The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Conference Center > General Discussion Forum

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old May 7, 2016, 04:06 PM   #1
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
50 year Memorial VN War

Just got back from the service held at the VA. Its been 49 years for me, it was a turnout of about 2000 Vietnam Vets. After all these years, the feeling being with all my brothers is hard to explain. Feels like it was yesterday, feeling kind of down now thinking of my buddy's that didn't get to live a full life. To all my brothers out there, make the best of every day. God bless America. Your all in my heart.
cw308 is offline  
Old May 7, 2016, 05:48 PM   #2
lamarw
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 12, 2010
Location: Lake Martin, AL
Posts: 3,311
Know the feeling.
lamarw is offline  
Old May 9, 2016, 09:25 AM   #3
terzmo
Member
 
Join Date: December 16, 2012
Posts: 97
yes...the war that did nothing but kill or screw up over 500 thousand.....It's great the military is "fashionable" now...not like it was when I returned from SEA... most were drafted
terzmo is offline  
Old May 9, 2016, 09:41 AM   #4
kraigwy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 16, 2008
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 11,061
Quote:
yes...the war that did nothing but kill or screw up over 500 thousand.....It's great the military is "fashionable" now...not like it was when I returned from SEA... most were drafted
It wasn't the war that screwed us over.

"most were drafted" I think not. In WWII, 2/3s of our soldiers were draftees, In Vietnam, 2/3s were enlistees.

"did nothing...." The Vietnam War proved to Russia, they could never out do our military. It was the firing shot that brought down the Soviet Empire.

Remember the Yon Kipper War, Oct 1973. The Russians supported the Arabs, we supported Israel. We both flew in thousands of tons of military hardware, we match the Russians plane load for plane load of equipment, they couldn't compete with our air lift.

The difference was we were coming out of a 10 year plus war that should have bled us dry, but didn't, The flew in supplies from the belly of Russia, we flew in from 8000 miles away.

Russia just couldn't compete.

Before we condemn our war effort in SE Asia, lets look at some facts:

http://www.vhfcn.org/stat.html
__________________
Kraig Stuart
CPT USAR Ret
USAMU Sniper School
Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071
kraigwy is offline  
Old May 9, 2016, 02:54 PM   #5
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
We never lost a battle, some were just tuffer. I was drafter, when they called on me, I felt it was my duty. Volunteered to go to Vietnam, infantry, hard core all the way. Its not like the movies. Never change my way of thinking. I love this county, no place in this world is better. To all the ones that piss & moan, do 1 tour in a combat zone. Maybe then you have the right, that's maybe. Remember ( he served with honor & distinction). Kraigwy Your #1 in my book .

Last edited by cw308; May 10, 2016 at 07:30 AM.
cw308 is offline  
Old May 9, 2016, 02:58 PM   #6
lefteye
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 30, 2006
Posts: 1,433
Kraigwy - Thank you for the cite.
__________________
Vietnam Veteran ('69-'70)
NRA Life Member
RMEF Life Member
lefteye is offline  
Old May 9, 2016, 03:05 PM   #7
rjinga
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 3, 2012
Location: N. E. Georgia
Posts: 512
To all who served over there - thank you, and welcome home!
__________________
"Yo homie. Is that my briefcase?"

Sig Sauer P229 SAS GEN 2 E2 9mm; PTR 91, GI model; Chinese Type 56 SKS; Smith & Wesson Shield 9mm
rjinga is offline  
Old May 9, 2016, 03:24 PM   #8
Quentin2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 18, 2009
Location: NorthWest USA
Posts: 1,996
It's 50 years since I graduated high school and joined the Army in 1966. And 48 years since I was in Vietnam. I can't believe it was that long ago! Yeah, time passes fast, especially now at my age!
Quentin2 is offline  
Old May 9, 2016, 04:04 PM   #9
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
Quentin2, time goes by so fast brother. Hope all is well.#1GI
cw308 is offline  
Old May 9, 2016, 08:30 PM   #10
Hunter Customs
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 26, 2005
Location: Osborn, Missouri
Posts: 2,697
Welcome home to all my brothers.

www.1-5th-m-25th-inf-1966.com

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
Hunter Customs is offline  
Old May 9, 2016, 09:40 PM   #11
Quentin2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 18, 2009
Location: NorthWest USA
Posts: 1,996
CW308, thanks for starting such a wonderful thread! I'm sure that was a wonderful VA service you attended. You and I are among the fortunate ones to survive, to come home and to have had almost 50 years more. Things are good here so far and I hope you're well, too!
Quentin2 is offline  
Old May 9, 2016, 10:23 PM   #12
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
VA is taking care of me with some issues from AO. Life is good I enjoy every day, no complaints. To all my brothers, it was an honor to serve with you.
cw308 is offline  
Old May 12, 2016, 01:36 PM   #13
SPEMack618
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 21, 2010
Location: Central Georgia
Posts: 1,863
Dad served three tours, came back with three Purple Hearts, three Silver Stars, and a deep seated mistrust of short barreled AR- rifles firing 55 grn FMJ.

