Hello, and welcome. What is to follow on this Webpage composed and published by me, is an "Open Letter" I had recieved by a "Very Proud" Vietnam Veteran who admits that he wishes he had written it. It is in response to the Letter below. I understand what he ment when he said that as I read the very thought provoking words that follow. If your blood isn't Red, White and Blue it will be after you read this letter. But if for some God-Foresaken reason you can't feel that Patriotic Flame burn deep down inside your soul then I request that you read it again. Read on:
AN OPEN LETTER TO ANYONE WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM
Dear Hero ,
I was in my twenties during the Vietnam era. I was a single Mother and, I'm sad to say, I was probably one of the most self-centered people on the planet. To be perfectly honest, I didn't care one way or the other about the war. All I cared about was me, how I looked, what I wore, and where I was going. I worked and I played. I was never politically involved in anything, but I allowed my opinions to be formed by the media. It happened without my ever being aware. I listened to all the protest songs and I watched the six o'clock news and I listened to all the people who were talking. After awhile, I began to repeat their words and, if you were to ask me, I'd have told you I was against the war. It was very popular. Everyone was doing it, and we never saw what it was doing to our men. All we were shown was what they were doing to the people of Vietnam. My brother joined the Navy and then he was sent to Vietnam. When he came home, I repeated the words to him. It surprised me at how angry he became. I hurt him very deeply and there were years of separation-not only of miles, but also of character. I didn't understand. In fact, I didn't understand anything until one day I opened my newspaper and saw the anguished face of a Vietnam Veteran. The picture was taken at the opening of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC His countenance revealed the terrible burden of his soul. As I looked at his picture and his tears, I finally understood a tiny portion of what you had done for us and what we had done to you. I understood that I had been manipulated, but I also knew that I had failed to think for myself. It was like waking up out of a nightmare, except that the nightmare was real. I didn't know what to do. One day about three years ago, I went to a member of the church I attended at that time, because he had served in Vietnam. I asked him if he had been in Vietnam, and he got a look on his face and said, yes. Then I took his hand, looked him square in the face, and said, Thank You for going. His jaw dropped, he got an amazed look on his face, and then he said, No one has ever said that to me. He hugged me and I could see that he was about to get tears in his eyes. It gave me an idea, because there is much more that needs to be said. How do we put into words all the regret of so many years? I don't know how, but when I have an opportunity, I take it. So here goes: Have you been to Vietnam? If so, I have something I want to say to you. Thank you for going! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please forgive me for my insensitivity. I don't know how I could have been so blind, but I was.
When I woke up, you were wounded and the damage was done, and I don't know how to fix it. I will never stop regretting my actions, and I will never let it happen again. Please understand that I am speaking for the general public also. We know we blew it and we don't know how to make it up to you. We wish we had been there for you when you came home from Vietnam because you were a Hero and you deserved better. Inside of you there is a pain that will never completely go away. And you know what? It's inside of us, too; because when we let you down, we hurt ourselves, too. We all know it and we suffer guilt and we don't know what to do. So we cheer for our troops and write letters to any soldier and we hang out the yellow ribbons and fly the flag and we Love America. We love you too, even if it doesn't feel like it to you. I know in my heart that, when we cheer wildly for our troops, part of the reason is trying to make up for Vietnam. And while it may work for us, it does nothing for you. We failed you. You didn't fail us, but we failed you and we lost our only chance to be grateful to you at the time when you needed and deserved it. We have disgraced ourselves and brought shame to our country. We did it and we need your forgiveness. Please say you will forgive us and please take your rightful place as heroes of our country. We have learned a terribly painful lesson at your expense and we don't know how to fix it.
From the Heart,
Julie Weaver
( I removed the Physical Address for Privacy reasons )
E-mail: julieweaver@juno.com
And now , the Response to the Above letter. From A Proud Vietnam Vet :
I guess that I'm going to let a little bit of my bitterness out here...and, I expect I'll catch hell for this...but....
