4 0 obj So we shut if off and shut it out. 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. How did most Americans react to President Johnson's decision to commit troops to the war in Vietnam? Some college students/ young people. My husband and I love to read. 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. To Those Who Died -- Thank You. After serving in Vietnam from June '66 to June '67, I returned to the States to a wonderful reception. In 1963 he was murdered during a coup dtat by some of his generals. A young lady dressed in bell-bottoms, love beads and a peace symbol came up to me as the elderly woman walked away. 4. For the thousand-plus people who wrote to me, there was probably a measure of cahtarsis just in the act of writing. uuid:180705bb-b618-11b2-0a00-c02f5b020000 Graham was twenty-five, just months out of the army and back from Vietnam. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Heres how its spending your money, Parents know best: Rep. Burgess Owens wants to fund school choice at national level, 2023 Sterling Scholars semifinalists: Southwest Region. What's sad is that when the smoke cleared and most of us were lucky enough to come home, our calls for help remained unanswered. I felt so good to be marching with thousands of Marines who were bursting with pride singing the Marine Corps Hymn. If they were myth, we should know that, too. It seemed to me that if the spitting-on-soldiers stories were true, we should know it. I started crying and said, "I'm sorry it's 10 years late. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". He promised to help South Vietnam and kick out the French. 34 0 obj Let. However, I don't hink it's unreasonable for us as veterans to want and even expect medical assistance and/or compensation for war-related health problems that have all but devastated whole families. 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. Thirty three veterans gave interviews on various topics relating to Vietnam including: basic training, the trip to Vietnam, being in the field, helicopter and aircraft stories, support groups, the Vietnamese, and their general thoughts on the war and the country. 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. We were the visible manifestation of the unpopular war. The protesters couldnt confront Johnson or Nixon Let. The Pentagon Papers were leaked by former Defense Department worker_______________, 3. He went up to the garage and read the banner. One of the most popular chants during the anti-war marches was, "Stop the war in Vietnam, bring the boys home." We coulnd't answer any of the questions for ourselves or our children. How do you convert bonds to common stock? 64 0 obj If the subject is understood, write it in parentheses before the sentence. WebHomecoming by Dennis J. Stauffer I left Vietnam nearly 14 years ago and tried to put that phase of my life behind. 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 what were the terms of the Geneva Accords? they receive a cold mist or frost on the plants. The country went wild and it was great to me to see our country unified and celebrating. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. V;.;Tqs?__D`ngP/S:LG-Jf}Xl\d#?r=H+J(CP\BQhG? 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 organizations and groups of Americans tended to oppose the war? I`ve always felt that disrespecting The group of antiwar protesters who many believe had come to the Democratic National Convention to provoke violence and chaos were called the ________________. 3 min read. What did Eisenhower compared to a row of dominoes? As I drew nearer, they began with some remarks and grins to each other, and then directed them toward me. Were you spat upon when you returned from Vietnam? endobj Most veterans moved a piano for over a year (and much worse) and the door was closed on all of us. WebWhy did Vietnam veterans receive cold homecoming? ", We were both crying, and then he said, "Lady, it is never too late.". We returned to political turmoil, peace marches, anti-war and anti-veteran activities and one giant lack of appreciation. 0 Who controlled the House of Representatives in 1982? <>15]/P 25 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> What prompted the war between the Vietminh and the French? First student strike in U.S. history occurs. Neighbouring Laos and Cambodia similarly fell to communists. WebStudy with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Henry Kissinger, Ho Chi Minh, John F. Kennedy and more. During that time I experienced two spitting incidents. It is even harder to think about good Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice -- they died for their country. You heard that at every peace rally in America. The Vietnam War lasted from 1964-1973the longest war in May I share my homecoming experience with you? It was the fall of 1970 and I was in Sacramento, Calif., bus station. No, I was never spat upon by a civilian, I was just ignored by a country that didn't care. I came home from Southeast Asia on Aug. 19, 1971. 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. 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. (#fcL8uJQT3dR hrww9G4[I ZyPtb8QAdXY> ;B3f!^}Iiz/;.A' #&JHfe*)3(|a 5a(J4:p1fP^8(u398YZ)Q#N=h_^v`"D'hG9gyRRyjDtHhs]E{qJ8gx NIACTV4^E=z yIuT`3Q9Wa{[_A7+R`D8euEqu~ ]z!q!B{PP3&\(!mcg P.j uzQA*&A/C/8Y:%55A< 8sieYFa& /AU9B+F(JHQuR~f2vkBUtYZ-i~1kS &;&BE"7;2wk{z X1}&Ds(=6m7WH\cVaadQdr4c{SB;&F54zF~-t~z2g.?/ 8`}a~XV@s. Furthermore, domestic unrest and the financial cost of war made peaceand troop withdrawalsa necessity, not a choice. I was not met by any spitting "hippies.". 