Welcome Home, Finally (Oliver North on Vietnam)

Creators Syndicate ^ | May 18, 2012 | Oliver North

[jazusamo]

WASHINGTON — Forty-three years ago this week, the fabled 101st Airborne Division launched Operation Apache Snow — a major ground offensive against North Vietnamese army invaders in the treacherous A Shau Valley. Though fighting raged over hundreds of square miles of triple-canopied jungle, the focus soon became a single terrain feature, a mountain, with peaks as high as 3,000 feet, the Vietnamese named Dong Ap Bia, or "Mountain of the Crouching Beast." The Americans who fought there called it Hamburger Hill. By the time the 11-day battle ended, 70 American soldiers were dead, and nearly 400 had been wounded. More than 600 North Vietnamese soldiers perished. The only survivors of this epic battle to receive the thanks of their countrymen for their courage and commitment were the North Vietnamese. The Americans who walked off that bloody mountain — and every other soldier, sailor, airman, guardsman and Marine who served in Vietnam — returned home to a bitterly divided country. The so-called mainstream media, Hollywood and academe depicted those who served in Vietnam as pothead marauders, deranged killers and the "victims" of "Johnson's war" or "Nixon's war." There were no parades celebrating the bravery and perseverance of the 2.7 million young men and women who donned a uniform and served in some of the most difficult and dangerous conditions on earth. Until the Vietnam Veterans Memorial — known as the "Vietnam Wall" — was dedicated in 1982, public accolades were sparse, and ceremonies outside the confines of a military base, an American Legion hall or a Veterans of Foreign Wars post were practically nonexistent. Now, five decades after their war began — and 37 years after its disastrous, cataclysmic conclusion — those who fought in Vietnam are finally being welcomed home. At 1 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 28 — Memorial Day — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will host a ceremony "to thank and honor America's Vietnam veterans on behalf of a grateful nation." Though tens of thousands of Vietnam veterans, Gold Star families and the leaders of our nation will be there, few of the potentates of the press have taken note of this extraordinary event. Next week's ceremony shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. In the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress directed the Department of Defense to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and "coordinate, support, and facilitate" programs nationwide to recognize those who sacrificed and served in Vietnam. Appropriately, the Memorial Day ceremony will take place in front of "the wall" that has the names of the 58,282 Americans who were killed or remain missing in action in Southeast Asia — including that of Spc. Leslie Sabo, who posthumously was awarded the Medal of Honor this week for his heroism May 10, 1970. Also this week, 10 new names were added to the black granite walls, and the status of 12 others was changed from "missing" to "killed." Most of the new names and designation changes are the consequence of work done by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. As the ceremony takes place in Washington, two JPAC teams will be in Laos searching for more Americans unaccounted for in the Vietnam theater of war. On Nov. 18, 1967, then-U.S. Army Pfc. Sammy Davis was serving on a small fire support base near Cai Lay, Vietnam. In the middle of the night, his artillery battery began taking incoming mortar fire and was attacked by a Viet Cong battalion. He was able to provide suppressing fire with a machine gun and then return artillery fire onto the enemy. Despite being wounded, he navigated an air mattress across the river to save three fellow soldiers. For those actions, Sgt. 1st Class Sammy Davis was awarded the Medal of Honor. I asked my dear friend Sammy Davis why it is important for Vietnam veterans to gather for this commemoration. He said, "Comrades gather because they long to be with the men who once acted their best, men who suffered and sacrificed, who were stripped raw, right down to their humanity." Of the men he served with, he added: "I did not pick these men. They were delivered by fate. But I know them in a way I know no other men. I have never given anyone such trust. They were willing to guard something more precious than my life. They would have carried my reputation, the memory of me. It was part of the bargain we all made, the reason we were so willing to die for one another." To all of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardsmen and Marines who served during Vietnam, welcome home. I hope to see you this Memorial Day.

[jazusamo]

May God Bless all who served and sacrificed in the Vietnam War

[jazusamo]

OLIVER NORTH PING!

