Let's remember them.

As an infantryman with the 101st Airborne Div. in Vietnam 1969, I have memories I sometimes would rather not have. But let us not forget them that are "forever young" in that war and all others that came before it and after it. It seems that during the last few years the media spends more time on active servicemen and veterans (not that they don't deserve it) than on those that already gave their lives for this country and what Memorial Day is all about. I wish they would cover more of the great sacrifices and accomplishments some of these men and women made fighting and dying in the wars they took part in. There are so many stories out there. It seems like this part of history is not being taught to our kids like it should be in our school system. When the flag goes by you in the parade, remember those who did not come home.

A safe Memorial Day to all!
Tom

Thanks for your message and service in the armed forces.

Vito

Tom a salute and a thumbs up to you! By the time I graduated from UPT at Vance AFB in July, 1975, that war was pretty much over. I flew a couple of times with a full Colonel who was a 6 or 7 year POW in the T38s at Randolph AFB. A very quiet guy. It was an honor for me trying to learn to instruct and he putting up with my instructing. He along with 95% of the pilot POWs returned to flying status. That was a special program at Randolph at the time. Fall of 1975.

(quoted from post at 16:41:28 05/26/12) As an infantryman with the 101st Airborne Div. in Vietnam 1969, I have memories I sometimes would rather not have. But let us not forget them that are "forever young" in that war and all others that came before it and after it. It seems that during the last few years the media spends more time on active servicemen and veterans (not that they don't deserve it) than on those that already gave their lives for this country and what Memorial Day is all about. I wish they would cover more of the great sacrifices and accomplishments some of these men and women made fighting and dying in the wars they took part in. There are so many stories out there. It seems like this part of history is not being taught to our kids like it should be in our school system. When the flag goes by you in the parade, remember those who did not come home.

A safe Memorial Day to all!
Tom

Click to expand...

Tom , I also am a vet. Well said as Memorial Day is not for us , but for the ones who did not make it.

Well said Tom. I too am a Vietnam Vet. 1971 - 1975 USN. It was 40 years ago on May 9th 1972 we mined Hiaphong Harbor. My ship lost a few pilots and about eight enlisted men that cruise. The remains of our CAG commander were finally returned in 2006. But there are many more out there that never made it home. They will forevr be remembered.

I was 2nd/501st, 101st Airborne, Vietnam 1970. Lasted nine months, sathcell charge time.I will remember Fire bases Henderson, Ripcord, and Granite on Memorial Day. Sometimes aside from the Vets and 911 victims, I think the American people as a whole don"t have a clue about combat except what they see on tv. I"m probably wrong about that Tom but to you, Welcome back to the world. Dick B in Vermont.

Sometimes I wear my Viet Nam units' organization cap when I go into town. Often I have people stop and thank me for my service to our country. My usual reply to them is "I appreciate it but don't thank me, thank the ones whose names are on The Wall, I made it home.
Tim Barnes
483rd Tactical Airlift Wing
Viet Nam 1967-1968

Thanks for your service. I too wish they would cover the current soldiers better. The trouble is that so few today even know anyone that is serving. So it is not "Big" news to the majority of the country.

I did not talk about my service in Vietnam much until the last ten years or so. There where too many that made trouble about it when I first came back that it just became second nature to just down play that part of my life.

I have talked more about it to my kids after my Grand son went into combat. My own sons served but never where in combat during their service time.

I was ready to kill my daughter on Friday- she asked me to go to a breakfast at school with the youngest g-son, and I said it was OK. She didn't tell me it was a "Patriot's" assembly at the school, and would last two hours. But I was among some old friends who had also served during 'Nam and Korea, and a few new guys from Iraq. It's kind of nice to be recognized as a vet, and a reminder of those we knew who didn't make it back. I guess I am most thankful to vets, not so much for their service, but for being allowed to grow up with them. Most of us were green kids. We served while most of our generation grew up getting pretty girls and a college edumacation and the better jobs and assuming they had a right to tell us vets where to go and what to do when we came home. But they never learned the pride and closeness of being part of a team of great guys who did the dirty work and excelled at doing it. Unless they served, they can never feel that sense of being a part of the show. As we now age, being a vet now becomes more of a cherished honor of our youth, and lends to us the fact that the future is bleak should we forget the past.