Welcome Home, Finally (Oliver North on Vietnam)

Creators Syndicate ^ | May 18, 2012 | Oliver North

[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!