One Rude Dawg Loc: Athol, ID

Maybe you should have opted out and gone to Canada with the rest of the draft dodgers , wait awhile until Carter let them back in, then everything would be great. Something must be right you still live here.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

The Vietnam War lasted 10 years. 1965-1975. It was an Anti-Communist War. The Government just couldn't allow the Communists to take over the entire world. President Johnson escalated the War. The First Ambassador to Vietnam was a retired Officer who dropped bombs there. President Obama had lunch there with Anthony Bourdain in a small cafe. And the people there harbor no hatred towards Americans. One of my Nikon Coolpix cameras was assembled in today's Vietnam.

JustMePB Loc: Currently Indian Trail, NC.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

That is something that should be hard to say about someone until/unless you have walked in their shoes. And people go in to the hell-hole of war with different mind-sets and qualities. Not all come out the other side completely intact. As one patient advised me last week: "I was in Vietnam - I am AUTHORIZED to be crazy". And he is....still. His wife has stayed by his side all these years, in spite of living with the fear for the first of those years that she might accidentally spook him, causing him to kill her. Some people go to war and have a reasonable experience - something to be expected. Something that is rational and that makes sense. Others not so much. One patient told me how she at first had a hard time being classified as having PTSD "because I was not in combat". She told me: "I spent a year working in the morgue trying to match up body parts so that the families would have as much of their son or daughter to bury as possible". I don't know many who would not have their mind pretty well screwed up by that....

For better or for worse, for rational reasons or for political nonsense, I thank all of you for your service to your country.

cdayton

I was drafted and served in the Army in peace-time (1958-60), had a father who served in the Navy during WWI, and an uncle who was a paratrooper in WWII. I have the greatest respect for current and past members of the armed forces but am not very pleased with many of the more recent political decisions that cost lives unnecessarily.

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

It's not quite "hate" like you're using the word. I do hate the totalitarian notions that the military instills and want to contribute to our country improving and moving beyond dysfunctional or wrong (in my opinion) policies but I keep involved--it's called "free speech" and contrary to some people I believe that you have no obligation to go along with or support things you do not believe are right. As far as my (speaking for myself only) it's gone quite wonderful. I have had a lot of interesting jobs and wound up a federal prosecutor and have had wonderful relationships. The military taught we well what I want to avoid.

quote=AZ Dog]I was in country for almost as long as you served. I came back and went on to serve 20 years. It is very difficult to believe you have all this hate bottled up inside. How has your life been since Vietnam? Do you still act this way to the people around you? How about your job? Is that going well? Seriously, I believe you need you need help.[/quote]

Bill Munny Loc: Aurora, Colorado

Here's to all the non-military who have served and many died. These are the invisible soldiers who do not get veteran status but did serve in some of the most terrible places on earth. Some are called "spooks", some are called "RATS" or recon anti-terrist service. And also to the "mercs" who do all the really dirty stuff that needs to be done but not by any of the military corps. I was an "arc angel" and provided cover for many Seals in some nasty countries. Rest in peace and live in peace with yourselves.

Streets Loc: Euless, TX.

Thanks to all of my brothers and sisters who have given a few years of their lives to our country: Some who gave all.--------Streets, USAF Turret Gunner, Korea War which we won.

FlyingTiger Loc: Tortola, BVI

Go back and read your post, it really does not make any sense. This holiday is Memorial Day, it is not Veteran's Day you idiot. Memorial Day is to remember those that have fallen and given the ultimate. Made the ultimate sacrifice. Memorial Day is not for whiny, cry baby fools that are still carrying a grudge and blaming the government for their miserable loser life 50 years later. What about that don't you understand, idiot?

To paraphrase General George Patton "Thank God, such men lived".

The previous poster/whiner can find another holiday to feel sorry for himself.

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

We are remembering. And many of us remember the incredibly messed up situations that got our friends killed. Let's all remember in our own way--those of us who lost personal friends during the war have as much right to grieve and honer in our was as others do in their own way. And to attack our lives is just being mean without any evidence--let's keep this civil.

toma1940 Loc: Silicon Valley, CA

toma1940 Loc: Silicon Valley, CA

Gerald Watson

I served in the USAF from Aug. 1960 till July 31, 1964. I am proud to have served my country. As the saying goes Freedom Is not free, it has a price.
I am so glad that now people say thank you for what you have done. I missed Vietnam by five days and came to Dallas to build the A7 aircraft for the Navy
and Air Force. Back then when you came home you were told do not wear your uniform because knuckle head scolders will spit on you. what a shame.
Now people say thank you for serving our country.
Gerald L. Watson

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

Thanks for clarifying my status, I have been called worse baffon, sub-human, bastard and a host of other things. I was not referring to veteran's day or Memorial Day, but to the people jumping all over this veteran for his feelings, I think he deserves some respect. And if you have served in the military you deserve respect, though I did not die for the country I also deserve more respect than my homecoming treatment.