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. In the wake of the Vietnam War, Cambodia fell to the brutal Communist regime known as the______________, 6. When Iran finally released the hostages the entire country opened up its arms and its heart to their return. I remember the parade just forming up and leaving Navy Pier to start the parade route. 1 0 obj But I know, there were not many veterans who didn't envy the hostages and feel despair about their own "return.". They believed that it was not fair for antiwar protesters to question their actions during the war. The United States entered Vietnam with the principal purpose of preventing a communist takeover of the region. He earned 38 military decorations during his career, and has been called the most decorated U.S. soldier of the Vietnam War. He wasnt sure he They aimed at my feet. WebWhy did Vietnam veterans have a hard time coming home? 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. <>6]/P 32 0 R/Pg 48 0 R/S/Link>> Analyze why Vietnam veterans received a cold homecoming? Many Americans lose faith in their government. <>stream I am a 30-year veteran and served during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The question of who won the Vietnam War has been a subject of debate, and the answer depends on the definition of victory. Infantryman Steven A. Wowwk spent six months in VietnamJanuary to June 1969and was wounded twice in battle. William calley accepts responsibility..100 innocent Vietnamese murdered by US soldiers- which further turned Americans away from war. Not Hollywood dead, not like in war movies, but dead and gone just like warriors in World War I, World War II, Korea and all the others. It granted him broad latitude in handling the struggle against communism in Southeast Asia. I was in the U.S. Navy from 1967 until 1971. Even during the msot fervent days of anti-war protest, it seemed that it was not the soldiers whom protesters were maligning. Shaped like a camel's head. It was not built with federal government money. I believe most hometown folks were supportive of the troops and our difficult mission. From Vietnam I went directly to Berlin for a four-year tour of duty. My initial thought was, wow, "real people." What was the challenge that the Framers faced when setting out to write the Constitution, and how did they meet it? DiH"nE#y04tJ4j:$;S{NipK[td. I understand all these Vietnam combat veterans have some problem." How long can a foreign object stay in your ear? Suddeny one of the females began calling me a baby killer and spat on me. 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. 16 0 obj HW%HY&YXh-G5\9U)8ulr.\LoZ?\ry{[pMI;%bIfRl>TFh= In response to Westmorelands requests for more forces, the American presence in Vietnam grew to well over 500,000 troops. endstream They came back to find the United States torn apart by debate over the Vietnam War. When did American troops return home from Vietnam? 4 When did American troops return home from Vietnam? 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. 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. It was great to be home. I still remember. Yes, we were spat upon! endobj 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?" For Leary, the catharsis came on the day of the parade. What did Operation Rolling Thunder do in North Vietnam? At 7 in the morning I was sitting on the front proch having coffee and a young man came by delivering telephone books. Those who argue that the United States opponents won the war cite the United States overall objectives and outcomes. <>31]/P 28 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> ;&~em)UQvyX#P( Understanding The Homecoming Experience of Vietnam Veterans All the countless others that left chunks of their young and healthy bodies behind returned not as heroes but to a complete lack of appreciation. WebWhy were Vietnam veterans treated so badly when they came home? What factors led to a decline in the morale of many US soldiers? They weren't really protesting much of anything. The stories were usually very specific. 2023-01-20T17:35:10-08:00 What actions by US troops hindered the effort to win the support of Vietnamese villagers? 2023-01-20T17:35:10-08:00 41 0 obj Robert Kennedy was assassinated by a Palestinian immigrant who said he was angered by Kennedy's support of ___________. 45 0 obj 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. At no time have I eve rheard him state that he had been spit on. Gave the president military powers in Vietnam. For years I had been hearing stories that when American troops returned home from Vietnam, they were spat upon by anti-war protesters. We were told that drugs were fine -- they didn't do anyone or society any harm. many supported his decision because he was following the policy of confronting communism. WebVietnam veterans. An airport security guard saw this and came over to help me. 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 <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> 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. 1. I guess guys who lose a war get pretty unpopular. NV full scale invasion of SV and the capture of Saigon-there were no US troops there when the NV won. No. I will remember vividly for the rest of my life leaving Vietnam on a plane loaded with Marines. Why did Vietnam veterans have a hard time coming home? <>27]/P 27 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> For me it's been 16 years, and it's a shame that ridiculous movies like "First Blood" and "Apocalypse Now" had to be made before anyone cared enough to ask questions about us and our experiences. A soldier, fresh from Vietnam duty, wearing his uniform, gets off the plane at an American airport, where he is spat upon by "hippies." Continue Learning about Movies & Television. But I also did nothing to shame myself or my country. