why did vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming why did vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming

What was the challenge that the Framers faced when setting out to write the Constitution, and how did they meet it? WebWhy did the U.S. get involved in the struggle? William calley accepts responsibility..100 innocent Vietnamese murdered by US soldiers- which further turned Americans away from war. The only harrassment I ever received was a half-cocked remark from an uncle who asked, "What's your hang-up, George? The Vietminh wanted a free and independent Vietnam, while France sought to regain power in Vietnam, which had been a French colony. Appligent AppendPDF Pro 6.3 Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Both have low precipitation and high evaporation rates. !k9jwj-STo [&F_+JEy_<2:?B0@+/"? Many Americans lose faith in their government. :@h@tt@68U=iQc\YZHlSVBk9WdJ^7Vr%h2Ks=5!t5sbM(xvm 8{3T The whole purpose of the cold war was to avoid an atomic warVietnam was a fuse that could have led to an atomic explosiona fuse that world leaders wanted to ensure didn't detonate. What did Vietnam veterans feel about the antiwar movement? 3 0 obj Congress authorized troop deployment in Vietnam, but, because it did not issue a declaration of war on North Vietnam or the Viet Cong, the Vietnam War is, technically speaking, not considered a war in the United States. I raised the question in my syndicated newspaper column. However, while I was standing in line at the ticket counter, there was a well-dressed gentleman behind me who asked sarcastically, "How many people did you kill over there?" He said he could not and would not shake my son's hand because of the killing my son was involved in. I asked the potential respondents to provide approximate dates, places and circumstances. Men came home on an But I also did nothing to shame myself or my country. Shaped like a camel's head. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Example (You){\color{#c34632}{(You)}}(You) 1. What broke our hearts was being spat on by our country. It was not built with federal government money. For years I had been hearing stories that when American troops returned home from Vietnam, they were spat upon by anti-war protesters. I was not met by any spitting "hippies.". However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. They went to college to get college deferment, got doctors excuses from service, and coast guard jobs. All their families got hit with nothing. Personally, my famiy and friends telling me that it was good to have me home again was all the welcome home I ever needed. I also kept quiet because the war was not a welcome topic outside the walls of veterans clubs. During my military career I received nothing but respect from all the civilians I came in contact with. The real issue isn't whether or not we received a ticker tape parade down Fifth Avenue. Men came home on an Kennedys expansion stemmed in part from Cold War-era fears about the domino theory: if communism took hold in Vietnam, it would topple democracies throughout the whole of Southeast Asia, it was thought. Two young guys -- complete with beards, long hair, John Lennon glasses and garbed in the appropriate apparel that the times dictated -- came into sight. Nixon adopts a policy of Vietnamization. When I entered the bar, I found several waitresses wiping ahstrays, and a bartender wxplaining to 200 Vietnam veterans that the loung had closed five minutes earlier, and she was really sorry, but no, they couldn't serve us coffee, either. Let. WebStudy with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Henry Kissinger, Ho Chi Minh, John F. Kennedy and more. This was partly due to the logistics of the never-ending conflict. <><>19 20]/P 25 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> WebThe veterans of World War II were welcomed home as heroes. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. It lasted from 1954 to 1975. 