Why is it many people believe Vietnam Vets were spit on when they returned?

Question

Let's get this straight. No one spit on the troops. No one. I came home twice from over seas between 1969 and 1975 and not one person spit on me. For some reason the Vietnam Vets like to tell all who will listen they were spit upon. Spitting never happened. This is an urban Legend. Lies! No one would be rude enough to walk up and spit. Now do you understand no one was spit upon?

Answer 1

Honestly, I agree with you but I don't think the term "spit upon" meant the actual act as much as the verbal venom they received...these unfortunate men and to a lesser degree, woman chose or were forced to serve their country in a nasty war and returned home expecting to be celebrated and instead were demonized by many..they deserved better and I think the treatment was called "spit upon" but I certainly hope that people from a superior society, using the term very loosely, would not resort to such a disgusting act..even though these heroes were returning from a war that was a disgusting act by their government.

Answer 2

Although it's impossible to disprove a negative, there is no evidence that anybody ever gobbed on a soldier returning from Vietnam. Holy Cross sociology professor Jerry Lembcke devoted an entire book to demolishing the spit myth. He went from Vietnam Vet to Vietnam Vet, and found not one that was spit on but they always "knew someone".

I think there are a couple things here. 1) Returning Vets and anti-war protesters might have made natural allies and the propaganda/urban myth of protesters spitting on troops broke up the alliance before it started

And 2) It was preferable for returning Vets to blame the protesters for the psychological damage they experienced, rather than the government that sent them to war.

Of course, that works today too, there is already stories circulated around that troops have been spit on-which is ridiculous-there is no one that would do such a thing.

And last, I can't imagine any Marine that sadly turns away after being spat upon-there would instead be a story about a protester being beat nearly to death. As ridiculous as it is, the urban myth will live on.

Answer 3

Some were spit upon. It has fit certain people's agenda to repeatedly claim that this was a widespread phenomenon.

I can, however, vouch for the fact that public perception of Vietnam veterans was not great. I was only about 14 when the fighting stopped but I do remember thinking that most veterans were probably guilty of atrocities and were not people to be honored. I don't think that at the time, I personally knew anyone who had served over there. I since have met many who did and realize they were caught up in something much bigger than any of us.

I now feel kind of ashamed to have felt negatively about you veterans, but it just came from what I was exposed to in the media, not a real conscious decision process.

While I remain firm in my conviction that that war was a colossal mistake - I don't know if you agree or disagree - I do thank you for your service to our country. I do not blame soldiers for the mistakes made by our civilian leadership and I am in awe of the bravery of our men and women in uniform.

Answer 4

There were a lot of opponents of the war. I don't know if the troops were spit on, but when they returned home, they were basically shunned and booed. My father was in the Army, and he did 2 tours of Vietnam. If you want to ask about his mentality, I could not answer you because I was not born yet.

Even though they were probably not spit on, but they were definitely booed, and were made not to feel welcomed when they did return home. Good day

Answer 5

Considering the only card you hold is an ACLU card and that you were never in the military, I actually believe that you were not spit on. I believe in fact you were probably one of those doing the spitting, just as you spew your lies on here.

Pretending to be a Viet Nam vet, I think your imagination may have returned. Perhaps you could at least get the dates right. The military left Viet Nam in 73, two years before the fall of Saigon. Your lie might be more believable if you had the correct dates.

Video footage and personal testimony provides proof of the mistreatment of our honorable veterans of Viet Nam, including spitting. Your despicable lies are once again proven false.

Answer 6

Dad never got spit on, but I do remember the windows in our car being broken by rocks that people were throwing as we left the airport. Whether they were spat upon by actual spit or figuratively by things being thrown at them, it doesn't really matter. All I know is that people were out of line throwing rocks at cars with vets and with children in them!

Answer 7

One of the markets I sell to for my hotels is Military Reunions. I have the privilege of working with hundreds and hundreds of veterans of all different eras, WWII, Vietnam, Korea and even Dessert Storm.

I can tell you first hand that all these veterans like to tell stories, and I love to listen to them. It is the least I can do, in appreciation for their service to our country.

Since I was an infant in 1969, I have no memory of any of that taking place, but rest assured that all the Vietnam Vets tell the stories about being spit on, yelled at and heckled, and generally treated with distain and disrespect.

I understand (and am glad) that this was not your personal experience, but forgive me if I take them at their word that it was indeed their experience.

God Bless Our Troops, past, present and future.

Answer 8

I've heard that too, but it'd be better to provide a source rather than a personal anecdote. A simple Google search provides many results with supposed Vietnam vets who claimed that they were indeed spit on and insulted.

Answer 9

Are we a little self-centered? Just because it didn't happen to YOU, doesn't mean it didn't happen. My father is a Vietnam Era Vet and though he was not spit upon he was definitely treated like less than a Vet.

Answer 10

STILL at it, I see. So sad you're such a bitter, hateful old man.
When my best friend came home after his third tour in Viet Nam, IN UNIFORM, and landed in S.F., he was advised to change into civvies. He was never spit on, but when he stopped in the airport bar for a beer, it took forever for the bartender to wait on him. It took a civvie to get the dork's attention and DEMAND he wait on Rick, then paid for the beer so the bartender wouldn't have to handle TAINTED MONEY. Rick proudly wore his U.S. Army uniform all the way home... with his bronze star ribbon, several air ribbons, 3 purple hearts and various other awards.
I wonder where YOU get your information? We were called baby killers and all sorts of terrible names because WE DID OUR DUTY. Something you seem to forget.
Our troops are still being called baby killers in Iraq/Afghanistan because your loving liberal, military hating media REFUSES to print stories/pictures of the humanitarian work our troops ALSO do. Guess THAT gets by you, too. Typical.
(USN, retired/in-country Viet Nam vet 66-67)