why were vietnam veterans called baby killers

Sergeant Major El Sar is now the Command Chaplain Sergeant Major for the U.S. Army Japan. Take that in conjunction with the usage of child soldiers by the north vietnamese (a practice the south shared) and you can see where the people took that image from. This younger generation started to say, thank you to the Vietnam Veterans in their community, and that helped to enhance the image of the Vietnam Veteran that was maligned and lied about by those from their generation that did not want to I've always suspected that the spitting and the "baby killer" insult (re: the movie 'Rambo', for instance) were largely myth, although I would guess that a few incidents must have occurred. Short- and long-term remedies are essential. In October 1967, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter James Reston's front page article in the New York Times described his eyewitness account of protest behavior so vulgar that spitting was the least of the transgressions. Treatment of Returning VeteransWW2 veterans were respected by the public, Vietnam veterans and were looked down upon by the public, mostly because the media was where it shouldn't have been. But even those who came home in one piece were met with trauma some were spit upon, yelled at or called "baby killers." America was seeing so many casualties in a conflict that most Other spitting incidents were reported by Pulitzer Prize winners Max Frankel in the New York Times (November 1969) and Carl Bernstein in the Washington Post (May 1970). WebThey wernt. Another topic covered wasBack in the World. The following How did the US citizens view And David Sirota is wrong about the history and policies of that war and about the treatment of returning military men and women ("The myth of the spat-upon war veteran," June 8). Yes), Meet the Su-37 Terminator: Russias Forgotten Fighter Jet, Tulsi Gabbard Can Defeat Woke Extremism, the GOP Cant, Donald Trump Crushes Ron DeSantis in CPAC Poll. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The profile of those who served was more complicated than their stereotype the men and women in Vietnam were not defined by peace symbols and love beads, although some displayed them. Your email address will not be published. Dark Truth Exposed: East Palestine Rail Disaster, BOAC 707 Sabotage, Why people should start business in Lithuania, Best Strategy To Play Online Baccarat Games, Effects of Incontinence in Various Areas of Life, Conversations from the porch Episode 19 with Jack Heart &, Covert Operations In Vietnam: The Incomplete History of US-Norway Collaboration. Maguen and the studys first author Natalie Purcell, PhD, who directs the Patient Centered Care Program at the SFVAHCS, have initiated research, outreach and model therapies for veterans with moral injury. Vietnam was an unpopular war where 58,200-plus combat soldiers were killed and more than 300,000 were wounded. It's not like they had a choice to even join. Fox Nation's "Modern Warriors" returned on Tuesday with a new episode that chronicles the sacrifices and personal accounts of decorated Vietnam veterans who dedicated their lives to service on behalf of the United States. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Salute Heroes & Veterans Benefits February 2023. I am a combat-disabled Army veteran who served in Vietnam in 1968-69. So, welcome home from Vietnam yeah, welcome home !! The abuse of vets was real but it rarely was more than verbal abuse. WebAnswer (1 of 2): I served with the USMC in Vietnam in 1966.1967 and when I got home, I didnt want anything from anyone, because I had my life and all of my parts too. Learn more. Made us question why we ever joined the fight But we took it out on you, and now its time to make things right V1: On the TV, in the papers, you were treated so unfair You got blamed for Vietnam instead of the ones who sent you there Some folks called you baby killers, called you monsters and worse This war, led by many Vietnam Veteran Commanders and NCOs (Non-Commissioned Officers), further brought respect and admiration to all Vietnam Veterans. How you were treated by the country you defended, So heres a song. I joined the Air Force in 76 and was stationed just outside San Francisco. Later in the Vietnam War, Wynn spent nearly two months in military hospital after being shot in the chest - 8 out of the 12 men in his squad were killed or wounded on the same day. This actually complicates things. Although the history of the past 50 years is complex, it's fair to observe that the spread of communism has been contained. That sounds, unbelievable, but it is very believable to me having come upon many of these WANNABES since the attitude in this country has done a complete turn around about Vietnam Veterans by many citizens. WebMore than 58,000 made the ultimate sacrifice, and hundreds of thousands more were injured physically, psychologically, or both coming back to a nation which spat upon them or called them baby killers. It was indeed a painful chapter in American