20 0 obj 1. I believe that most of us were well received, although we probably felt unfomfortable adjusting, some having guilty about surviving while many of their compatriots didn't make it. In 1995 Vietnam released its official estimate of the number of people killed during the Vietnam War: as many as 2,000,000 civilians on both sides and some 1,100,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. Because in both instances I felt like I was in a fishbowl and everyone around me was waiting for a violent reaction which would confirm their suspicions that all returning veterans were baby killers and drug addicts. I'm sorry for what happened to them, but I was very bitter about their reception home and the praise and admiration they received. I wish some attention would be paid to the humor, compassion and heroism exemplified by our men in Vietnam. We returned to political turmoil, peace marches, anti-war and anti-veteran activities and one giant lack of appreciation. My Vietnam service medals were always easily recognizable by these individuals, and even they did not spit on me. Rather than being greeted with anger and hostility, however, most Vietnam veterans received very little reaction when they returned home. It was the fall of 1970 and I was in Sacramento, Calif., bus station. I could give you many such stories that would counterbalance the classic image of "Apocalypse Now," "Platoon" and "Full Metal Jacket." What did the Nazis begin using gas chambers instead of mobile killing units and shooting squads after a while? they receive less than 10 inches (250 mm) of precipitation per year By nearly every metric, the Vietnam War was, in the common sense of the word, a war. They also assert that the U.S. overall suffered fewer casualties than its opponents. Was I even welcome at the local American Legion post as a Nam vet? They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. I felt so good to be marching with thousands of Marines who were bursting with pride singing the Marine Corps Hymn. codename for an American bombing campaign during the Vietnam War. What authority did the Tonkin Gulf Resolution grant to the U.S. president? The couple just walked away and melted into the crowd. For Leary, the catharsis came on the day of the parade. First student strike in U.S. history occurs. Robert Kennedy was assassinated by a Palestinian immigrant who said he was angered by Kennedy's support of ___________. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Johnson raised the number of South Vietnam deployments to 23,000 U.S. soldiers by the end of his first year in office. Write a speech in which you attempt to persuade other lawmakers to vote for or against Clinton's impeachment. By hippies. The stories were usually very specific. That one didn't make headline status. I finally realized that I fought for my country and for my own beliefs. What did Ho Chi Minh declare after Japan was forced out? Nearly 40 years after the war, American vets who live in Vietnam are working to foster reconciliation between the two countries, while other former US soldiers are But the homecoming was very different for most Vietnam veterans. Thanks to him, his chemical companies, and "Operation Ranchhand," you might say we were spat upon and didn't even know it. 4 0 obj endobj Copyright 2023 WittyQuestion.com | All rights reserved. How did most Americans react to President Johnson's decision to commit troops to the war in Vietnam? AppendPDF Pro 6.3 Linux 64 bit Aug 30 2019 Library 15.0.4 "It was a time when America itself was in turmoil," he said. when the task is complete the neighbor goes in his house wihtout a wrod and closes the door. The media, college professors, students, authors, movie makers, etc., were all telling us that our values were pure manure. Another topic covered wasBack in the World. The following Why did Vietnam veterans have a hard time coming home? What did Operation Rolling Thunder do in North Vietnam? Is the singer Avant and R Kelly brothers? But did that make sense? When I cam back from Vietnam, I was dumb enough to wear my dress uniform in the San Francisco International Airport. what were the terms of the Geneva Accords? The security officer calmed me down and stayed with me until my flight left. Prince 14.2 (www.princexml.com) WebHomecoming by Dennis J. Stauffer I left Vietnam nearly 14 years ago and tried to put that phase of my life behind. Clemons, a pastor at the Lane Memorial CME Church in Jackson, received a commemorative pin and a "thank you," from U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg in a Memorial Day ceremony at South Jackson Community Church. how did it become one? To prevent Communism from spreading. WebAs waves of Vietnam veterans returned home in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the nation was locked in a bitter debate about the war. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Is it OK for a 13 year old to shave their legs? Kent State shooting where they burned the federal building. I was in my dress uniform in San Francisco airport waiting for my wife to arrive from out of state, when a guy ran up to me, called me a war monger, spat on me and ran off. jl/Y'RF]FckKOUNH6t9p%q>v'~FJSjW5,?{R `,:Z6FmK(eZ$4'}iy:s{w{? But I could never forget her face and those few kind words. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. `GY }*wYZ. War is immoral, this was isn't our concern, and war was draining our economy. What did Eisenhower compared to a row of dominoes? What does it mean when you wear a bandana in your back pocket? The symbols of this new attitude are many -- the Vietnam Memorial in Washington is the most dramatic, but the box-office successes of such movies as "Platoon" and "Full Metal Jacket" also are testimony that, while the nation may still be divided over the politics of the war, the soldiers themselves are finally being welcomed home with warmth and gratitude.Yet even while the country has begun to tell the Vietnam veterans that they are loved and respected, the stories have continued to ciruclate: When those veterans returned from Vietnam, they were spat upon. In what ways did they show their opposition to the war? 50 0 obj I'm fortunate that I returned from Nam alive and was able to handle the emotional pain of spending a year in hell. Vietnam was temporarily divided along the 17th parallel into North and South and a future election would be held to unify the country. It is even harder to think about good Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice -- they died for their country. Heres what you need to know, Japanese official denies Lee statement on commitment to expedite release of Lt. Ridge Alkonis, Utah Legislature finalizes record $29B budget. What prompted the war between the Vietminh and the French? Were my parents able to tell people without accusations that their son had just returned from three years in Vietnam? considerable snow. Webhow Vietnam veterans were treated upon their return home, several did detailed that experience, reporting disturbing opinions regarding the activities of the anti-war SHARE VIETNAM VETS RECALL THEIR HOMECOMINGS -- OFTEN PAINFULLY Email Flipboard For years I had been hearing stories that when American troops returned It would be ludicrous, all these years later, to pretend to remember exactly what was siad. It granted him broad latitude in handling the struggle against communism in Southeast Asia. Come\underline{\underline{\text{Come}}}Come with me to buy Mothers birthday present, please. Why did Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming? 7. With that they both started calling me names -- Baby Killer and Fascist Dog, among others -- before the girl spat at me as her friend shoved me. When did American troops return home from Vietnam? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. In what sense was the Vietnam war a "working class" war? It seemed to me that if the spitting-on-soldiers stories were true, we should know it. WebWhy did Vietnam veterans have a hard time coming home? 1 trust. nb:.V}PU(*)Pv}PhI![?cvR{hF{.i`7[_l`?,=`{d+Ugtgka| What did this Vietminh victory cause the French to do? I probably would have broken him in two. <>3]/P 6 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> 2 0 obj And the media telling us over an dover that our boys were on dope, were murderers and fools for being soldiers. I have heard about the spitting stories. What difficulties did US troops encounter in Vietnam? The veterans of the Korean War received a warm homecoming. My Vietnam tour was from June 1968 to May 1969. <>1]/P 6 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> endobj In the following sentences add semicolons, add colons, or change commas to semicolons or colons where needed. 46 0 obj During that time I experienced two spitting incidents. In retrospect, putting aside the issue of the rightness or wrongness of the war or how it was handled, all I know is that when my country asked me for help, I answered the call and to this day, in spite of everything, I'm proud of that. What is the Vietminh declare as its main goal? What was the homecoming like for Vietnam Veterans? HW%HY&YXh-G5\9U)8ulr.\LoZ?\ry{[pMI;%bIfRl>TFh= Once he became president, he sought to establish enough stability in the region for the South Vietnamese government to take over. Vietnam and anything associated with the Vietnam War was not popular. I coul dhave dwealt with being spit on by a hippie. Analyze why Vietnam veterans received a cold homecoming? For approximately eight years, over thousands of acres in Vietnam, we were spat upon -- not with a drop or two of saliva, but rather with millions of gallons of Agent Orange. Although North Vietnamese and Viet Cong casualty counts vary wildly, it is generally understood that they suffered several times the number of American casualties. 