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luv2fly352 · 70-79, M
I served in Vietnam as an infantry squad leader with the 173rd Airborne Brigade from '66 to '67 and have always appreciated Ken Burns' work especially when he did the Civil War series because my great great grandfather served on the Union side, but to answer your question,most of us who were "grunts" generally tend to gravitate toward one another,if at all,due to being actual combat veterans. Hope this helps.
Angelly · F
@luv2fly352 I posted this question because I have relatives who are Vietnam Veterans(Uncle, cousins, brother). Out of respect to them & for what they went thru, I have not asked them to speak of the war nor have I ever heard them talk about it amongst themselves.
I sincerely thank you for your sacrifice
I sincerely thank you for your sacrifice
luv2fly352 · 70-79, M
Thank you,i appreciate that. What i can say on a personal note as a combat wounded disabled veteran of two military conflicts is that i never spoke of it to anyone simply because i had no desire to, plus there's no way i could explain to non-combatants what it was like,i.e. being in the thick of it so to speak such as the sights,sounds,even smells of war aside from the flashbacks,avoiding crowds, the need to have my back against the wall in a restaurant etc. after returning home. Personally speaking, i simply held things inside and managed for the most part to keep things on the back burner as best i could while attending weekly group therapy at the V.A. with other combat veterans in order to cope and manage PTSD which is all one can do. In group therapy,we never mention Vietnam unless another vet ties it in with something presently going on in his life. Group therapy is about managing PTSD,not reliving it! Nor are we the kind of men to ever feel sorry for ourselves.
Hope i haven't rambled too much here but hopefully gave you some small
perspective and/or insight.
Lost my wife,family's all gone,friends are all dead,save one. My best friend and precious rescue dog passed away in July. Her Urn with photo sit on my coffee table. So,dear lady,as with Ishmael,in Moby Dick; "I alone am left to tell thee".
Hope i haven't rambled too much here but hopefully gave you some small
perspective and/or insight.
Lost my wife,family's all gone,friends are all dead,save one. My best friend and precious rescue dog passed away in July. Her Urn with photo sit on my coffee table. So,dear lady,as with Ishmael,in Moby Dick; "I alone am left to tell thee".
luv2fly352 · 70-79, M
Heartlander · 80-89, M
@luv2fly352 Thanks for sharing that. I think there are so many dimensions that anything one says is always like starting a conversation in the middle and only only people familiar with some of the other dimensions can follow the flow and appreciate that what's being said is only a tiny piece.
luv2fly352 · 70-79, M
Yes indeed.