history. "Corporate America wouldn't hire us. How many kids did you kill today? But by late 1969, when Americans learned of the atrocities committed against an estimated 600 civilians at the village of My Lai, some protesters focused on those who were serving in Vietnam, not as victims but as willing participants in their cruel and unjust war. They had an impression that we were baby killers and drug addicts. Those Vietnam Veterans fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq enhanced their individual respect and admiration as Vietnam Veterans, and the rest of us at home that had served in Vietnam benefited from their service all these years later. American service members did not suffer defeat, even though most of us felt defeated. Throughout it all, though, Vietnam Veterans maintained our dignity, patriotism and formed a bond of brotherhood and sisterhood that is SECOND TO NONE to any other group of Veterans from any era! CH: ------------------------------------------------------------ These Vietnam Veterans continued to do the same when the Iraq War started, and as our fellow countrymen and countrywomen began to return to American shores. To understand the war, we have to understand what motivated that generation of Americans not only to protest but also to fight, and later to seek some sort of closure. Contrary to protesters' claims, then and now, the Vietnam War did not begin without good reasons. Soldiers called Baby Killers during the Vietnam war? What's the story behind Minneapolis' smaller houses with huge front yards? So it was a "damned if you and damned if you don't" situation. Before VT Nuclear Education: The Beirut Nuclear Coverup, The Hidden History of the Incredibly Evil Khazarian Mafia. One major drawback for the returning Vietnam Veteran, most of them came home alone, not with their units, and were easy targets of hostility, disdain, and disrespect for the groups of war protesters gathering at our Nations airports and other areas returning Veterans dis-embarked. Partially because the Vietnam war saw far more coverage of war crimes committed by americans than other wars, for example, see the massacres of My Lai and My Khe when a company of US infantrymen killed, raped and mutilated their way through over 500 people (according to the vietnamese government, american sources claim 347 total dead and wounded but only account for the actions committed in My Lai.). I didnt know why I should feel so bad if I didnt do anything wrong. just for you. Market data provided by Factset. There are myriad veteran organizations committed to helping refugees just as their Vietnam veteran brothers and sisters did and continue to do today. Although not all veterans who have taken a life suffer guilt or mental health consequences, Maguen said the growing number of veterans seeking mental health services suggest that high numbers of veterans are experiencing moral injury. WebTwenty-one-year-old Steven A. Wowwk arrived as an infantryman in the Armys First Cavalry Division in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam in early January 1969 to fight in an escalating and Why Were Vietnam Soldiers Called Baby KillersYour bearded dragon can die from organ failure and it can sometimes seem as a sudden death. He worked with a ton of vets who would tell outrageous, obviously false, stories. You grabbed your things and left the transport, hit your knees and kissed the ground The anti-war movement didn't even condemn Lt. Calley of the My Lai massacre infamy, seeing him as a scapegoat while his commanding officers walked free (in the event, Calley served something like two days in jail for murdering 22 people). Most importantly, today she is a key member of Shona ba Shona, an organization dedicated to helping Afghans escape to safety. You can listen to her describe her life and work with the 12th Sergeant Major of the Army, Jack Tilley, on his Your Mission Continues podcast. She and fellow veteran and founder of Shona ba Shona, Jason Ghormley, describe their experiences and the work they are doing to help Afghan refugees. All rights reserved. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Here are three examples of refugees from conflicts who have gone on to become great Americans and have given back to America in ways most of us could not. Powerful, often unshared, memories remain. Market data provided by Factset. Why were people angry about the Vietnam War memorial? Sharing this post with your friends through social media is a way of sending "kudos" to the Veterans Radio team and their guests. flower shop killing, Stillwater officers shoot, kill suspect at apartment complex, 'We play whack-a-mole': Growing medical needs stress suburban fire departments, Two Harbors residents renew 20-year fight to block project on Lighthouse Point. Furthermore, the Kent State shootings in May 1970. They described how they felt after killing in combat and some opened up about hidden agonies. Few could have anticipated the duration and cost of this commitment. There were a number of well publicized atrocities