Originally Posted by
dawg80
I guess when we live through historic events during our impressionable years, those years when we are age 7 to about 15 or so, it tends to "leave a mark" on our psyche. For me, two such events were the space program, landing on the moon, and the Vietnam War. I was 17 when the war officially ended in 1975.
A neighbor, across the street, was killed in Nam. His name, his nickname, was "Chickie." I have no idea how he got such a nickname. I just remember the swirl of activity at his house. How my parents spent a lot of time across the street comforting his parents for many months. That was about 1967 or so. I was 9.
But, what really left an emotional scar on me was when Brian M. was killed in Nam. That was in 1971. I was playing junior high football with Mark M. and his older brother, Brian, was a big time high school QB who would appear a lot in the sports' section of the paper. He was a celebrity to us. A super star. He would come to pick up Mark after our practices and sometimes throw the ball with us. He even gave us a pep talk before we played for the East Bank championship. He was also being heavily recruited by "everyone." I don't know if he was drafted, or volunteered, but he ended up in the army, in Nam, and it wasn't long we got word he had been killed. Mark was never the same. He had been an easy-going, smiling young man. After that, he would hardly speak. Just sat in class, kind of staring....
I know a lot of Vietnam vets. Very good friends with many of 'em. Most of them speak openly about their experience there. Most PROUDLY pronounce they have no personal issues, or any regrets for having served their country. Whatever the political ramifications were, and are, re: Vietnam, they say, it has no effect on how they view themselves and their fellow vets. We were soldiers, they say, and we did our duty. It is good they have such a healthy perspective on their service.
A big THANKS to all Vietnam War Vets.