And It Was a Long Time Homecoming…

And It Was a Long Time Homecoming…

You might have guessed.  Since we are spending 6 days in Vietnam, we have met a large number of Vietnam War Vets who are taking this cruise to reacquaint themselves with the country they spent a war in.

And I can’t help but compare now and then.  When these guys came home in 1975, they were vilified.  They had difficulties finding jobs.  They hid the fact that they served in Vietnam.  Many of them became ashamed.

And now, our returning troops are lauded as heroes.  When we got off a plane in Buffalo New York several months ago, there were people lining the concourse to welcome the returning heroes, with signs, balloons, and hugs.  What a difference.

So last night we had dinner with one of the Vietnam vets, living now n Phoenix, and his wife.  He was 19 when he enlisted in the Marines.  His father had been in the service and he felt it was his duty to help his country.  Of course, he had married before he left for Vietnam and his wife, Raeline, was pregnant with their first child.

Her family, southern Baptists, had disowned her for married a Jewish fellow, so she was taken in my his family in New Jersey and lived with them, waiting and worrying whether she would have a husband who came home.

When we asked Rich if he was scared, he said, “Every single day. I had no idea what to expect, but when I got there and they started shooting at me, I automatically had that survival instinct kick in.”  And he said it stayed with him for his entire 12 months of service. 

When he did come home, he ripped off his uniform, bought a pair of jeans and t-shirt and pretended he had never been to Vietnam.  Except when he got home to New Jersey.  You see, the military required him to wear his uniform when he was mustered out of the service.  And he said he would never forget, the crowds of people yelling vile names and phrases at the troops as they stood there.

So why was he on this cruise?  Well, Raelene talked him into it.  About ten years ago, he said, he came to terms with his service in Vietnam.  He met other vets who had served back them and slowly but surely began to wear a baseball cap with “Vietnam Veteran” on its face.  And he got himself a tee shirt that proclaimed his service as well.  And this small group finally started feeling proud --- key word: proud.

So, here we are visiting the country and the cities these men, a group of about 50 of them, remembered with fear and some, loathing.  And they proclaim it has changed.  They admit the people are friendly and call it “The American War”.  We always say one should face one’s greatest fears head on.  These men, no longer young, are doing just that – and they are winning.  They are sharing stories, as they did with us.  They visited the Chi tunnels under the streets of Saigon. 

“You know, “ said Rich. “Those Viet Cong dug these tight fitting tunnels under the Army base and would cover the openings with twigs and leaves.  Then they would pop up, shoot us, and go back down.  They even had pictures of Bob Hope on stage, because their tunnels, unknown to us, were right under our base!”

Finally.  Finally, these guys are getting some of their due.  Maybe not like the new “heroes” of today’s wars, but they feel some pride of their accomplishment.  And they are facing it head on here in Vietnam!