PLEASE.....

[Wahbooz]

For just a little time. Enjoy your parties, your BBQ's, your beer, your whatever. But for just a little time, put away the politics and remember those who have fallen. So many have forgotten, or perhaps never really had any idea, what this weekend is all about, and only cared about having a day off from work. But some of us have seen friends die, in service to this country, and it would be so nice just to see one moment..... that's all, just one moment.... to remember those who have fallen. This is Memorial Day.

To all those guys in my graduation class, as well as for Lennie and 'Shorty', who never made it back, this is for you.

 

[Wahbooz]

For those who still don't understand, perhaps the words of Ray Reed, Vietnam Veteran, will help to clear the air.

 

[Deleted member 21794]

Well-done, sir. That literally brought shivers up my spine.

 

[Wahbooz]

Well-done, sir. That literally brought shivers up my spine.

Good. i hope it gave a lot of people shivers. And I hope this gives people shivers as well. I'm so glad kids coming home today did not get the same greeting we got when we returned from Vietnam.

 

[Caroljo]

Good. i hope it gave a lot of people shivers. And I hope this gives people shivers as well. I'm so glad kids coming home today did not get the same greeting we got when we returned from Vietnam.

My husband also came home to those 'greetings'. We're getting him signed up for medical benefits now. What a long processes!! They want him to go to a place that will decide if he has PTSD ( which I'm sure he has!) and tell him there's some good benefits for being "boot on the ground" in VN (because of Agent Orange). I can see the pride in him when someone sees him with his Marines cap or shirt and asks him if he was in VN, then shakes his hand and thanks him. Most of the time it's from men or women that have also served recently. I don't think that's ever happened from people that protested the war back in the 60's/70's.

 

[Wahbooz]

My husband also came home to those 'greetings'. We're getting him signed up for medical benefits now. What a long processes!! They want him to go to a place that will decide if he has PTSD ( which I'm sure he has!) and tell him there's some good benefits for being "boot on the ground" in VN (because of Agent Orange). I can see the pride in him when someone sees him with his Marines cap or shirt and asks him if he was in VN, then shakes his hand and thanks him. Most of the time it's from men or women that have also served recently. I don't think that's ever happened from people that protested the war back in the 60's/70's.

Does your husband know about this site? When I went to the VA a number of years ago, one of the ladies hit me in the face with this. "Have you had ....., or........, or.......?" I said yes. It blew my mind, and I told frey about it so he could relate it to his father who was a Riverine as well.

There is a list of units that were contaminated by Agent Orange.

http://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-postservice-agent_orange.asp

 

[Caroljo]

Does your husband know about this site? When I went to the VA a number of years ago, one of the ladies hit me in the face with this. "Have you had ....., or........, or.......?" I said yes. It blew my mind, and I told frey about it so he could relate it to his father who was a Riverine as well.

There is a list of units that were contaminated by Agent Orange.

http://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-postservice-agent_orange.asp

Yes, we've looked this over quite a bit. The woman that's helping him get the benefits said that by the end of the year high blood pressure is supposed to be added to the list of disease's cause by AO. He also had thyroid disease in the 80's and had to have it removed...along with being treated for depression.

 

[Wahbooz]

Yes, we've looked this over quite a bit. The woman that's helping him get the benefits said that by the end of the year high blood pressure is supposed to be added to the list of disease's cause by AO. He also had thyroid disease in the 80's and had to have it removed...along with being treated for depression.

The list keeps growing. I hope these fireworks don't cause him anymore discomfort.

Just let him know his brothers stand with him.

 

[EatTheRich]

I'm so glad kids coming home today did not get the same greeting we got when we returned from Vietnam.

What was that like?

 

[Wahbooz]

What was that like?

Like.... coming home was a f'king mistake.

 

[EatTheRich]

Like.... coming home was a f'king mistake.

Do you think that attitude helps explain why the U.S. has treated its veterans so poorly since the 1980s? Or has it always been that way?

 

[Wahbooz]

Do you think that attitude helps explain why the U.S. has treated its veterans so poorly since the 1980s? Or has it always been that way?

I think it's been pretty much that way, except for just after WWII. It seems when military personnel are of no use, whether it's a political tool or whatever, they're left to fend for themselves. I'd say the VA hospitals have been at least some kind of mess at least since the 1960's, I can't speak about any time prior to that.