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2K views 14 replies 13 participants last post by  lilredweldingrod 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
A Thank You to all Vietnam Vets from a Marine in Iraq

A guy gets time to think over here and I was thinking about all the support we get from home. Sometimes it's overwhelming. We get care packages at times faster than we can use them. There are boxes and boxes of toiletries and snacks lining the center of every tent; the generosity has been amazing. So, I was pondering the question: "Why do we have so much support?"

In my opinion, it all came down to one thing: Vietnam Veterans. I think we learned a lesson, as a nation, that no matter what, you have to support the troops who are on the line, who are risking everything. We treated them so poorly back then. When they returned was even worse. The stories are nightmarish of what our returning warriors were subjected to. It is a national scar, a blemish on our country, an embarrassment to all of us.

After Vietnam, it had time to sink in. The guilt in our collective consciousness grew. It shamed us. However, we learned from our mistake. Somewhere during the late 1970's and on into the 80's, we realized that we can't treat our warriors that way. So … starting during the Gulf War, when the first real opportunity arose to stand up and support the troops, we did. We did it to support our friends and family going off to war. But we also did it to right the wrongs from the Vietnam era. We treat our troops of today like the heroes they were, and are, acknowledge and celebrate their sacrifice, and rejoice at their homecoming … instead of spitting on them.

And that support continues today for those of us in Iraq. Our country knows that it must support us and it does. The lesson was learned in Vietnam and we are all better because of it.

Everyone who has gone before is a hero. They are celebrated in my heart. I think admirably of all those who have gone before me. From those who fought to establish this country in the late 1770's to those I serve with here in Iraq. They have all sacrificed to ensure our freedom. But when I get back home, I'm going to make it a personal mission to specifically thank every Vietnam Vet I encounter for THEIR sacrifice. Because if nothing else good came from that terrible war, one thing did. It was the lesson learned on how we treat our warriors. We as a country learned from our mistake and now we treat our warriors as heroes, as we should have all along. I am the beneficiary of their sacrifice. Not only for the freedom they, like veterans from other wars, ensured, but for how well our country now treats my fellow Marines and I. We are the beneficiaries of their sacrifice.

Semper Fidelis,

Major Brian P. Bresnahan
United States Marine Corps - - - - - - - - - - -
 
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#4 ·
Thanks so much for posting Larry, and a huge thanks to Major Bresnahan…............ He is right about the Vietnam Vets but as he said, him and all the rest of the vets from "any" of the conflicts and any conflicts in the future need to be "thanked" and celebrated for the sacrifices they make.

It was an honor to serve !

Semper Fi - 1st Marine Division - Chu Lai, Viet Nam 1965 - 1966
 
#5 ·
thank you lary ,
i have not always supported the various war's ,
but only from the need for them and their hidden agendas .

but i have always supported our soldiers ,
their courage and integrity and their beliefs .

i am very great full for these freedoms they have secured for us .
they deserve our gratitude and respect .

the politicians and bussinessmen ,
that start these things i question .

and i thank these brave men and women that make this possible .

God bless you all .
please come home to us safely !
 
#6 ·
Note to the Major: It is obivious you don't frequent the VA Hospitals.
Rule No.1 Do not distrub an admiting nurse when she is reading the newspaper, you will be escorted fron the hospital grounds. If, God forbid, you need medical attention and return, you will find your ass in county jail. Do not ask how I know this. (I do not take any pain meds even when I need it.)
Rule No.2 If you are diabetic and your blood glucose should exceed 600, do not go to the nearest hospital unless you live 101 miles from the Nearset VA emergency. If you should you will held responsible for all bills incured.
Rule No3. If you suffer from excedingly high blood pressure(256/195) and must take maximum dosages to control your blood pressure, on your first visit to a new primary doctor, before being examined, all your meds will be cut in half immediately and if you are lucky, you may get the proper dossages within 6 to 8 weeks. Or you can fight them for 9 months.
Rule No4..If you are deternined to need oxygen for COPD or any other lung ailment, you will be denied proper treatmen tregardless of your blood oxygen level, if you cannot walk for a technican sent to your house on a bi-monthly visit.
Rule No5..Do not go to the VA and claim agent Orange exposure. All doctors have standing orders not to diagnose any thing more serious than the flu, or some similar condition that is very temporary. If the doctor should do this he will be fired immediately. And you will be denied any claims for Agent Orange.
Rule No.6..There is no gulf war syndrome. Even though it is proven that the tank ammo made from deactivated uriranium, which attacks the chromizones of any one breathing the fumes while the target is burning. No one at the VA cares a tinkers damn about the health of any vet. Period.
Remember; you get two chances to give you life for America: when you enlist and when you enroll in the VA.
Rule No7..If your appointment is at the Sepulveda Hospital, in no way are you to interfere with any filming in progress. If you do, again you will be escorted from the grounds by armed officers. The third time you will be black listed from the entire grounds. Filmining always comes before the vets, Period God help you if you return.
This is not a rule as yet. I thought you might like to know how these young vets from Iraq are treated.
I was sitting in orthopedics at West LA VA and struck up a conversation with this yourng, 30ish, vet. He was there for a post op from surgery on his knee. It turns out this was his 43rd surgry on that knee. I thought to myself, "Why didn't someone, after about the 3rd or 4th operation say, Lets just replace the joint with an atrificial one." Is it just me or does any one else see a problem here?