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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: A soldier, fresh from Vietnam duty, wearing his uniform, gets off the plane at an American airport, where he is spat upon by hippies.. One fellow was leaning against the wall, the other half-kneeling, half-sitting on the floor. Base your answers on the rules of standard, formal usage. 3 0 obj I returned in September 1969 and was in Atlanta, Ga. I never got the chance to thank her, nor even got her name. It blew me away. Why did many Americans lose faith in their government? Their backpacks were beside them, and it was rather obvious that they were simply waiting on a plane. I remember looking down at the scarred landscape, waiting until we got enough altitude to be completely safe. I raised the question in my syndicated newspaper column. A! I coul dhave dwealt with being spit on by a hippie. Rather than being greeted with anger and hostility, however, most Vietnam veterans received very little reaction when they returned home. The number of Americans killed in Vietnam was roughly__________, 4. What difficulties did US troops encounter in Vietnam? "To wipe a little spit off our hearts." On board the plane, I noted several other Vietnam vets in uniform. Example (You){\color{#c34632}{(You)}}(You) 1. \underline{\hspace{5cm}}. FSM: free speech movement - tunnels made by vietcong that allowed them to stand air strikes You want dates, places and circumstances? Why? I declined to comment. 3 0 obj Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. How did the Geneva Accords change Vietnam? I finally realized that I fought for my country and for my own beliefs. Men came home on an Is it OK for a 13 year old to shave their legs? Many Vietnam veterans blamed the antiwar movement for the chilly reception they got upon returning to the United States. Suppose that you are a member of Congress. favored stronger military force in Vietnam, allowed students to put off military duty (mostly wealthy upper class people, founded Students for a Democratic Society, system that calls up citizens for military service, Served in disproportionate numbers in Vietnam, after the Tet Offensive, the renowned journalist ____________ declared that the Vietnam War seemed destined "to end in a stalemate.". I would like to get my 2 cents' worth in. endobj 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. What was the homecoming like for Vietnam Veterans? For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult individual encyclopedia entries about the topics. 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. What did Eisenhower compared to a row of dominoes? Nixon adopts a policy of Vietnamization. The couple just walked away and melted into the crowd. It lasted from 1954 to 1975. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. endobj <>3]/P 6 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> I have a difficult time writing about things I would just as soon forget. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. <> how did it become one? 42 0 obj Write a speech in which you attempt to persuade other lawmakers to vote for or against Clinton's impeachment. Come\underline{\underline{\text{Come}}}Come with me to buy Mothers birthday present, please. To see people step forward with a picture of their dead son or brother to see disabled veterans step out to shake hands .. for all of us to wipe a little spit off our hearts. It occurred to me that one of them resembled my best friend back home. We didn`t want to be there, but we felt stronger about going to Prison for draft dodging, than we did for defending our Flag & Country. Yes. It would be ludicrous, all these years later, to pretend to remember exactly what was siad. nb:.V}PU(*)Pv}PhI![?cvR{hF{.i`7[_l`?,=`{d+Ugtgka| endobj 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. Americans were torn and bitter about the war and didn't not honor returning soldiers Veterans views of the antiwar movement. While my son was home on leave from Vietnam, a Presbyterian minister refused to shake his hand as we were leaving church. 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. Richard Nixon, arguably, tried to prolong the Vietnam War during the 1968 presidential campaign in an effort to win the presidency. Vietnam was temporarily divided along the 17th parallel into North and South and a future election would be held to unify the country. Once he became president, he sought to establish enough stability in the region for the South Vietnamese government to take over. Ho Chi Minh led a long and ultimately successful campaign to make Vietnam independent. 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. He reflected Monday on the cold homecoming many Vietnam servicemen experienced upon returning. This was the war that set the media war dogs Its genesis was a controversial newspaper column of Also, of all the guys I flew with -- maybe more than 100 aviators in all (in my two squadrons) -- everyone has made a good adjustment to the real world. I kept my experiences private, as did many Vietnam veterans, to avoid the pain of that war. Correct the capitalization in each sentence. