Vietnam Vet
Yesterday I had an appointment at the Veteran’s hospital to get set up with a primary care provider since I can get all my out patient needs taken care of for free because of the VA disability rating. I got talking to this Vietnam Vet and I really didn’t have any good responses to what he was telling me, but I ended up pondering what the hell has happened to the US.
The guy told me that a few years ago he was diagnose with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the VA was treating him, but he was still trying to get any disability for it. This led him to tell me about it and why it took so long.
After high school and some college, he joined the military to take care of his 2yr commitment. Vietnam had not started yet. He was in Okinawa waiting to be sent back to the states, but they ended up telling his unit sorry you are going to Vietnam instead. This led to the questions of where that even was. He ended up being one of the first people in Vietnam for the war.
He said he was down range from the majority of the combat areas, but said they had howitzer rounds flying over head nonstop and all they could do is hope one didn’t fall short. He also told me about how he and his commander took a jeep from their location to go pick up supplies and ended up in an ambush. I did ask for details. I know to tell a combat vet say what they are willing to say and not to push for more.
If that wasn’t bad enough, he wasn’t treated kindly when he got back from Vietnam.
The VA at the time told him because he wasn’t technically in a combat zone, he didn’t qualify for benefits or anything like that. Then he told me how people actually would spit on him when he mentioned he was in Vietnam. He ended up growing his hair and beard out long and didn’t tell people that he served his country.
That is screwed up. Here was a guy that served his country, could have been killed, but did his duty and he pretty much got shit on when he gets back to the country he fought for. The Vets of WWI and WWII got welcome home parties and parades, out Vietnam Vets got protested and spit on. We are only slightly better these days and IMO that is because it is the Vietnam Vets trying to give the service members today what they didn’t get.
OK, I am done ranting and yes, this is just my opinion.