45 0 obj That was the message. No one is whine boxing around for a parade in their honor and for the most part, the Nam is in the past, where it belongs. The event that in the spring of 1970 stirred a new round of antiwar protests was the__________________, 2. It would be difficult to imagine a more powerful phrase than that one, and to analyze it too deeply is not appropriate; Mr. Leary has said it as well as it can be said. For some reason, in the stories it is always an airport where the spitting allegedly happened, and it is always "hippies" who allegedly did the spitting. <> &;&BE"7;2wk{z X1}&Ds(=6m7WH\cVaadQdr4c{SB;&F54zF~-t~z2g.?/ 8`}a~XV@s. According the War Powers Act, Congress must give its consent for U.S. troops to remain in a hostile region any longer than_____________, 2 what did each of the following play in the, US History Ch. My loving and close family was elated to have me home, but there was no sense of appreciation from anyone -- my friends and people I knew never said anything. As I drew nearer, they began with some remarks and grins to each other, and then directed them toward me. Judge Newman issued a withering rebuke of Murdaugh in Friday's sentencing. 1 0 obj<> endobj . War was no longer just for soldiers -- it was there in color and all its horrors every day on the TV with our children asking over an dover, why were our soldiers doing that? 16 0 obj Most returning veterans were 18 to 22 years old. He was tall and lean, with deep-set brown eyes and a receding hairline. It does not store any personal data. 4. V;.;Tqs?__D`ngP/S:LG-Jf}Xl\d#?r=H+J(CP\BQhG? 1 0 obj Some college students/ young people. I have a difficult time writing about things I would just as soon forget. We weren't spat upon by one person, but by the entire country. this may not seem so bad, but when you are a wide-eyed 20-year-old who is soon to learn that he was lied to by his country and made fun of by a lot of people who would never serve in any way, it hurts. I have always been proud and it was a chance to celebrate that pride. It came many years late, but dozens of Vietnam veterans gathered in Anaheim on March 29 to receive the homecoming they felt they had been denied when they returned home from war decades ago. Tensions escalated into armed conflict between the two sides, and in 1961 U.S. President John F. Kennedy chose to expand the military aid program. From Vietnam I went directly to Berlin for a four-year tour of duty. Many Vietnam veterans blamed the antiwar movement for the chilly reception they got upon returning to the United States. I don't mean to make it sound melodramatic, but I've never forgotten it. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. FSM: free speech movement I was there two times, 24 months in all, Marine Corps pilot; when I returned each time I returned to a supportive group of friends and family. 28 0 obj Furthermore, domestic unrest and the financial cost of war made peaceand troop withdrawalsa necessity, not a choice. Since 1941 Congress has declared war only six times, all during World War II. As the plane took off, the cheering and tears exploded with the feeling of being off the ground. Vietnam becomes divided along the 17th parallel. WebNot successful- sustained bombing campaign Ho Chi Mihn Trail In 1959, Ho Chi Mihn supplied military arms to the Veitcong from North Veitnam via a network of paths along the boarder of Veitnam and Cambodia Strategic Hamlet Ran Go on "search & destroy" missions to eliminate the Vietcong from South Vietnam villages They believed that it was not fair for antiwar protesters to question their actions during the war. My initial thought was, wow, "real people." It blew me away. 33 0 obj These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. WebWhy they received a cold homecoming is because the us government turned its back on them and refused to take responsibility. s-?1R[][St=OsK5H9-`# @f"|D_[]/3(x1X&xo]]T\E|zAC+o"#UuD8Fiz00TnUPy2|U]YN^&?@k;k2 V^(u_b^d,YJtWS1!g\W51,l: The terms of this expansion included yet more funding and arms, but a key alteration was the commitment of U.S. soldiers to the region. We were told we were immoral because we believed in democracy and this country. %PDF-1.5 We were told that we were materialistic asses because we wanted a nice home for ourselves and our children. However, I just walked away. 2023-01-20T17:35:10-08:00 William calley accepts responsibility..100 innocent Vietnamese murdered by US soldiers- which further turned Americans away from war. I was wearing my dress blue uniform with my Vietnam service ribbons, and I was carrying my sea bag over one shoulder. 