Please Freepmail me to be added to the Ollie North ping list.

[Repeal The 17th]

Here is another ping for you, this time to an Ollie North article.
-
...the Memorial Day ceremony will take place in front of “the wall” that has the names of the 58,282 Americans who were killed or remain missing in action in Southeast Asia
-

[Vesparado]

Nobody has to thank me for having done my duty, especially belatedly.

Given that LBJ, et al deployed US combat troops in the full expectation that the best that could be hoped for was something akin to the final peace settlement and that the US Congress essentially abandoned our ally in the face of the enemy rather than honor the Nixon commitment for continued support with military equipment/supplies (thus dooming the ARVNs to sure defeat from the North’s final invasion), perhaps something more akin to an apology would be appropriate.

[tet68]

Ooorah. Col.North is the man.
Thanks.
t.

[jazusamo]

Please bump the Freepathon or click above and donate or become a monthly donor!

[Red_Devil 232]

I agree with you. We went, We served, We made it back.

[rockinqsranch]

Thanks for the ping jaz. Was a time in which we learned who our real enemy was.

[ConorMacNessa]

I'll be there, Col. North! Another FMF Corpsman reporting for duty!













Nos genuflectitur ad non princeps sed Princeps Pacem!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[tsowellfan]

Thank you for your service not only from my behalf but on the behalf of many young (20 something yrs old) Vietnamese in Saigon today. I went there recently and somehow they know the truth and understand our real objective and even though they cannot go out in the streets and publically proclaim it, they wished it had gone the other way.

In some ways it has in recent years. Today the word “Communism” is used as a symbol which represents the defeat of the United States more than it is as a system. They (the people)are opening businesses now and I had to laugh inside when I saw one stand on the street selling “US War memorabilia” celebrating the “defeat” of the US with insrciptions on cigarette lighters. Laugh, because they were using capitalism and the free market to sell their products. Only in America... oops... I mean only in Vietnam.
Those Vietnamese people probably had less of a problem opening up their small business than Americans do today under this Obama administration. THAT, my friend, is the saddest part of it all.

[M-cubed]

“Comrades gather because they long to be with the men who once acted their best, men who suffered and sacrificed, who were stripped raw, right down to their humanity.” Of the men he served with, he added: “I did not pick these men. They were delivered by fate. But I know them in a way I know no other men. I have never given anyone such trust. <<<

Well put!....It’s hard to explain all the emotions, but when u become a “Soldier”...No matter what job, war or generation...We all think the same......

and I guess we can thank God for that bond...

[cll]

Welcome home, Gentlemen. Your generation are the mentors of my generation and the heroes we looked up to during our military careers (U.S. Army/Army Reserve/Army National Guard, 1983-2005).

Thank you for all we learned from you.

[jazusamo]

Well stated, Brother.

[ConorMacNessa]

Thank you, Sir, for your service! Your generation has upheld and augmented the great traditions of our several services - You've made us damned proud!

HOOAH, Army!!!



Nos genuflectitur ad non princeps sed Princeps Pacem!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[unkus]

I wish I could be there. But I’ll be there in Spirit.

Welcome Home to us all.

[M-cubed]

Right or wrong...The Country called..We answered!!!

....it always pissed me off that they quit!....

years ago I used to wear a T-shirt that said...

"What do you mean we lost the war?

We were winning when I left!!"

(Class of 67-68-69...Cav Ho!...Scouts out!)

[M-cubed]

Gotta love those old pics!!!.....The way we were!

Welcome Home Brother!

[juan_galt]

Thanks for posting! A great read from LTC North. It highlights the importance of Memorial Day and the praise and debt we owe our Vietnam vets. I will especially cherish the quotes from SFC Davis,

“I did not pick these men. They were delivered by fate. But I know them in a way I know no other men. I have never given anyone such trust. They were willing to guard something more precious than my life. They would have carried my reputation, the memory of me. It was part of the bargain we all made, the reason we were so willing to die for one another.”

