I left Danang in March of '69. Was there for 9 months. Flew with VQ-1 as a member of the Big Look Spooks out of NCS San Miguel, PI and Kamiseya, Japan. Made 67 missions over the North.
I too got spit on when I got off the plane in SFO. I back-handed the little bastard and kept walking. His hippy girl friend was screaming for security to arrest me. The cop just smiled and nodded at me. I kept walking.
I never felt ANY shame. I was from a military family. Father and both brothers were careerists. Mother was a Red Cross nurse at every duty station my father went to. I managed to do 12 years before they medicaled me out for injuries sustained in Nam.
I went on to staff duty in London, Instructor duty in Pensacola and Comm Chief duty in Rota Spain. Finished up- at CINCLANTFLT on limited duty while they were doing my medical boards. The 4 O6 officers on the board looked at me funny. Standing there with E8 stripes, wings and five rows of ribbons. They said I didn't look like a slacker. Told them if their doctors could fix me I'd be in for 30. But they couldn't. They let me out with 30%.
McNamera lost that war. He should have been shot for treason.
Lotsa VN vets on this forum. I salute you all, brothers in arms. Stay proud - and find some peace...
I got there when you left. Returning to Travis, we were briefed upon disembarking that any retaliation against demonstrators would result in an Article 15 and possible civil charges. That was '71.
Good to hear from you!