Hey Major, Take a look around. Your turn is coming. God help you if you don't have insurance after you complete your service. The civilians only called us killers. The VA is trying to kill us with substandard treatment and bad meds. I beat them! I lived long enough to collect my social security and medicare. Now Obama is trying to take that. And just when I finally found a few decent doctors that are trying t o help.
Ask me what it feels like to be a vet! I can take my Honorable Discharge and a 5 dollar bill any where in town and buy a beer. Bitter? Naw> Just damned well educated.
 
#10 ·
Goose,
Thanks for taking the time to post Major Bresnahan's letter. His observations regarding the support he sees for the boots on the ground and the sense of guilt that he shares with many Americans/Multi-Nationals about the foul treatment of Vietnam Vets are well founded. Sadly, he fails to recognize that the overwhelming amount of support for the troops is actually coming from a relatively minuscule segment of the population, largely those of us who understand the reality of war. Sensing real sincerity in his words, I do think he blindly attributes gratitude from all Americans when that gratitude is fairly isolated. Such is the state of one's mind when life is in balance! Here's just one example. I was at the Sears store yesterday and I asked the customer service rep how many people contribute to the "Support the Troops" program they proudly display at the checkout counter. His answer, "Not many." As you might guess, I'm steadfast in my own resolve to support our men and women in the military, not just Americans, but from all FREEDOM loving nations that support republican democracy. God bless the brave men and women who step up to the plate and faithfully practice their oath of office and "...support and defend the constitution against all enemies foreign and DOMESTIC." Having spent serious time in 'The SandBox' I can say with certainty that when Major Bresnahan returns (my prayers are that he does) he is about to see, possibly for the first time, how ungrateful large swaths of the public really are, thanks largely to triangulating politicians and a non-critically thinking public who cannot, will not see beyond the contrived messages from a subservient media. God bless you Goose. Uh Rah Marine Corps. God Bless Major Bresnahan. CDR Maxwell, USN
 
#11 ·
I was Vietnam era enlisted Army, but got in late and by chance never stepped foot in Vietnam. After 6 years active duty returned home and found I wasn't welcome in any of the local VFW. I was actually asked to leave as "they" didn't acknowledge "that" era debacle. Irony is that years later they sent me mailings since the honorable members were dying off too fast to keep the bars operational.

That galvanized my resolve for support of any troop sent to any conflict. They don't get to choose. You can show displeasure at the elected political structure if you want, but not the troops.

My speciality is if I see a young military couple or family in a restaurant (they are usually obvious) on the interstate then to have the waitress give me the tab anonymously with the comment that the payer is proud of their service. Not the most impact for the problems noted above, but at least something I can give back.

Steve.
 
#12 ·
As a Vietnam Vet (USN 63-66), I thank you for posting this. Our country does, now, provide more support to our vets. The Major's points are probably accurate for the changes in attitude.

I must add, "lilredweldingrod's" comments are also based in truth. Those of us who proudly served, did so with no expectations of benefits later. But, to have our government actively seek to reduce the care provided for veterans- especially those with service connected disabilities/illnesses, in an effort to save money- is nothing short of criminal.
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
larry, as a viet-nam vet i just want to say thank you. I was one of the ones who actually volunteered for Nam. My brother was in the airborne in germany at the same time. We are a family of vets and we proudly support ALL our troops and thier families. I have just recently, along with my brother, joined the Patriot Riders group. To all you Viet-Nam vets, welcome home and god bless all our veterans and their families. Served two tours, one in plieku and one in cam rahn bay.
 