While I did not serve in combat, I feel exactly the same way for the men I served with in peacetime. I don’t want to take away from the well-deserved attention for our brave Vietnam vets, but I ask an indulgence to remember a too young paratrooper, PVT Martin Eskew, who died in an airborne training operation with my company in December 1989. Martin, may you rest in peace and in company of the GOOD men who came before you.

GOD BLESS

[onedoug]

Remembering Tonk! Welcome Home, Brother! RIP.

s, ping.

[NYCop]

Thank you for your service Sir

[mountainlion]

We did our did what we were told and came home holding our heads high only to get our heads knocked off by some self richous draft dodgers some of which thought they were right and some were out to just cause trouble. I got called a baby killer because of what John Kerry said and did not understand what was going on at the time. Little did these idiots know that if they had started a fight they would have got their clocks cleaned.

God Bless America and those that served.

[ImpBill]

For some of us, at least for me, this is a little late and it rings hollow coming from Leon Panetta and his cohorts. For my brothers, I believe this poem says it all.

If you are able,
Save for them a place
Inside of you
And save one backward glance
When you are leaving
For the places they can
Go no longer.

Be not ashamed to say
You loved them,
Though you may
Or may not have always.

Take what they have left
And what they have taught you
With their dying
And keep it with your own.

And in that time
When men decide and feel safe
To call the war insane,
Take one moment to embrace
Those gentle heroes
You left behind.

Major Michael Davis O’Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam

[ConorMacNessa]

It was an honor to serve, Sir!



Nos genuflectitur ad non princeps sed Princeps Pacem!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[ConorMacNessa]

Welcome Home, Brothers! And the way we were was outstanding!

It's a damned shame that certain elements in the population were not up to the job. They're still with us, snatching another American victory from the hands of our Troops. Nothing's changed, Brothers - they pay lip service to the military but hamstring them with draconian ROE's. They're always there to make the self-serving "patriotic" statement, but in their conclaves and committees they lay the groundwork for the dismemberment of the U.S. Military.

I hate to dwell on old injuries, but when I saw John Kerry say he was reporting for duty at the DNC in 2004, and rendering a sloppy hand salute, I nearly puked. I thank God that the Swift Boat Veterans and POW's for Truth were able to get their message across.

As Col. North says, it's important that we gather for this occasion - Pfc. Sammy David nails it. We can't let the left-wing bastards who vilified us, marginalized us and ostracized us for over a quarter century be the ones who write the history of our war. And it is our war - we didn't seek it - it was thrust upon us. We answered the call willingly, with skill, professionalism and honor. We have nothing to be ashamed of. We have plenty to be proud of.

Make sure your sons and daughters get the true story of what we did there.

In Summer 1996, I attended a reunion of my Brothers in Lima 3/5 in Arlington, Virgina. We attended the Friday Evening Parade at 8th & I. One of our Brothers from 1/5 was awarded the Silver Star he had earned 28 years earlier during the Relief of Hue City. The Deputy Commandant of the Corps spoke at length, stating that the Corps regarded the exploits of its Marines in Vietnam as among the greatest in the history of our Beloved Corps. Perhaps he was exaggerating, but his words resonated strongly with me. For the first time in many years, I was again proud to be a Vietnam Vet. That was when I finally made my way home.

Sorry to go on for so long. I'll close now. My utmost respect to my Brother Vietnam Vets, and to all men and women who stand for God, for the Right, and for the United States of America!



Nos genuflectitur ad non princeps sed Princeps Pacem!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Lees Swrd]

Hi Ho Cowboy just a little walk in the woods...

69-70 Cu Chi National Guard

[Liberty Valance]

bttt

[unkus]

I’ll close now. My utmost respect to my Brother Vietnam Vets, and to all men and women who stand for God, for the Right, and for the United States of America!

---

With a warm heart and tears in my eyes, I say Thank you, brother.

