Large Filipino
My old friend and Vietnam

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LF, I can identify. I knew quite a large number of guys who became vietnam vets. The great majority went on with their lives. Some few did not do so very well, and 3 I knew dropped out completely, as your friend did.

This is not new. It has happened in every war we have ever fought. War is traumatic, it changes people, and sometimes it changes them so much they can no longer function in society.

If they re-institute the draft, then either your son goes if drafted, or he becomes a fugitive. I very much doubt that the nations who welcomed draft dodgers in the vietnam era will do so a second time.

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Man I'm counting on the simple fact that he's my only son.
But I hope Bush sticks to his promise.

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19 - Paul Hardcastle
In 1965 Vietnam seemed like just another foreign war,
but it wasn't.
It was different in many ways, as so were those that did the fighting.
In World War II the average age of the combat soldier was 26...
In Vietnam he was 19.
In inininininin Vietnam he was 19.

(TV announcer's voice)
The shooting and fighting of the past two weeks continued today
25 miles west of Saigon
I really wasn't sure what was going on (Vet's Voice)

Nininini Nineteen, 19, Ni-nineteen 19
19,19,19,19

In Vietnam the combat soldier typically served a twelve month tour of duty but
was exposed to hostile fire almost everyday
Ninininininininininin 19 nininininninin 19

Hundreds of Thousands of men who saw heavy combat in Vietnam were arrested
since discharge
Their arrest rate is almost twice that of non-veterans of the same age.
There are no accurate figures of how many of these men have been incarcerated.
But, a Veterans Administration study concludes that the greater of Vets
exposure to combat could more likely affect his chances of being arrested or
convicted.

This is one legacy of the Vietnam War

(Singing Girls)
All those who remember the war
They won't forget what they've seen..
Destruction of men in their prime
whose average was 19
Dedededededede-Destruction
Dedededededede-Destruction
War, War
Dededede-Destruction, wa-wa-War, wa-War, War
Dedededededede-Destruction
War, War

After World War II the Men came home together on troop ships, but the Vietnam
Vet often arrived home within 48 hours of jungle combat
Perhaps the most dramatic difference between World War II and Vietnam was
coming home.. .none of them received a hero's welcome
None of them received a heroes welcome, none of them, none of them
Nenene Nenene None of them, none of them, none of them (etc...)
None of them received a hero's welcome
None of them received a hero's welcome

According to a Veteran's Administration study
Half of the Vietnam combat veterans suffered from what Psychiatrists call
Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder
Many vets complain of alienation, rage, or guilt
Some succumb to suicidal thoughts
Eight to Ten years after coming home almost eight-hundred-thousand men are
still fighting the Vietnam War

(Singing Girls)
Dedededededede-Destruction

Nininininininininin Nineteen, 19, Ni-nineteen 19
19,19,19,19
Nininininininininin Nineteen, 19, Ni-nineteen 19
19,19,19,19

(Soldiers Voice)
When we came back it was different.. Everybody wants to know "How'd it
happened to those guys over there
There's gotta be something wrong somewhere
We did what we had to do
There's gotta be something wrong somewhere
People wanted us to be ashamed of what it made us
Dad had no idea what he went to fight and he is now
All we want to do is come home
All we want to do is come home
What did we do it for
All we want to do is come home
Was it worth it?

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John, you're a bastard for going on about the cowardice of suicide. The Vet endured incomprehensible horrors, and he's the one who has to live with them weighing him down for the rest of his life. Did it cross your mind he sought out living in the middle of nowhere because no one respected his choice to die? You all guilt him to stay alive, and the only way he could find piece was run away and die alone. If he was a friend as you claimed, you would have supported him in his choice to end his own life. Would have given him company and comradery in his last hours, something he'll never have now. Real friends would have eased his transition into death.

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But suicide is illegal Goedile.

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quote:

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Originally posted by skalie
But suicide is illegal Goedile.

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LF - you were a friend to this guy you talked with him and he trusted you. I've known a few vets (Real ones...not the guys who brag about it) and they do not volunteer that kind of information to just anyone. This man surely trusted you and considered you a close friend. By sharing this pain with you he unburdened himself just a little bit more, and thats a good thing.

For all anyone knows this man may have found what he was looking for in the woods, a place where he could feel OK. A place where life wasnt crushing him from 20 different anghles everyday. God may have led him to the very place where he was needed, wanted, and could begin to live again.

Thank you for sharing this here

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Thanks.
I remember he was telling me about a time he was alone in the woods and he's seen this dog that looked like a dude. Then he said he wanted to search for this dog.
He really was at peace in the woods. I really don't think he wanted to die.
Hope he's ok. But then it's been 6 years now.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Goedile
John, you're a bastard for going on about the cowardice... transition into death.

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