like the gross us out at the dinner table and tell us about things he had to eat while in the jungles of Vietnam. I just couldn?t go there in this article. Thank you so much for the excellent review again and for your continued support of my work. Sally xo

Comment from Mustang Patty

Excellent

Hi, Sally,

Thank you for sharing your memories of your step-brother. I think those of us who had a Vietnam Vet in our lives can truly relate to this story.

For me, it was my husband's, Uncle Tom. He did four tours in Vietnam, and he died of a brain tumor--caused by Agent Orange--in 1988. He was only 45-years-old, and he left behind a widow and two teenage children. He and I had a bond because of our time in the Army. He was incredibly kind to me--when the rest of the family wasn't so nice.

Dave and I often wonder what life would be like if Tom hadn't died.


'My hands are trained for war. I train and equip my unit in hand-to-hand combat and weaponary weaponry; as my official title is, "Weapon Sargent." My hands are listed as lethal weapons acquired for military service in the United States Army Special Forces.' The repeated phrase of 'my hands,' is clumsy here. You might want to rephrase one of the parts.

I enjoyed your memories and marvel at how much you were able to remember.

~patty~

 Comment Written 19-Feb-2019

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reply by the author on 19-Feb-2019

Thank you so much for the excellent review and critique. Got it fixed. Voice text often gives me a word of close proximity and I don?t see it well enough to catch it like?weaponry. I rephrased the hands sentence, too. It does read much better. Thanks, I really appreciate the help. I am sorry to hear about your Uncle Tom and for your loss of someone so kind in your life. Steve was the same way... the kindest one in the bunch!
All my best,
Sal :+)

reply by Mustang Patty on 19-Feb-2019

Glad I could help. I think the people we lose at different points in our lives are the ones who leave the most impact. More proof that God takes them early, but He leaves us with so much love.

~patty~

reply by the author on 19-Feb-2019

Amen, Miss Patty...

Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Excellent

I think his name was Robert Stroud Sally. This is quite a tribute to Steve and you have recorded his memoirs here which are an insight into what happened and how life there was, how harsh life is in war, such shocking events of man's inhumanity to man, love Dolly x

 Comment Written 19-Feb-2019

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reply by the author on 19-Feb-2019

Thank you for the excellent review and insightful comments. This is not as graphic as some history has recorded, but I had to keep it rated G for my readers here at FanStory. He loved to gross us out at the dinner table about all the things he ate while in the jungles of Vietnam and his harsh conditions. In training to prepare for his missions, they would drop him off in the middle of nowhere and he would have to survive for weeks with nothing more than a pocket knife and a weapon. Food had to gathered from his surroundings for survival. Green Berets are a different breed of soldier. Kinda like Navy Seals, tough stuff.
All my best,
Sal xo