This is nice try...but, it's too little...and at my age, too late. I know that I should do the Christian thing and "forgive" you. But, after 30 years of abuse and shame, I just can't find it in my heart. I may have to explain it to God, I don't have to explain it to you. All of a sudden all this "touchy feely, forgive me" crap makes my skin crawl How do you forgive something that didn't exist then...and doesn't exist now?
We went off scared, idealistic kids. Most didn't want to go, but did. Cause that's what every man in our family did when called. We went. We were Grunts, Cooks, Mechanics, RTO's, Truck Drivers...we all had our jobs and we did them as well as you can expect any 19 year old to do. While we were doing our jobs, you went on with your life. Ours stopped for 12-18 months. While you were in school or living the good life or just plain living, we were dying. We were dying then, we are dying now. And, all vets, no matter the way, are still getting crapped on.
We are not heroes. The 50,000 names on the black gash are the heroes. They remain young, we grow older. We are their future, they are our past. They were heroes, we were lucky. Sometimes though, I think they are the lucky ones...at least, they are not having to explain to Human Resources why they are safe to be around. Hell, I've had people that refuse to be in the same building with me after 7pm. All because I'm a Vietnam Vet..and just might go tripwire at 7:01pm. Just like I do most nights at 7:02 pm.
Most of us are in our late 40's or early 50's...and today, if you say Vietnam it does not mean much to anyone under 30...other than "Oh, that's the war we lost"....and if I hear that one again, even after my stroke, I'm gonna whack the sayee upside the head. We didn't lose...you did.
You have no idea what YOU lost....You lost the war....you lost our respect...you lost yourselves. You are the people that forever changed on 9/11...we are descendants of the guys that have been looking for, finding and killing the bad guys since 1776. We've been there, done that, and we've seen the elephant. You are the huddled masses...we are VETS!
We are becoming the things you feared...we ARE the establishment. And, as we get more and more people in the establishment, we are making changes..some good, some bad, some not at all. But, at least we are trying. And, this time, we are in control..and there's not going to be another Vietnam...not as long as I can still walk, breathe, write, and hit the ballot box. These kids are not going to suffer because of an American Public that is as wishy-washy as the Pacific Ocean..this time, they got REAL solid backing from people that truly understand the frustration of trying to find an enemy that just disappears. You are the "Hell no! We won't go!" bunch. We are the guys that went...and are still there. Some of us live here...but, will never truly be home.
You want forgiveness? Haul yourself out to the VA hospital and visit some of the WWII vets that haven't had a visitor in 10 years other than the American Legion, VFW or a Donut Dolly. Talk to them, thank them. They're just as forgotten as we are. Explain to them how they are not qualified for VA treatment due to budget cuts. Explain to them why they have to wait hours for a damned bottle of aspirin, and be demeaned when they pick it up. Explain to them how they were promised medical help for life...and how it's "I think you misunderstood..we never had a contract." Look at them and see what *YOU* have done...if I had my way, every vet would get free medical for life at any doctor's office he wanted to go to. Just show the "VETERAN" card and get free medical, dental, and pharmacy, until he dies, no charge, No Charge, NO CHARGE. From aspirin to open heart...we provide to the vet at NO CHARGE..paid for by a grateful American Public. Yeah, right.
Explain to them how you feel their pain. Explain to them how people in Europe are more important than they are...how the money that could be used for the promised medical treatment they were promised is being squandered on someone with a last name no person can pronounce. Explain to them how their government used them for atomic/biological testing without their consent..and later deny that it ever happened. Talk to them, you might really learn about what makes us all tick. We learned from them...they were our teachers.
We are not the "Wannabees"...we are real. Suddenly, it's chic to be a Vietnam Vet. I hear constantly, "I wish I had gone" or "I've always regretted not joining the service"...yeah, from sh*t to chic...and it only took 30 years.
The Above is an "Open Letter" to All Vietnam Vets.