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It took us 10 years to be able to start to read again about that period, and to be able to discuss it. After hasty attempts of Vietnamizationthe process of training and arming South Vietnamese troops for fighting alone after U.S. forces would pull outall U.S. troops were evacuated by March 29, 1973. No signs. usually in airports. I kept my experiences private, as did many Vietnam veterans, to "Bring the boys home." 2. The banner said "Vietnam -- 10 years -- We Remember. What did Ho Chi Minh declare after Japan was forced out? Purpose was to remove Vietnamese and VC supply centers from Cambodia-many Americans see escalation of war & become angry, First Student strike in US history occurs, Purpose to protest the invasion of Cambodia. I bought a ticket for a flight to Chicago that was scheduled to depart at approximately 4 p.m. Pacific Time. % Ana has done a very (credible, creditable credulous) job. endobj Told to report back to the plane in an hour, the vast majority of us headed immediately for a cold one in the airport lounge. Yes, we were spat upon --- in Vietnam with Agent Orange and again when we came home with Uncle Sam's indifference to our plight. He left still crying and I sat there crying for all of us. I remember landing in San Francisco and the wild cheering among us in the plane and the feeling of making it home. The United States committed some 550,000 troops to the Vietnam front at the height of the conflict, suffered more than 58,000 casualties, and engaged in battle after battle with communist forces in the region until its withdrawal in 1973. 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. 40 0 obj <> Kent State shooting where they burned the federal building, Congress repeals the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, Purpose: to protest Nixon's bombing & invasion of Cambodia without first notifying congress- attempt to gain control over US. The spread of Communism. It never occurred to me to do anything else. Mi Kyung saw a huge boulder. They believed that it was not fair for antiwar protesters to question their actions during the war. Imagine helping your neighbor move a piano for a full day. I could give you many such stories that would counterbalance the classic image of "Apocalypse Now," "Platoon" and "Full Metal Jacket." What did this Vietminh victory cause the French to do? 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. 38 0 obj I started after him, but I lost him in the airport crowd. Her choice of gift for a grandparent or an aunt or an uncle is often inappropriate. Needless to say, my son doesn't venture to church very often, even after all these years and different ministers. uuid:180705bb-b618-11b2-0a00-907dfefefc7f <>11]/P 24 0 R/Pg 50 0 R/S/Link>> After the United States withdrew from the Vietnam War, North and South Vietnam __________________, continued fighting until north Vietnam emerged victorious, 5. He reflected Monday on the cold homecoming many Vietnam servicemen experienced upon returning. endobj I marched in the big veterans' parade in Chicago last summer. Many Vietnam veterans blamed the antiwar movement for the chilly reception they got upon returning to the United States. 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? For Vietnam veterans, this is a day when they finally receive the recognition and respect that was missing so many years ago. I'm sure they hoped I would react violently. Jackson Cit Pat: Vietnam veteran remembers cold homecoming, savors appreciation ceremony | Congressman Tim Walberg I apologize for taking so long to send this letter. 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 Domestic support for the war plunged as U.S. deaths rose. In the following sentences add semicolons, add colons, or change commas to semicolons or colons where needed. We read everything we can get our hands on, but for the 10 years after the Vietnam War we read nothing about the war. I'm referring to the "heroes' welcome" given to the hostages held in Iran. 2 0 obj<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/ExtGState<>>> endobj 80% of soldiers were from lower economic levels and college was a way out only those with $ could afford college. This was on April 15, 1970. <<>> They believed that it was not fair for antiwar protesters to question their actions during the war. 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. Vietnam and anything associated with the Vietnam War was not popular. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. trust. I have a ture story that involves a "hippie.". For years I had been hearing stories that when American troops returned home from Vietnam, they were spat upon by anti-war protesters. Sergeant First Class Jorge A. Otero Barreto (born 7 April 1937), a.k.a. We were in an ambush site near a village, and he ministered to htis woman all night until her fever broke. Vietnam and anything associated with the Vietnam War was not popular. 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. The veterans of the Vietnam War returned to a cold shoulder and a country on the verge of tearing itself apart. I remember one of my corpsmen staying up with a Vietnamese woman in her 70s who was suffering with a high temperature. That was the message. 2. 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. 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. one woman was standing alone and clapping her hands and sayig "Welcome home." This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. stream -jungle terrain, snakes All their families got hit with nothing. they receive less than 10 inches (250 mm) of precipitation per year I think the turning point was when the hostages came home from Iran. 3 0 obj<>stream 20. 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. Purpose to protest the invasion of Cambodia. The event that in the spring of 1970 stirred a new round of antiwar protests was the__________________, 2. William calley accepts responsibility..100 innocent Vietnamese murdered by US soldiers- which further turned Americans away from war.
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