Nam vets.. lets see how many thumbs down I get on this one...?

Question

I just read an article about the boys in Iraq... The death toll is significantly a lot lower than vietnam at this time in the battle. The difference is the men in nam had no choice. They had to go. Unless they ran to Canada. Half of the homeless people in the United States are Nam vets. I was 13 years old when we pulled out of Nam.. and I remember it like yesterday. Every person in Iraq chose to be there.. wanted the free education, rent paid, etc... the only price they had to pay was 'in case of war'.. they took the chance... just as I did ... I get disgusted when I read all the crap about the war in iraq... what about the soldiers from Nam that are still getting nothing??? this is not realy a question, more like looking for opinions.. Am I the only one out there who thinks vietnam vets should come first????

Answer 1

Actually, 75% of those who served in Vietnam were volunteers.

Only 25% were draftees.

And they all get the same benefits after the get out of the military.

Educational assistance does change, but then it changes whether we are involved in a war or not.

Who remembers the VEAP program?

Now that was a joke of an educational program.

Answer 2

The Vietnam War was an American tragedy.
In the fullest sense it was a political war not because of oppression of the aggressor state North Vietnam but by mismanagement of the US govt preceding the start of the Indo-China War.

Few ever knew that the Viet Minh at the end of the Second World War was appealling to the US to support their independence from France as Vietnam was then a French colony.

But as Allied states during the war and political considerations the US have ignored those appeals and paved the start of the IndoChina War developing into the Vietnam War.

France lost at Dien Bien Phu. leaving a divided nation. While it is true that Viet Minh was clearly a communist ideology, Why not look at Tito's Yugoslavia who while being a communist state was not influenced by China nor the USSR at that time leaving a buffer state for Western countries in Europe.

The US was then mired into supporting succeeding regimes in Saigon. The need to supply men, materials, and money into South Vietnam escalated. First there were only volunteers, then as need for more men arose, the Draft was invoked.

Those who fought in the Vietnam War believed they were fighting the spread of Communism. They gave up jobs, families, life and limb. Little did they knew that the war and all they gave was given away in a small house in France.

As the the Vietnam War became increasingly unpopular, those who fought were also derided and seen as the villians.

The US govt loss of prestige at the Fall of Saigon, made them blind and deaf to the Vietnam Vet. Because they do not wish to accept responsibility for failure in the war thereby also for the veterans.

The Vietnam Memorial at Arlington will tell the story not in the lives lost but look at the base and niches there are items and mementos that give the deeper feelings of the Vietnam Vet.

Thanks for thinking of them.

Answer 3

The "official" casualty number from any war is just the tip of the ice berg.
I personally know of many Viet Nam vets who will never be the same person they were before they served their tours - and they are not listed as "casualties" of the war.
I enlisted of my own free will and served in Viet Nam from 1968-69. It is indeed a life changing event for an impressionable 20 year old. A great many of the soldiers I served with were drafted. Fact is, if you were not in a position to obtain a deferment - college or other "connections" - chances were, you would be drafted.
I personally expect nothing in return for my service, but, at the same time, I am discouraged that Americans in general don't seem to truly appreciate the sacrifices that these young men are making - sacrifices that, in many cases, stay with them for a lifetime. - and they are not always physical wounds and missing limbs.
The returning soldiers deserve better - from any conflict or war. Perhaps, with the spotlight now on Walter Reed Hospital and other veteran health facilities, this will change for the better.

Answer 4

I am a female Vietnam-era veteran. I served in both the Navy and Marine Corps. I also worked as a Service Officer with the American Legion. Let's put this all in perspective...

First of all ... ALL of our injured veterans need to be taken care of, not just those from VN. The men who served in VN had it very rough. We spent our high school years not wondering about going to college, but whether or not someone in our school would be drafted. Many joined the military to avoid being drafted. Worse yet were the rich kids like President George W. Bush having their daddy's get them out of the war one way or another.