#14 ·
Nice letter from the Major , Larry , but it was also good to hear facts from the "other side of the coin" as contributed by "lilredweldingrod" .
Thank you to all who have served and may you have a very happy holiday season : )
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hey guys, Sorry I got so emotional. It's just this subject really trips my trigger. My family has had Men of Valor in every war fought for America, starting with the French and Indian war right down to today with my son in the Corp. BTW He picks up Sgt on Jan 4, 2010 At Twenty-nine Palms, Ca. Yes I will be there to share pining his new stripe on along with his Master Sgt.
My father was griviously wounded on Iwo Jima, my grandfather and his brother fought in the trenches in WWI, My dad's older brother never left San Diego during WWII (luck of the draw) and my dad's youngest brother joined the Navy and survived three ships shot out from under him. My cousin Murray Pritchard, was captured in North Africa by Rommel and spent 3 1/2 years in German POW camps. I've said all this to say this: Every one of my family were treated very very well by the VA and when they came home. At one time the VA was the crown jewel in America's Crown, medically speaking. Always on the cutting edge. I belived it when I was told by my recuiter, "You be here for us today and when you need us we'll be there for you." Yeah, and the checks in the mail, ETC.
Please follow me here, I need to detour for just a moment to make a point.

When they caught the BTK killer in Witchita, Kan., They HAD to try him in court according to the law at the time he commited these horrible murders, and his sentencing was also governed by this same line of reasoning.

Why can't we vets get what we were promised and existed at the time of our enlistment?
Many of us Vets from Vietnam have had to develope the necessary coping tools in order for us to return to society and carve out our niche. But when I see the neglected brother's struggling on the streets and the young ones returning from Iraq and Afganistan where the majority of the horrible wounds are injuries to the brain due to the IED's, It just brings me to tears. I have cared for my oldest son with a massive brain trauma, not military connected, but never the less devistating, for twenty years and I go see these youngesters, 18, 19 years old and see the devistation to the families, and the PISS POOR CARE they recieve from the VA, I know now why people with less self contol than me , have gone postal".
One of the greatest injustices perpertrated against the American Vet is what I've seen with my own eyes.
And trucker12349, Your service proved your honor and valor, but I have to say this in all honesty: I see these local "stand downs", parades, bike rides, veteran home drives for donations,etc, etc. And every vet they can collect off the street to give anew pair of shoes, a new coat, a meal, a hair cut, and if they are really into it, a dentist to check their teeth. All this on a Saturday or a Sunday. Jump forward to Monday. The same guys are being busted for "Vagrancy" and thrown in jail and run through the court system etc. Now I ask you, how did that weekend benefit the vet? All that happened is the soothing the collective conscience of the local public.
"Oh looky what we did for this poor vet." Then we throw his ass in jail for 30 days or so for ********************s and grins. How in the hell did any thing help this vet other than override his hunger for a few hours? Oh, excuse me, 30 days of 3 hots and a cot. How thoughtless of me! Shame, shame, shame on me.
One Stand Down I attended, I was introduced to several people that gave me their cards and listened to my problems with the VA. Everyone said you call me and I'll help you. I called everyone of them and NOT ONE responded. They would not even answer the phone, let alone return a call. We had a saying from Vietnam, "I know you can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?" If you served and fought in Vietnam, you know exactly what I'm saying. Well, I'm waiting…..Who's going to walk the walk? All the clowns are talking the talk.
Those of us that can speak up for the weaker down trodden need to get with the program.
We went there with , "Leave no one behind." We carried out bodies at great risk to ourselves because they were our BUDDY'S. We dusted a lot of bodies! Their parents and loved ones needed that body for closure. I helped bring home every one I could, but we were not always able too. And that works on me till today.
OK America, Let's see you walk the walk, I've hear all the bull******************** talk my bucket will hold.
I welcome any and all comments, critisims, just don't bore me with bull ********************.
The greatest gift we can give is the worlds best medical help for the injuried and for us that are "OK" a pat on the back is always nice. To my fellow combat vets, Brothers we broght home all the dead we could. Don't stop there. Let's get the help that is needed for our "fallen brother", He needs us now more than ever.
We've talked the talk, now let's show the world how to walk the walk. Now is the time to show our brother the Honor he deserves. Rand
 
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