You, ConorMacNessa continue to perform above and beyond.....

[unkus]

And thank you. You all make us proud and we are greatful to you.

[unkus]

Gotta love those old pics!!!.....The way we were!

---

Yep.

[JDoutrider]

For some of us, at least for me, this is a little late and it rings hollow coming from Leon Panetta and his cohorts...

I share those thoughts.

Never Forget!

These are the same bastards who threw buckets of hate and ridicule at us when we returned all those years ago. They tried to shame us for performing our duty.

Forget? Hell! It's those same hippie commies that spat and jeered at us that are now in charge of our Nation and Military!

Hollow indeed...

Other than that, Welcome Home my Brothers and Sisters!!! Ya done Good!

[Tax-chick]

My father and uncle aren’t well enough to be there. They were Navy officers in their 30s during their Vietnam service, so they’re in their late 70s now.

Never forget.

[Pelham]

Good post.

[unkus]

I agree 100%. Thanks for saying it.

Yep, we did good and they’ll never take that away.

[ImpBill]

Yes sir! Never forget ... and I still can't even come close to forgiving!

The sad part is how many fellow Americans sat by in silent ambivalence and watched as it all went down.

[JDoutrider]

Yes indeed Brother Eagle! Pinging JR who was there with us providing plenty of BOOM!!! for us dumb grunts!

[satan]

On Sunday I will have dinner with my West Point classmates at our 50th reunion. We all went. Unfortunately not all of us made it back.

[JDoutrider]

I won't "forgive" them.

Lord forgive me... but communism is what we were paid to fight and kill over there. Now, they have taken over our country America. I pray I live long enough to see the reckoning.

This shall not stand!~

[PzLdr]

The honor was ours.

CPT ARMOR
MACV 1971

[mbennett203]

"What do you mean we lost the war?

We were winning when I left!!"

Nice one! Vietnam: like the Korean War, but with a huge number of Americans waving the flag of the enemy and no U.N. security counsel resolution supporting the free south. How were we supposed to win, again?

[unkus]

I won’t forgive them, either.

It won’t stand and we’ll see the reckoning!

[unkus]

Right on!

“Drive On”!

[VNam68]

ping

[VNam68]

ping

[ripley]

“...something more akin to an apology would be more appropriate...”

Absolutely.

They can keep their recognitions. Every time they do it (as they did in the 1980’s) they make themselves feel better about their treachery.

Never, not even once, was there a demonstration against Communist aggression, subversion and murder; not once.
There were always demonstrations against an “unjust” war and “baby-killer” Americans.

More appropriate would be a visit to the grave of every single American who fell, by those who denigrated them.
There, apologies should flow to the occupants of those graves, their parents, their children, and their spouses for the smearing of thier honor with accusations and insults.

(One should also bear in mind that this is an election year.)

IMHO

[xrmusn]

“What do you mean we lost the war?
We were winning when I left!!”
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
I earned my VN ‘stuff’ early on, and being a ‘kind of in your face guy’, I wear a VN type ball cap (have an assortment, with some ships I served on, one VN Vet, one CW Vet all with VSM, AFEM, NDM embroidered on them)- I do this so “they” won’t forget.

When approached with “Thank you for your service”, I normally say “My pleasure, thank you for remembering - You are welcome” but if it is from a male in my age group I will normally just nod or ignore - the ‘real’ VN Vet will either start with “Welcome Home or Where & when” etc...

[Little Bill]

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, I would rather be stuck in the a## with a sharp stick than have a sh## head like this honor me for my two tours. The rats sold us down the tubes F’em.

[jazusamo]

The rats sold us down the tubes F’em.

Well said!

[huldah1776]

“Never, not even once, was there a demonstration against Communist aggression, subversion and murder; not once.”

There still isn’t. Those yelling are the children of those who yelled back then. Those yelling are the students of those who yelled back then.

Hmmmm.

[POWERSBOOTHEFAN]

Amen.