Abuse of soldiers in Vietnam?

Question

I recently read a book about a man who attempted to track down all the cases of soldiers getting spit on, hit, and otherwise verbally abused. He said that he couldn't find a SINGLE case of something like that happening and the stories only began appearing years AFTER the end of the Vietnam war.

He stated of all the stories about soldiers getting harrassed, there was not a single case of fist fights between soldiers returning from Vietnam and civilian protestors. Now think to yourself, if someone spit on you after watching your friends die, you would want to smack them in the face, right?

So the question I propose is this, ask relatives and friends who were in Vietnam if they or someone they know DID get abused when returning from Vietnam.

We need details and possibly names if you want, I want to settle this issue as soon as possible.

Answer 1

I am a Vietnam veteran, and was spit on, screamed at, pushed, and verbally insulted by the @$$holes that had nothing better to do than stand in the airport and wait to returning troops to get off the planes. As instructed by my superior officers, I walked past them like they were just an item of trash on the floor, neither acknowledging their presence or reacting to their insults. I knew in my heart, thanks to my faith in God, that I was strong enough to resist their tempting me into a fight so THEY could be on TV.

Answer 2

When I was in college *during* the Vietnam War, a speaker came to talk to our class about his experiences and torture as a POW in North Vietnam. Sorry, I don't know his name. Stories came out before the war ended.

I was in the Air Force ROTC on campus, and I had stuff thrown at me. The ROTC building had its windows covered to prevent being fire bombed *again*. And when a buddy and I put an American flag up the flag pole in front of the ROTC building the staff there expressed concern about being firebombed again.

I suggest that the man "attempting" to write that book is a historical revisionist, and a liar.

Answer 3

I'm a military brat; Lived on AF Bases during the war, saw the protesters at the front gates, saw the caskets being unloaded and live body's walking on behind them to deploy. I heard the words coming out of the mouths of the protesters.

So the stories were here before the end of the war; I suggest that you believe them.

Vet-USAF 44MMS

Answer 4

A friend of mine an Australian soldier had to change his uniform and the men he fought with were split into groups so no-one knew they were soldiers it wasn't until 6 years ago that he finally caught up with them.
They were made to feel like they were criminals and it affected him for a very long time.

Answer 5

Yes ,I thought to myself about your "..if someone spit on you after watching your friend die,you would want to smack them in the face .."

Many experts consider the US Vietnam War "A Crime Against Humanity" especially the designation of most of the country as "free fly zone" which allowed the US to simply carpet bomb the country slaughtering hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians along with a RELATIVELY few combatants as most of the combattants were safely holed up in tunnels.

US soldiers in Vietnam like in Iraq today made a simple choice; they would OBEY ORDERS instead of obeying the Judeo-Christian moral/ethical code and put blind PATRIOTISM before loyalty,fidelity to their God and His dictates.

Americans being almost 90 % Christian wear their religion "on their sleeves " only for the most part and strut around in their holier-than-thou smug arrogant manner only to give their God the finger when Patriotism is invoked.

All of this to say,that I cannot answer your question because I would NOT have FOLLOWED ORDERS and put my country/patriotism before my God and my moral obligations.

Famous Samuel Webster citation:

"THE LAST REFUGE OF A SCOUNDREL IS PATRIOTISM "

This of course is exactly what German soldiers did in WW11.

Answer 6

I won't give you his name, but my uncle spent a night in jail after decking some long haired @$$hole in Boston while home on leave after his second tour. He says the little prick called him a murderer and a few other things.

Answer 7

As a Nam vet I can assure you that it did happen, and if you like I CAN site names, places, and times.

Answer 8

who want's to know?