It was not written by me, It was sent to me as an e-mail from a Proud Vietnam Veteran to which I had asked permission to publish it's content to the WWW. Being that it was sent as "An Open Letter" it therefore became public domain. I feel it is well worth the little bit of effort on my part to make this manuscript available for All to see and to make known that this is not just one Vietnam Veteran speaking, but one Vietnam Veteran speaking on behalf of ALL Vietnam Veterans.
AN OPEN LETTER TO ANYONE WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM
Dear Hero ,
I was in my twenties during the Vietnam era. I was a single Mother and, I'm sad to say, I was probably one of the most self-centered people on the planet. To be perfectly honest, I didn't care one way or the other about the war. All I cared about was me, how I looked, what I wore, and where I was going. I worked and I played. I was never politically involved in anything, but I allowed my opinions to be formed by the media. It happened without my ever being aware. I listened to all the protest songs and I watched the six o'clock news and I listened to all the people who were talking. After awhile, I began to repeat their words and, if you were to ask me, I'd have told you I was against the war. It was very popular. Everyone was doing it, and we never saw what it was doing to our men. All we were shown was what they were doing to the people of Vietnam. My brother joined the Navy and then he was sent to Vietnam. When he came home, I repeated the words to him. It surprised me at how angry he became. I hurt him very deeply and there were years of separation-not only of miles, but also of character. I didn't understand. In fact, I didn't understand anything until one day I opened my newspaper and saw the anguished face of a Vietnam Veteran. The picture was taken at the opening of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC His countenance revealed the terrible burden of his soul. As I looked at his picture and his tears, I finally understood a tiny portion of what you had done for us and what we had done to you. I understood that I had been manipulated, but I also knew that I had failed to think for myself. It was like waking up out of a nightmare, except that the nightmare was real. I didn't know what to do. One day about three years ago, I went to a member of the church I attended at that time, because he had served in Vietnam. I asked him if he had been in Vietnam, and he got a look on his face and said, yes. Then I took his hand, looked him square in the face, and said, Thank You for going. His jaw dropped, he got an amazed look on his face, and then he said, No one has ever said that to me. He hugged me and I could see that he was about to get tears in his eyes. It gave me an idea, because there is much more that needs to be said. How do we put into words all the regret of so many years? I don't know how, but when I have an opportunity, I take it. So here goes: Have you been to Vietnam? If so, I have something I want to say to you. Thank you for going! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please forgive me for my insensitivity. I don't know how I could have been so blind, but I was.
When I woke up, you were wounded and the damage was done, and I don't know how to fix it. I will never stop regretting my actions, and I will never let it happen again. Please understand that I am speaking for the general public also. We know we blew it and we don't know how to make it up to you. We wish we had been there for you when you came home from Vietnam because you were a Hero and you deserved better. Inside of you there is a pain that will never completely go away. And you know what? It's inside of us, too; because when we let you down, we hurt ourselves, too. We all know it and we suffer guilt and we don't know what to do. So we cheer for our troops and write letters to any soldier and we hang out the yellow ribbons and fly the flag and we Love America. We love you too, even if it doesn't feel like it to you. I know in my heart that, when we cheer wildly for our troops, part of the reason is trying to make up for Vietnam. And while it may work for us, it does nothing for you. We failed you. You didn't fail us, but we failed you and we lost our only chance to be grateful to you at the time when you needed and deserved it. We have disgraced ourselves and brought shame to our country. We did it and we need your forgiveness. Please say you will forgive us and please take your rightful place as heroes of our country. We have learned a terribly painful lesson at your expense and we don't know how to fix it.
From the Heart,
Julie Weaver
( I removed the Physical Address for Privacy reasons )
E-mail: julieweaver@juno.com
And now , the Response to the Above letter. From A Proud Vietnam Vet :
I guess that I'm going to let a little bit of my bitterness out here...and, I expect I'll catch hell for this...but....
This is nice try...but, it's too little...and at my age, too late. I know that I should do the Christian thing and "forgive" you. But, after 30 years of abuse and shame, I just can't find it in my heart. I may have to explain it to God, I don't have to explain it to you. All of a sudden all this "touchy feely, forgive me" crap makes my skin crawl How do you forgive something that didn't exist then...and doesn't exist now?