All veterans need to be taken care of, from the moment of their first injuries, until they are received back home. The travesties of the Walter Reed hospital is nothing short than embarrassing to us as a country! Let us not mention the lies being told by this government to cover up things, not the least of which was the accidental shooting of Pat Tillman.

The remaining VN vets are doing their best to survive day by day, and many of us do so by helping other veterans. For me, it is taking small gifts, when I can afford it, to the Spinal Cord injury ward at my local VA hospital. Be not afraid to write to your lawmakers to ensure that ALL veterans are receiving their due care.

I also want you to understand, that the VA system to help disabled veterans is very bogged down. And in some cases it is some veterans who sadly take advantage of the system by filing claims that have no merit, no record of injury and in their minds they feel they are being cheated. It slows down the system for veterans who rightfully need benefits.

If a veteran has a rightful claim to VA benefits, they need to contact a representative, such as the American Legion, VFW, Marine Corps League, etc (their service officers) and for no cost will help the veteran file a claim. The service officer will explain what the veteran will need to get a claim through (medical evidence), etc. It is a long process, but once they file (month/year), their benefits will be granted from the month/year the claim was filed. BUT they have to have the evidence!

I hope this helps....

Answer 5

First off there are no BOYS in Iraq. There are no BOYS in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Military. They are MEN.
Our MEN (and women) who come home badly wounded, and maimed are taken care of by the MILITARY HOSPITAL, not the VA. Once they are discharged with a MILITARY INFLICTED problem, then they fall in the same category as ANY Vet with a military related problem, and have to get in line. That's just how it is.
If you are SERIOUSLY concerned, go to your local VFW, AMERICAN LEGION, etc and wind those guys up and DO something instead of pissing and moaning on here. You accomplish NOTHING here. Get off your a.s.s. and go DO something about it.
If that offends you, then you have some psych problems to be taken care off, too.
And HALF OF THE HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE U.S. are NOT VETS! Anyone can get a fatigue jacket or some cammies with some army/Marine patches and CLAIM to be a vet. I go to D.C. every few weeks and see those "POOR, HOMELESS VETS" pan handling. I got in a conversation with one and with in 1 minute I saw he was blowing smoke up my hind parts. He could fool a civilian, but not a REAL vet. And I told him he was a pathetic disgrace and should get rid of that fatigue jacket and cammie pants!
Hoss, you need a reality check.

Answer 6

I agree with your position on the vietnam vet issue. The way we treat our military vets in general is criminal to say the least.

Though I fully oppose the war in Iraq and want to see and end to it, our military members there and in every other war are following the orders they are given as well as they can. That is what we want them to do and they do it well. each and every military member should be treated as a national hero.

It is also deplorable that there is technology that will further reduce the loss of life in our military and it isn't in the field! The procurement offices should be whipped for such blatant disregard of military life.

Answer 7

we have always treated our vets like s**t. thats why you see the push for better care today. the children of the vietnam vets are now old enough to try to make changes. dont get so upset. we as americans have always tried to learn from our mistakes. and hopefuly the vietnam experience has taught us some lessons

Answer 8

I feel the very same way about all vets.Not just one group. God bless you all and thank you for keeping us free.But i have to give the Vietnam a little extra Thank you

Answer 9

As a Nam Vet i dont know the answer-there is nothing for us and will be less than nothing for all our "terriost fighters."

should Nam vets come first? Well they wont, so the questions mute--the NOTHING will be divided equal.

But I would like to say this to my ("terriost fighter soldier partner)
I was younger (18). your (24)
I didnt hv the understanding of the murder history behind JFK. (YOU DID-if u wanted to look.
I didnt hv the knowledge (gulf of tonkin) that America could be EVIL scum and start a LIE MURDER WAR FOR PROFIT. (You did.)
I'll gladly share my 'nothing' with you--but ill never drink a beer with you! Why would I drink with a lazy knonothing thats dumber that me!!

Answer 10

The NVA had Tanks, Aircraft, and Artillery.

The Insurgences have guns and IED.

Conventional Wars always have more casualties