3 Why did Vietnam veterans have a hard time coming home? How did the Vietnam War affect President Johnson's Great Society? I will remember vividly for the rest of my life leaving Vietnam on a plane loaded with Marines. This was partly due to the logistics of the never-ending conflict. Infantryman Steven A. Wowwk spent six months in VietnamJanuary to June 1969and was wounded twice in battle. WebMarch 29th is an opportunity to thank and honor the 2.7 million service members who served in Vietnam. The question of who won the Vietnam War has been a subject of debate, and the answer depends on the definition of victory. 5 0 obj 2 0 obj<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/ExtGState<>>> endobj endobj Was I able to find a job when a prospective employer found out I was a Nam vet? Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, but his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, continued the work that Kennedy had started. Agent Orange is a mixture of herbicides used during theVietnam Warby the U.S. military to defoliate forests and clear other vegetation. In the 1960s my husband and I were in our 20s and raising three little boys. All that can be said is that 18 0 obj I have never told a soul what I tell you here but it is true and I will swear on it. In 1963 he was murdered during a coup dtat by some of his generals. More generally, they receive little "precipitation" (this can What actions by US troops hindered the effort to win the support of Vietnamese villagers? Its genesis was a controversial newspaper column of %PDF-1.7 % endobj How did the Geneva Accords change Vietnam? No 'Welcome Home' parades for Vietnam vets. Considering the source, I passed it off. Yes, we were spat upon --- in Vietnam with Agent Orange and again when we came home with Uncle Sam's indifference to our plight. <> No signs. xXKsHWLq2U=XBx$A'@6G#YJru\=z4,oM1zxaaQFdS_ qeoGIjO` 1}#B `|4yAr4~~G>q6G!r=LS[Q5gsq|^u(DGIh|>6kK8 NO}HgipK, Were They Spat On? Why did many Americans lose faith in their government? xZmo8 (/R'YtmWJ,,%E%Y\\Eg>C}]\|tb>^-7n$_22%w!}6|q!? At no time have I eve rheard him state that he had been spit on. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 1. The Vietnam War lasted from 1964-1973the The stewardesses would not allow us to sit in the coach section, and insisted that we sit in the first-class section. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. WebWhy they received a cold homecoming is because the us government turned its back on them and refused to take responsibility. Those who argue that the United States opponents won the war cite the United States overall objectives and outcomes. Ho Chi Minh led a long and ultimately successful campaign to make Vietnam independent. Instead, most Vietnam veterans returned to a society that did not seem to care about them, or that seemed to view them with distrust and anger. She looked me in the face and told me she was sorry for the way the returning vets were being treated. Explain the significance of the following key terms The Silent Majority and the Pentagon Papers. I never got the chance to thank her, nor even got her name. I am a 30-year veteran and served during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. At 7 in the morning I was sitting on the front proch having coffee and a young man came by delivering telephone books. 12. What is the answer punchline algebra 15.1 why dose a chicken coop have only two doors? What were some of the ways that young American men avoided military service in Vietnam? It was great to be home. As for my job in Vietnam, I was a crash/rescue team member and killed no one. The stories were usually very specific. Their backpacks were beside them, and it was rather obvious that they were simply waiting on a plane. Was I spit on at the airport? The U.S. military has estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died. <>17]/P 25 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> I still remember. No. I apologize for taking so long to send this letter. These and other incidents made me question, to this day, why I went. It lasted from 1954 to 1975. Continue Learning about Movies & Television. Agent Orange was used along with several other herbicides, code-named Agents White, Purple, Blue, Pink, and Green. Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming. We put the banner up at 6 in the morning before my son left for college. "It was a time when America itself was in turmoil," he said. 65 0 obj I served in Vietnam from May 1969 to May 1970 in the 101st Airborne and spent 11 of my 12 months at a small landing zone. What Vietnam veterans received a Cold homecoming? endobj Held anti-war demonstrations, burned draft cards, and head to Canada and other foreign countries.