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November 11, 2011 in Nation/World
Vietnam vets thanked for service — unlike in the ‘70s
WASHINGTON — After the speeches ended, after the bagpiper played “Amazing Grace,” Bob Hamilton went searching for one of the 58,272 names on the polished black granite wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Hardly a day goes by that he doesn’t think about Ray George, a fellow helicopter pilot who was killed in Vietnam when he subbed for Hamilton one day four decades ago.
But Veterans Day, a friend had reminded him, is about thanking those standing in front of the wall, tracing their fingers over the names of the brothers they lost.
So Hamilton, 62, and his fellow veteran Bob Poe, 67, rode their motorcycles from Louisville, Ky., into the nation’s capital with their flags flying for the ceremony. They were celebrating not only their service as veterans, but what journalist and war correspondent Joe Galloway on Friday called an “obligation to live each day to its fullest potential … for our having lived, and their having died.”
“Veterans Day is your day,” Galloway told hundreds of veterans gathered at the memorial on a chilly but bright, blue-skied day.
Galloway, working for United Press International, did four reporting tours in Vietnam. During his first tour, in November 1965, he was at the battle of the Ia Drang valley, the first major fight between U.S. and North Vietnamese troops. Along with Army Lt. Gen. Hal Moore, he wrote the bestseller “We Were Soldiers Once … And Young,” a detailed account of the battle. Galloway in 1998 was belatedly awarded a Bronze Star with Valor for rescuing a badly wounded soldier under heavy fire during the battle, the only such medal of valor awarded to a civilian by the Army during the Vietnam War.
“Veterans Day is for those who survived, who came home,” he said. “Some with wounds visible, some with wounds invisible. Today is your day, and we think of you, and we think of you with respect. And we think of this country’s obligation to all its veterans, in terms of taking care of their health … taking care to keep the promises we made when you raised your hand and took that oath to protect and defend the Constitution of our beloved country.”
The refrain was similar across the river at Arlington National Cemetery, where President Barack Obama called on Americans to commit to ensuring that veterans receive the care and benefits they have earned. He also praised business leaders for their commitment to hire 100,000 post-9/11 veterans and their spouses over the next few years.
Younger veterans in particular have had a difficult time finding work when they return home from Afghanistan and Iraq. The Labor Department released a report in October that found unemployment is about 28 percent among veterans 30 and younger. Unemployment among all veterans is about 9 percent, the same as the national average.
“Above all, let us welcome them home as what they are — an integral, essential part of our American family,” Obama said. “I ask every American, recruit our veterans. If you’re a business owner, hire them. If you’re a community leader — a mayor, a pastor or a preacher — call on them to join your efforts. Organize your community to make a sustained difference in the life of a veteran, because that veteran can make an incredible difference in the life of your community.”
That’s a major shift in tone from when they returned home in 1968 and 1971, said Hamilton and Poe. Twice during the event at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, friends called to thank Poe for his service — a far different greeting than in the years immediately following the Vietnam War.
“The thing we never heard was, ‘Thank you for your service,’ ” Hamilton said.
“We didn’t get that when we came back,” Poe said.
Stocks plummet as outlook in Europe dims 
another_perspective on November 11 at 4:04 p.m.
Our treatment of the Vietnam Vets is still a shame to this day. We turned our backs on those that served. We can NEVER NEVER make up for the shame we caused them to feel.
Welcome home.
PhiltheBibliophil on November 11 at 5:01 p.m.
When I got home from ‘Nam, I couldn’t get or keep a job. Went through two marriages, drug and alcohol counseling. About 15 years later, I Was an inactive member of my VFW in a town in another state. Got asked to wear my uniform and be the ‘Nam Vet on the 4th of July float. At the end of the parade as the float was pulling into the back alley and I stepped off there was an old man, a WWII vet and his wife. He was standing at attention in front of me, ram-rod straight. Turned out they had lost their only son in ‘Nam. We hugged, we cried. I had finally come home!
misjustice on November 11 at 6:27 p.m.
A lot of the crap the Viet Nam vets got on return you can thank Senator John Kerry for. He’s the one that came back saying all they were doing over there is raping & killing innocent people, bombing schools & orphanages & just a bunch of murderers.
Him & Jane Fonda! What a couple of traitors!!
Dazzeetrader11 on November 11 at 6:32 p.m.
