They came back to find the United States torn apart by debate over the Vietnam War. For years I had been hearing stories that when American troops returned home from Vietnam, they were spat upon by anti-war protesters. endobj I started crying and said, "I'm sorry it's 10 years late. What does it mean when you wear a bandana in your back pocket? endobj Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 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. 33 0 obj 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. - destroyed notion of traditional home front. However, I just walked away. But as I said, my story included a "hippie." WebWhy were Vietnam veterans treated so badly when they came home? The result was an expanded U.S. military presence and increased military activity in neutral Cambodia. It seemed to me that if the spitting-on-soldiers stories were true, we should know it. Author: Vietnam You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I raised the question in my syndicated newspaper column. <>stream jl/Y'RF]FckKOUNH6t9p%q>v'~FJSjW5,?{R `,:Z6FmK(eZ$4'}iy:s{w{? My Vietnam service medals were always easily recognizable by these individuals, and even they did not spit on me. The only harrassment I ever received was a half-cocked remark from an uncle who asked, "What's your hang-up, George? As the plane took off, the cheering and tears exploded with the feeling of being off the ground. It blew me away. xXKsHWLq2U=XBx$A'@6G#YJru\=z4,oM1zxaaQFdS_ qeoGIjO` 1}#B `|4yAr4~~G>q6G!r=LS[Q5gsq|^u(DGIh|>6kK8 NO}HgipK, Were They Spat On? What did Eisenhower compared to a row of dominoes? While my son was home on leave from Vietnam, a Presbyterian minister refused to shake his hand as we were leaving church. Neighbouring Laos and Cambodia similarly fell to communists. In April 1968, the students at ____________ held a massive protest over the school's community policies. I felt so good to be marching with thousands of Marines who were bursting with pride singing the Marine Corps Hymn. Many Vietnam veterans blamed the antiwar movement for the chilly reception they got upon returning to the United At no time have I eve rheard him state that he had been spit on. endobj Vietnam and anything associated with the Vietnam War was not popular. Were They Spat On? Understanding The WebWhy did Vietnam veterans have a hard time coming home? I never got the chance to thank her, nor even got her name. WebMarch 29th is an opportunity to thank and honor the 2.7 million service members who served in Vietnam. I was wearing my dress blue uniform with my Vietnam service ribbons, and I was carrying my sea bag over one shoulder. I'm sure they hoped I would react violently. A nicely dressed woman in her 20s blocked my path and hissed "(expletive) murderer" in my face. But I know, there were not many veterans who didn't envy the hostages and feel despair about their own "return.". on average. The hurt stuck in real deep, and it is hard to think about. Its genesis was a controversial newspaper column of Kent State shooting where they burned the federal building. What is the labour of cable stayed bridges? I denied being a vet until recently because I was repeatedly told that Nam vets had flashbacks and could freak out on the job. endobj Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. They aimed at my feet. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Vietnam veteran I could give you many such stories that would counterbalance the classic image of "Apocalypse Now," "Platoon" and "Full Metal Jacket." Why did Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming? - Answers Men came home on an 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. I was not a hero. <>stream WebHomecoming by Dennis J. Stauffer I left Vietnam nearly 14 years ago and tried to put that phase of my life behind. South Vietnam surrenders to North Vietnam. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Men came home on an 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. I have never told a soul what I tell you here but it is true and I will swear on it. 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?" How did the Vietnam War affect President Johnson's Great Society? Veterans views of the antiwar movement Many Vietnam veterans blamed the antiwar movement for the chilly reception they got upon returning to the United States. My initial thought was, wow, "real people." The stories were usually very specific. endobj Congress does this to take away some of the Presidents abroad powera, Purpose to force a negotiated peace settlement-north Vietnamese, South Vietnamese surrenders to North Veitnam, NV full scale invasion of SV and the capture of Saigon-there were no US troops there when the NV won, Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming, Americans were torn and bitter about the war and didn't not honor returning soldiers, President must notify congress within 48 hours of committing troops-put in place to curb the presidents war making power, Mainly due to its unpopularity & controversial, Many Americans lose faith in their government, This is due mainly to the Watergate Scandal: nixon S administration found corrupt Infantryman Steven A. Wowwk spent six months in VietnamJanuary to June 1969and was wounded twice in battle. Continue Learning about Movies & Television. Their backpacks were beside them, and it was rather obvious that they were simply waiting on a plane. Was I able to get a date with a girl if she knew I was a Nam vet? What Vietnam veterans received a Cold homecoming? then include cold deserts). From Vietnam I went directly to Berlin for a four-year tour of duty. nb:.V}PU(*)Pv}PhI![?cvR{hF{.i`7[_l`?,=`{d+Ugtgka| While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. @p+B72H4FT~ q4=;Cb3L%^DzY*IUh^Brv3W}r$.| ^ vDJfp=q#_N Vietnam He promised to help South Vietnam and kick out the French. Some college students/ young people. L'5ffO:NgrrQ 7$5[6'y"}K2.