THANK YOU for your service

LovingBooks,

Although your comment is kind and supportive toward Vietnam veterans, I would respectfully take issue with the contention that they didn't receive the reception and care they deserved.

The reception upon their return from Vietnam was certainly *different* from that of returnees from earlier conflicts, but that was a function of the prevailing mode of travel for troops in the '60s and early '70s, versus 1918, 1945/46, and 1953. Troops returning from Vietnam were transported home one Boeing 707 at a time, to any of numerous arrival airports or bases, several per day, day-in day-out, week after week, month after month, year after year. In stark contrast, previous wars' troops were largely transported home by means of cruise ships, leased by the Government, and crammed with as many as 15,000 troops per ship. Each ship was presumably met by thousands of relatives and friends. Vietnam veterans, on the other hand, took one or two days on a military base to muster out, then individually made their own way home by airline or whatever means they chose. (In my case, I was immediately bumped up to first class by the TWA stewardesses and was treated like a king.)

As to the nature of their reception by their countrymen, you'll find these boards littered with third-hand anecdotal claims of abusive treatment upon their return, including allegations of having been spat-upon and called baby-killers and the like. Please don't fall for this nonsense. There is ZERO supporting proof of any such incidents. Anyone claiming knowledge of someone else's experience is invariably citing vague details heard from someone who'd heard it from someone else, and their charges are laughably devoid of specifics. The few times I've spoken to someone claiming a first-hand experience with mistreatment, a few well-formed follow-up questions caused their stories to fold like a house of cards, and they slinked away much like today's stolen-valor slugs.

Prospective employers typically were receptive to considering Vietnam veterans for jobs, assuming the applicants were smart enough to bathe, shave, cut their hair, and dress appropriately.

As for the care veterans received, I can best point to my own experience. While in college, I suffered two malaria relapses. At the college clinic, I was treated with warmth and concern while I was there. I was quickly transported to the local VA Medical Center, where medical personnel were familiar with the proper malaria treatment regimen. Their facility was a bit on the Spartan side, but it was clean, well-equipped, and staffed with competent, kind, devoted and attentive medical, nursing and support professionals. I know that, today, the VA has serious issues; but, in 1970, they were top-notch. (Oh, and my college professors could not have been more supportive and accommodating in getting me back up to speed after my 12- and 10-day absences from their classes.)

Now, will naysayers and contrarians come out of the woodwork and post vitriolic arguments to the contrary? Undoubtedly. Just take their divisive drivel with a grain of salt.

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