We went off scared, idealistic kids. Most didn't want to go, but did. Cause that's what every man in our family did when called. We went. We were Grunts, Cooks, Mechanics, RTO's, Truck Drivers...we all had our jobs and we did them as well as you can expect any 19 year old to do. While we were doing our jobs, you went on with your life. Ours stopped for 12-18 months. While you were in school or living the good life or just plain living, we were dying. We were dying then, we are dying now. And, all vets, no matter the way, are still getting crapped on.
We are not heroes. The 50,000 names on the black gash are the heroes. They remain young, we grow older. We are their future, they are our past. They were heroes, we were lucky. Sometimes though, I think they are the lucky ones...at least, they are not having to explain to Human Resources why they are safe to be around. Hell, I've had people that refuse to be in the same building with me after 7pm. All because I'm a Vietnam Vet..and just might go tripwire at 7:01pm. Just like I do most nights at 7:02 pm.
Most of us are in our late 40's or early 50's...and today, if you say Vietnam it does not mean much to anyone under 30...other than "Oh, that's the war we lost"....and if I hear that one again, even after my stroke, I'm gonna whack the sayee upside the head. We didn't lose...you did.
You have no idea what YOU lost....You lost the war....you lost our respect...you lost yourselves. You are the people that forever changed on 9/11...we are descendants of the guys that have been looking for, finding and killing the bad guys since 1776. We've been there, done that, and we've seen the elephant. You are the huddled masses...we are VETS!
We are becoming the things you feared...we ARE the establishment. And, as we get more and more people in the establishment, we are making changes..some good, some bad, some not at all. But, at least we are trying. And, this time, we are in control..and there's not going to be another Vietnam...not as long as I can still walk, breathe, write, and hit the ballot box. These kids are not going to suffer because of an American Public that is as wishy-washy as the Pacific Ocean..this time, they got REAL solid backing from people that truly understand the frustration of trying to find an enemy that just disappears. You are the "Hell no! We won't go!" bunch. We are the guys that went...and are still there. Some of us live here...but, will never truly be home.
You want forgiveness? Haul yourself out to the VA hospital and visit some of the WWII vets that haven't had a visitor in 10 years other than the American Legion, VFW or a Donut Dolly. Talk to them, thank them. They're just as forgotten as we are. Explain to them how they are not qualified for VA treatment due to budget cuts. Explain to them why they have to wait hours for a damned bottle of aspirin, and be demeaned when they pick it up. Explain to them how they were promised medical help for life...and how it's "I think you misunderstood..we never had a contract." Look at them and see what *YOU* have done...if I had my way, every vet would get free medical for life at any doctor's office he wanted to go to. Just show the "VETERAN" card and get free medical, dental, and pharmacy, until he dies, no charge, No Charge, NO CHARGE. From aspirin to open heart...we provide to the vet at NO CHARGE..paid for by a grateful American Public. Yeah, right.
Explain to them how you feel their pain. Explain to them how people in Europe are more important than they are...how the money that could be used for the promised medical treatment they were promised is being squandered on someone with a last name no person can pronounce. Explain to them how their government used them for atomic/biological testing without their consent..and later deny that it ever happened. Talk to them, you might really learn about what makes us all tick. We learned from them...they were our teachers.
We are not the "Wannabees"...we are real. Suddenly, it's chic to be a Vietnam Vet. I hear constantly, "I wish I had gone" or "I've always regretted not joining the service"...yeah, from sh*t to chic...and it only took 30 years.
The Above is an "Open Letter" to All Vietnam Vets.
It was not written by me, It was sent to me as an e-mail from a Proud Vietnam Veteran to which I had asked permission to publish it's content to the WWW. Being that it was sent as "An Open Letter" it therefore became public domain. I feel it is well worth the little bit of effort on my part to make this manuscript available for All to see and to make known that this is not just one Vietnam Veteran speaking, but one Vietnam Veteran speaking on behalf of ALL Vietnam Veterans.