`F$h*,au(1 _U{.k.n"PpuB8v4-7 Mq#3h##0T-{9+=8y6j,8Q&7uQlk]ie/S2$m^HE9J6q Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. For large numbers of others, the catharsis comes when they visit the Vietnam Memorial in Washington. It would be ludicrous, all these years later, to pretend to remember exactly what was siad. But I also did nothing to shame myself or my country. Clemons, a pastor at the Lane Memorial CME Church in Jackson, received a commemorative pin and a "thank you," from U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg in a Memorial Day ceremony at South Jackson Community Church. I have a difficult time writing about things I would just as soon forget. May I share my homecoming experience with you? I was repeatedly asked how I could live with myself after killing all those innocent people. Personally, my famiy and friends telling me that it was good to have me home again was all the welcome home I ever needed. Were They Spat On? application/pdf Ana has done a very (credible, creditable credulous) job. Judge Newman issued a withering rebuke of Murdaugh in Friday's sentencing. Many Vietnam veterans blamed the antiwar movement for the chilly reception they got upon returning to the United States. <> xZmo8 (/R'YtmWJ,,%E%Y\\Eg>C}]\|tb>^-7n$_22%w!}6|q!? I wish the American people could know what value they have in our men who served with honor and compassion. Purpose: to protest Nixon's bombing & invasion of Cambodia without first notifying congress- attempt to gain control over US. His seminal role is reflected in the fact that Vietnams largest city is named for him. Why did Vietnam veterans have a hard time coming home? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The Vietnam War lasted from 1964-1973the We coulnd't answer any of the questions for ourselves or our children. We were the visible manifestation of the unpopular war. At that relatively young age it is almost impossible to express having your feelings hurt an dhurt deeply, especially after trying to prove your "manhood" in Vietnam. The heated arguments within the United States over military involvement in Vietnam kept most people from welcoming the veterans or The second incident occurred when I returned from JVietnam in the fall of 1971. 20 0 obj The couple just walked away and melted into the crowd. Although North Vietnamese and Viet Cong casualty counts vary wildly, it is generally understood that they suffered several times the number of American casualties. We read everything we can get our hands on, but for the 10 years after the Vietnam War we read nothing about the war. From every section and corner of the country, well over a thousand people took the time to sit down, put their thoughts on paper, and tell me what happened when they returne dto the United States from Vietnam. endobj WebVietnam Vet facts like Dax Cowart, a Vietnam vet who suffered devastating burns after a gas explosion in the 1970s, and who endured 14 months of agonizing treatment that he did I understand all these Vietnam combat veterans have some problem." And the media telling us over an dover that our boys were on dope, were murderers and fools for being soldiers. 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. When Iran finally released the hostages the entire country opened up its arms and its heart to their return. It was not built with federal government money. I was never spat upon or even harassed. After the United States withdrew from the Vietnam War, North and South Vietnam __________________, continued fighting until north Vietnam emerged victorious, 5. <>>> Stopping to buy a newspaper, I ended up about 50 feet behind the line moving toward the bar. As president of South Vietnam (195563), Ngo Dinh Diem assumed dictatorial powers. What Happened After Americas Soldiers Returned from the The United States entered Vietnam with the principal purpose of preventing a communist takeover of the region. %PDF-1.7 % Vietnam becomes divided along the 17th parallel. % 1 0 obj You see, most of us still want to put the war behind us. These are the stories -- some shocking, many disturbing, some loving -- that I have compiled in "Homecoming.". 40 0 obj Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 5 0 obj 45 0 obj Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, but his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, continued the work that Kennedy had started. Many Vietnam veterans blamed the antiwar movement for the chilly reception they got upon returning to the United States. It was great to be home. Being 21 and not being able to get a job, a date, a place to live, or a drink with other vets was the hard part. Nixon adopts a policy of Vietnamization. WebWhy did Vietnam veterans receive cold homecoming? On board the plane, I noted several other Vietnam vets in uniform. endobj 3 0 obj Vietnam What is the Vietminh declare as its main goal? The U.S. Constitution grants Congress sole authority to issue declarations of war. Most returning veterans were 18 to 22 years old. [49 0 R 52 0 R 54 0 R 56 0 R 57 0 R 58 0 R 59 0 R 60 0 R 61 0 R 62 0 R 63 0 R] Agent Orange is a mixture of herbicides used during theVietnam Warby the U.S. military to defoliate forests and clear other vegetation. This was partly due to the logistics of the never-ending conflict. I think the turning point was when the hostages came home from Iran. 2023-01-20T17:35:10-08:00 As for my job in Vietnam, I was a crash/rescue team member and killed no one. Why did Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming? <<>> 4 0 obj I marched in the big veterans' parade in Chicago last summer. I returned in September 1969 and was in Atlanta, Ga. I believe most hometown folks were supportive of the troops and our difficult mission. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. considerable snow. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. National Vietnam War Veterans Day What was the challenge that the Framers faced when setting out to write the Constitution, and how did they meet it? 