He will always point out that when the PAVN took Saigon there wasn't an American troop actively engaged in combat in country.

We won the war in '73 with Linebacker II. And then left.

As a vet of Iraq and Afghanistan, where I carried a 5.56 carbine too, I can relate to the feeling.
__________________
NRA Life Member
Read my blog!
"The answer to any caliber debate is going to be .38 Super, 10mm, .357 Sig or .41 Magnum!"
SPEMack618 is offline  
Old May 12, 2016, 04:17 PM   #14
SSGCharlie
Junior Member
 
Join Date: October 19, 2015
Posts: 7
Left high school in '65 and joined the Army, went to VN in '68 and part of '69. Have a lot of health issues because of being in Nam (100%disabled) but if time would turn back I would do it again and most likely stay for another tour.

Was very upset with the VA for many years but now they are trying to take care of me.

Didn't think it has been that long ago till I read this thread.

Went to diner with my wife this last Friday night. I was wearing VN Vet hat. The waitress came to the table when we were just about done and said somebody saw my hat and paid for our diner. I ask who it was so I could thank them and she said they have left and were on there way back home to CA.
SSGCharlie is offline  
Old May 12, 2016, 04:52 PM   #15
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
All Vets have so much in common. I feel so at ease talking to other vets, after 48 years, its like a breath of fresh air. Wishing you all a happy & healthy life. Thank You, Chris
SPEMack618, Your Dad went above & beyond. You should be proud of him. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Hard Core.
SSGCharlie, My time May17- May18 1967-68 that place took a piece out of all of us. No regrets. One thing we never did was " Chieu Hoi" bring back memories. Be Well.

Last edited by cw308; May 12, 2016 at 07:56 PM.
cw308 is offline  
Old May 13, 2016, 05:24 AM   #16
peggysue
Junior member
 
Join Date: May 20, 2014
Posts: 1,835
Them were tough time for Vets coming back and being in afterwards too. So many peace nick hippies who are now running / ruining the nation. I served during the war however it ended just before I had to go. Stayed state side. When we traveled for the military we were instructed to not wear our uniforms. Make me recall Arlo Guthrys anti-war Woodstock song. What're we fighting for ? (Vietnam Song)
peggysue is offline  
Old May 13, 2016, 07:26 AM   #17
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
Those hippies have nothing to be proud of. Turned into liberals.
cw308 is offline  
Old May 13, 2016, 01:24 PM   #18
Quentin2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 18, 2009
Location: NorthWest USA
Posts: 1,996
Yeah, those hippies spit at us back then and now too many of them are politicians in DC still spitting at us and the Flag.
Quentin2 is offline  
Old May 13, 2016, 02:31 PM   #19
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
ETS from Oakland California from VN. From the jungle two days later home. Never had anyone spit at me, heard of it happening though. After I was back about 6 months, there was a war protest down 6th Avenue NYC. Saw this maggot long haired hippie carrying a VC flag. Wanted to PUNCH HIM IN THAT SMUG LOOKING FACE. Only in America could they get away with that. Even burning the flag, I guess in a way they did spit in my face.
cw308 is offline  
Old May 13, 2016, 03:49 PM   #20
SC4006
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 27, 2012
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 525
To all of you that have served before me, thank you. I know there were plenty that did not approve of the Vietnam war and its veterans, but know that there are many more like myself that greatly appreciate your courageous actions during the war.

CW308, what weapon system(s) did you use during the war? I'd assume you got to use one of those newfangled plastic "Mattel" rifles right?
__________________
I don't always go to the range, but when I do, I prefer dosAKs.

They say 5 out of 4 people are bad at math.

Last edited by SC4006; May 13, 2016 at 04:26 PM.
SC4006 is offline  
Old May 13, 2016, 04:57 PM   #21
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
SC4006, yes m16 (5.56) m14 (7.62) m60 (7.62) m79 (40mm) single shot. M16 had to clean the other 3 not so much. Tiger(bombadee bom) & black label beer seem to make down time better. Not to mention consi.
cw308 is offline  
Old May 13, 2016, 05:43 PM   #22
lefteye
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 30, 2006
Posts: 1,433
Black Label beer - wow. I hadn't even thought of that beer since October 1970.
__________________
Vietnam Veteran ('69-'70)
NRA Life Member
RMEF Life Member
lefteye is offline  
Old May 13, 2016, 06:18 PM   #23
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
Left eye, Me to. This is the longest conversation I ever had on the subject. Just don't send me a bill. Be well. Let's change it to the good times .

Last edited by cw308; May 13, 2016 at 06:23 PM.
cw308 is offline  
Old May 13, 2016, 06:34 PM   #24
peggysue
Junior member
 
Join Date: May 20, 2014
Posts: 1,835
Vote for Trump. Please.
peggysue is offline  
Old May 13, 2016, 07:07 PM   #25
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
FOR SURE.
cw308 is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:08 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.09826 seconds with 8 queries