Thanks for your service fellas. Dems bailed on you back then. We enver lost one single battle. Giam was ready to give up but then came the weakness from the politicians. No matter now I guess. Welcome home. Job well done! We do thank you!!
Traveler on November 11 at 6:47 p.m.
Way to sneak in a Democrat-bashing into a commendation of our troops, Dazzee! I gotta admit, that never came to my mind when I read the story, but I don’t see the world so black-and-Republican as you.
I think you may be off when you say we “never lost one single battle” though. I mean, I know our troops are good, but even they suffer setbacks every now and then.
Of course, I served during the Vietnam War as an airman in Texas, so you may have more direct knowledge of our military success in a 40-year-old war than I do … What unit did you command?
Dazzeetrader11 on November 11 at 7:28 p.m.
Not one 56. Not one battle lost. My older brother was killed there. My husband served there. “Ten Hut” ! Officers and enlisted men on deck! We love those who served and didn’t make it home. We honor them and we miss those who forever will be remembered. I took care of those who returned to VA hosptials. I know the families and those who served. We love them all. In my family, we don’t abide those critical of our men.
We hate war. We love peace. We love and support the troops. Patriots all. I hire many of them who want jobs. I hope you agree 56.
Traveler on November 11 at 7:34 p.m.
Well, according to “Lost Battles of the Vietnam War” (http://www.g2mil.com/lost_vietnam.htm), there were at least 44.
And as for your last paragraph, I agree completely.
Dazzeetrader11 on November 11 at 7:40 p.m.
Left wing Democrats say that but it didn’t happen. It’s the spinners 56. In these cases, it depends of phrasing and how one defines “victory” and “loss” We didn’t lose a battle. …you may take joy in your post and your postion, but many do think like that. Just didn’t happen. Believe the Dem left and the whole military is garbage. I know better.
Dazzeetrader11 on November 11 at 8:11 p.m.
WOW! Whatta typo! …”.the Dem left thinks the whole military, etc”…sorry.
Traveler on November 11 at 9:00 p.m.
“it depends of phrasing and how one defines “victory” and “loss””
Ah, I see. Sorta like when a president once said “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.”
I take joy in neither my posting nor my position; it’s simply a matter of fact. I certainly don’t think it’s disparaging to our military to say they lost a battle every now and then — in fact, I think only 44 battles out of the thousands fought during our ten years or so there is admirable.
And on behalf of “the Dem left” (actually a former Nixon Republican who’s become “left” only because the country shifted so far to the right) I am insulted by your assertion that they/we think the “military is garbage.” That kind of hyperpartisanship makes you sound like Ann Coulter. Right down there with calling your political opponents traitorous, godless, etc.
Dazzeetrader11 on November 11 at 10:29 p.m.
ok…fine. have it your way. believe what you will. no skin off anyone’s nose but yours.
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on November 12 at 8:10 a.m.
Vietnam was Obama’s fault.
Jeffrey_Grey on November 12 at 8:21 a.m.
56traveler,
Actually, to perpetuate the myth that we never lost a battle in Vietnam is to take honor away from the troops who sweated and bled for their country. If we truly never lost a battle, the inescapable conclusion would be that we never faced a foe who was capable of challenging us.
We didn’t ever lose because we were never really in a fight.
Given that our adversary in Vietnam was tough, tenacious and dedicated bordering on fanatical, it’s ridiculous to say we were never in a fight.
Our casualties give the lie to that.
The truth is that we never lost a major campaign. But we lost battles, both large and small. It’s those losses as well as the victories that give us honor. It takes nothing to go in an unbroken line from victory to victory.
It takes courage and commitment to suffer a setback and yet get right back into the fight.
Dazed, as usual, can only pedal the partisan narrative. For her, it’s not about what’s true. It’s about the ‘truth-i-ness’ that supports the meme.
To all our vets; Bravo Zulu and thank you.
Traveler on November 12 at 4:46 p.m.
Well put, JG.
I’d hoped Dazzee could rise above herself for just a moment and, if not admit she was wrong (my hope was against my expectation, obviously; it is Dazzee, after all), at least reel in her rhetoric enough to acknowledge that the other half of the country honors and respects our troops as much as her half.
But no, she had to toss a snit-fit and sulk off.
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on November 12 at 5:08 p.m.
Nicely written, J.G.
(And yes — for Troll Woman, everything is about how bad Democrats / liberals are. EVERYTHING.)