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. A Vietnam vet could take being spat on by one person. The banner said "Vietnam -- 10 years -- We Remember. Yes. It was the fall of 1970 and I was in Sacramento, Calif., bus station. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Those who argue that the United States won the war point to the fact that the U.S. defeated communist forces during most of Vietnams major battles. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. I have always been proud and it was a chance to celebrate that pride. Ho Chi Minh led a long and ultimately successful campaign to make Vietnam independent. 44 0 obj The protesters couldnt confront Johnson or Nixon What prompted the war between the Vietminh and the French? In the What difficulties did US troops encounter in Vietnam? Why did Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming? I was in the U.S. Navy from 1967 until 1971. I am a 30-year veteran and served during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Political turbulence there and two alleged North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. naval vessels spurred Johnson to demand the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in 1964. "Bring the boys home." What is the answer punchline algebra 15.1 why dose a chicken coop have only two doors? Why Were Vietnam War Vets Treated Poorly When They Virtually no one sent a letter with a simple confir,mation or denial of being spat upon; the letters were long, sometimes rambling, invariably gripping essays on what it felt like to come back home after that war. \underline{\hspace{5cm}}. They also assert that the U.S. overall suffered fewer casualties than its opponents. - tunnels made by vietcong that allowed them to stand air strikes For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult individual encyclopedia entries about the topics. It occurred to me that one of them resembled my best friend back home. V;.;Tqs?__D`ngP/S:LG-Jf}Xl\d#?r=H+J(CP\BQhG? Graham was twenty-five, just months out of the army and back from Vietnam. The curation of this content is at the discretion of the author, and not necessarily reflective of the views of Encyclopaedia Britannica or its editorial staff. What was the homecoming like for Vietnam Veterans? I bought a ticket for a flight to Chicago that was scheduled to depart at approximately 4 p.m. Pacific Time. Let. During that time I experienced two spitting incidents. How do you convert bonds to common stock? It does not store any personal data. The questions and answers in this list are taken from the Top Questions sections of the articles on the Vietnam War, Ho Chi Minh, Ngo Dinh Diem, William Westmoreland, Richard Nixon, and Agent Orange. Each stated how happy they were that we were able to come home safely. The Vietnam War was a protracted conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam and its allies in South Vietnam, known as the Viet Cong, against the government of South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. I think these stories about spitting are a lot of bull. 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. Sergeant First Class Jorge A. Otero Barreto (born 7 April 1937), a.k.a. Ngo Dinh Diem, he thinks the communists will win. What were some of the ways that young American men avoided military service in Vietnam? William calley accepts responsibility..100 innocent Vietnamese murdered by US soldiers- which further turned Americans away from war. 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. The Pentagon Papers were leaked by former Defense Department worker_______________, 3. We were told that we were materialistic asses because we wanted a nice home for ourselves and our children. %PDF-1.5 I remember one of my corpsmen staying up with a Vietnamese woman in her 70s who was suffering with a high temperature. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". While waiting for a bus home there, an elderly woman came up to me, looked me square in the face, and called me a hired killer. 1 My Lai Massacre: makes some Americans view US military as 'baby killers', Chapter 23 Section 2 Guided Reading Women Fig, Chapter 32 Section 2 Guided Reading - Waterga, Watergate: Nixon's Downfall Guided Reading, Eric Hinderaker, James A. Henretta, Rebecca Edwards, Robert O. Self, John Lund, Paul S. Vickery, P. Scott Corbett, Todd Pfannestiel, Volker Janssen. 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. when the task is complete the neighbor goes in his house wihtout a wrod and closes the door. I took it. The stories were usually very specific. I`ve always felt that disrespecting one woman was standing alone and clapping her hands and sayig "Welcome home." In my opinion, most veterans were not even sure what they felt at the time. Richard Nixon won support during the presidential race by vowing to restore ______________ to the country. What did What actions by US troops hindered the effort to win the support of Vietnamese villagers? And the dozen or so Vietnam veterans I've talked to (I can't talk to World War II vets) all told similar stories. The question of who won the Vietnam War has been a subject of debate, and the answer depends on the definition of victory. I still remember. WebThe veterans of World War II were welcomed home as heroes. Why did "hawks" criticize the Johnson administration's policies in Vietnam? I entered civilian life with no problems and continued withy my life. You want dates, places and circumstances? endobj many supported his decision because he was following the policy of confronting communism. Vietnam War veterans and their families were recognized for their military service Saturday during an emotional first Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans ceremony in the Ascension Veterans Memorial Park. There were no victory parades or welcome-home rallies. More generally, they receive little "precipitation" (this can Write a speech in which you attempt to persuade other lawmakers to vote for or against Clinton's impeachment.