committed by the US military, and the general knowledge that the Vietnamese civilian population was suffering greatly. It was searching for elusive enemy forces while encountering Vietnamese civilians who just wished the Americans would leave and the war would end. Nick Wilson, Chief Revenue Officer , for Legion Logistics talks with host Jim Fausone about the company, its veteran owner and why NVBDC certification as a veteran owned business was so important to Legion and the power of NVBDC networking. For meand I think most others returningwe transported in a civilian airplane, that landed on a military base, which would have greatly restricted civilians from being where they could protest against us. Fatima Jaghoori is an Afghan refugee, a former U.S. Army medic who fought in Iraq, a Gold Star wife, and is now a student at Kansas State University. They were not a group of mutinous draftees, although many were drafted, and if they did not begin their tour disillusioned by their war, they most likely concluded it with that view. The race became a referendum on the issue, which was bad news for Mayor Lori Lightfoot. McCloughan is credited with saving the lives of members of his platoon nearly 50 years ago in the Battle of Nui Yon Hill in Vietnam. In previous wars, civilians at home had no footage of the horrors besides government-prepared newsreels and the occasional lone wolf report. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Her father was killed by the Taliban for helping American NGOs escape to Pakistan in the 1990s. What happened in the workplace when the soldiers returned home? The Operation Song Alumni Group has been meeting for their spring 23 songwriting sessions and the fruit of their most recent session (February 3, 2023) is a song titled Welcome Home From Vietnam. Author: Why Post date: 2 yesterday Rating: 4 (285 reviews) Highest rating: 3 Low rated: 2 Summary: A Why were people angry about the Vietnam War memorial? More people probably knew Lt. William Calley, the man in charge at My Lai, than knew the name of any other combat officer who served in Vietnam. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Welcome home from Vietnam How to get a motorcycle license in vietnam? We salute you youre with your own Welcome home from Vietnamwere so thankful for the sacrifice you made /r/History is a place for discussions about history. They were not a band of rebellious fraggers assassinating their officers or marauding killers piling up body counts of the innocent in a haze of marijuana smoke. Vietnam veterans were treated in despicable ways by Americans from being spit on to being called baby killers. According to cultural historian M. All Rights Reserved en.trandaiquang.org - 2023. WebAnswer (1 of 2): I served with the USMC in Vietnam in 1966.1967 and when I got home, I didnt want anything from anyone, because I had my life and all of my parts too. The researchers urged the public and health care workers to allow veterans to express themselves to help them work through these conflicts. We were shamed and embarrassed. Matthew Israel Even though the WANNABE now wants to steal our valor, they cannot, because we will expose them for what they are, WANNABEs, hypocrites and liars! The horrific actions of those that committed atrocities were widely shared on television, newspapers and magazines. Welcome back where you belong.you know there shoulda been a ticker tape parade Ukraine War Anniversary: UN and China Work for Peace, Devilish Zelensky, Kiev Hid Its Dead Soldiers in the Ravines. Why did Vietnam vets get called baby killers? https://veteransradio.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/WELCOM-HOME-FROM-VIETNAM.mp3, INTRO WebProtests led by students and hippies raised awareness about the atrocities of the Vietnam war. Born in Detroit in 1979, he was raised by parents with strong antiwar sentiments. In 1968, the chant from protesters was Hey, hey, L.B.J. Untill several years latter of course, now the veterans of Vietnam are respected as well WW2 Veterans were greated with parades. How much ammo did a soldier carry in vietnam? in '68 came the My Lai massacre spit on troops coming home and call them baby killers. On the other hand, what remains a common trait of veterans of both wars is their desire to help those left behind. In popular memory, the boomers quickly turned against the war. General Colin Powell and General Norman Schwartzkopf did not want a repeat of the debacle that was caused by the politicians in Congress when all of South Vietnam fell to the communists. Even Medal of Honor recipients were abused and "spat upon as 'monsters'," according to the head of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, WWII medalist Thomas J. Kelly. One, it was hard to go there again. Written in Collaboration with Operation Song Writer David Kent and the Operation Song Alumni. James McCloughan, an Army medic who was awarded the Medal of Honor by former President Trump for rescuing wounded soldiers during the war, joined host Pete Hegseth in the episode along with several other veterans to detail their experience abroad and the hardships they faced upon their return to the U.S. "Vietnam veterans didn't talk about their war and about themselves," McCloughan recalls in the episode. Greene believed the tale was an urban legend. The idea that the anti-war movement was hostile towards Vietnam veterans is a myth. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. In doing so, we can begin to break through the postwar silence that masks moral injury, sustains isolation and reinforces trauma.. Ukrainian POW Unveils, Russian forces eliminating Ukrainian saboteurs that violated border, Greetings from Oujda, Morocco, the City of Mosques, VT RADIO: Exposing East Palestine Train Derailment Disaster with VTs, VT RADIO: Foreign Policy Gone Mad with VTs Senior Editor, VT RADIO: UFOs, Aliens, & Chinese Balloons with VTs Jack, Republican Candidates Defend Killing Civilians to Fight Terrorism and so do Democrats, Iraq veterans could be prosecuted for war crimes, says head of inquiry, Khazarian Mafia at War: The Jewish Oligarch Who Planned the Terror Attack on Bryansk, Covert Operations In Vietnam: The Incomplete History of US-Norway Collaboration. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais). We were not honored, but were treated as the face of an unpopular war. Although more than 50% of the songs I have written, you could call country, in style, I have also done rock numbers, blues numbers, bossa nova, and one big band Andrew Sisters style song which we produced with a full horn section and three female singers. Its detractors perceived it as a monument to defeat, one that spoke more directly to a nations guilt than to the honor of the war dead and the veterans, describing it as the black gash of shame, the degrading ditch, and a wailing wall for draft dodgers and New Lefters of the future. 4 Veterans and their advocates are also encouraged to build bridges especially to the spiritual community, which is increasingly concerned and sympathetic to the veterans plight and moral injury. National and state surveys did exactly that and many answers are unsettling. I do not wish to have my record of service dishonored again. A later publication that did specifically focus on what greeted returning Vietnam veterans is. The Vietnam War came at a time when most American households had a TV set, and the news networks had the technology to send video back to North America very quickly. National Security. Their Impact of Killing (IOK) treatment program emphasizes self-forgiveness and helping veterans make amends, heal relationships, plan for their future and move forward. Their leaders did not, although they were seldom honest about this. Video was a collaboration between David Maxwell is a senior fellow at FDD. Many did, but many also served. It was a time of fear, but also an era of national confidence and of individual obligation. It was shameful, it was ugly, it was rude The spitting on veterans was just a small part of the overall feeling of lost honor, but it was real, contrary to Sirota's article, which appears to borrow heavily from a review of a book written by socialist and war protester Jerry Lembcke. Only this time, the young people of the same age as the returning Veterans were not protesting their generation of warriors but were showing them respect and thanking these brave patriots. With no idea of what was waiting for you back in your home town V2: It's myth, like most myths, that's gained traction through incessant repetition powered by Vietnam veterans own guilt and shame over what they did in Vietnam, their failure to win that was seen as so shameful by the American public and an attempt to bury the facts of the US armed forces' collapsing morale at the end of the war. She is now a Colonel and the executive officer to the U.S Army Inspector General. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. WebSecretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III honored Vietnam War Veterans during a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Original Reporting. COMMENTdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a144447f3c8e4143cfddcc0024396068" );document.getElementById("ee4d823118").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Did they not also kill women and children? 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. In 2004, the VA called the house and said because of Agent Orange, I was welcome at the VA and I went and still there. Why weren't those soldiers, such as WWII, Korean, and Gulf War vets,, called 'baby killers' too? It has been the most rewarding songwriting I have done in my life, because we are dealing with real stories and real lives. And he espouses that post-traumatic stress disorder was an invention of the government to garner support for the war. Some found it hard to get close to others because they had to hide that they killed in combat. The only reason to not accuse a person of a misdeed is lack of evidence that person committed that misdeed. Kelly recounted how about 200 anti-war protesters showed up one year to harass the Medal of Honor recipients at their annual dinner. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. WebIn some instances, antiwar protesters reportedly spit on returning veterans and called them baby-killers. According to the National Vietnam Veterans Foundation, individuals falsely claiming to have served in the Vietnam War for those same statistics totaled 9,492,958 people! Reviled by the draft dodgers and war protesters even up until the mid-1980s, Vietnam Veterans endured the disrespect but still stood tall, but life was not easy being a Vietnam Veteran. ", President Donald Trump bestows the nation's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor to retired Army medic James McCloughan during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, July 31, 2017. Doug Avery, a young medic in Dust Off, gives his perspective on the Vietnam War 46 years later. A major difference between Vietnam and Afghanistan is the treatment of veterans at the end of war. I believe it just fit the narrative, especially since the Vietnam War was the first war where the press was able to come and go. So when President Kennedy proclaimed at his inauguration that the torch had passed to a new generation, his World War II generation, it was a torch that few held very long. As Americans became disillusioned by the war, some of their sons and daughters, siblings and friends continued to go to Vietnam. This song was a group write, along with the very accomplished Nashville songwriter, David Kent. Vietnam Veterans always felt we did the right thing when we answered the call to stop communism in South Vietnam, the biggest threat to global democracy in the latter half of the 20th century. This is a somewhat more serious subreddit compared to many others. Required fields are marked *. He is a 30-year veteran of the United States Army, retiring in 2011 as a Special Forces Colonel with his final assignment serving on the military faculty teaching national security strategy at the National War College. Why was america’s policy of containment a failure in vietnam? In fact, there were16 parades, As an appendix, Dapin lists the battalions that participated, the number of He has served the U.S. around the world including multiple assignments in support of ministering to Special Forces troops in three Special Forces Groups. Despite U.S. economic support and military advisers, the French lost the ensuing Vietnamese independence struggle and withdrew from all of Indo-China. The reason why the Vietnam War became so unpopular is that Despite Sirota's contentions, Vietnam vets were a bit crushed coming home. Bipartisan. Webhow Vietnam veterans were treated upon their return home, several did detailed that experience, reporting disturbing opinions regarding the activities of the anti-war movement as early as 1967. If other soldiers in on other wars killed children, the fault in calling only Vietnam vets The Vietnam Veterans wanted to make sure no Americans returning home from fighting for their country ever received the negative treatment as they did during the Vietnam War. Of all the tropes about the Vietnam War, one stands out far above the rest in American memory: It was the baby boomers war. Many probably never served a day in a military uniform, and who knows, some of them might have been the anti-war protesters, draft dodgers and others that met returning Vietnam Veterans with garbage, dog feces and urine and other foreign objects, not to mention words of hate. WebLOVE, POVERTY, WAR AND Also by Christopher Hitchens BLOOD, CLASS AND EMPIRE: The Enduring Anglo-American Relationship A LONG SHORT WAR: The Postponed Liberation of Iraq WHY ORWELL MATTERS LEFT HOOKS, RIGHT CROSSES: A Decade of Political Writing (edited with Christopher Caldwell) LETTERS TO A YOUNG Legal Statement. The myth is also wielded as a cudgel to browbeat anti-war public opinion with shouts of "support the troops!" The baby boomers who were of military age and eligible to serve in Vietnam, but chose to protest and disrespect Vietnam Veterans, never wanted to be associated with the patriotic and brave men and women who chose to serve. Its genesis was a controversial newspaper column of 20 July 1987 in which Chicago Tribune syndicated columnist Bob Greene asked whether there was any truth to the folklore that Vietnam veterans had been spat upon when they returned from the war zone. It seems many in our country now want to be Vietnam Veterans even though they never stepped foot in that country. This meant that video of combat casualties and the horrors of war played out in living rooms every evening. WebAs one Vietnam veteran writes: Vietnam vets were a bit crushed coming home. Veterans Radio: Thank you David for your service to our veteran community. He recalled that when he returned home from serving in Vietnam, veterans were called baby killers and other names. Americans might wonder why we should help refugees. He is the editor of Small Wars Journal and a non-resident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Losing limbs, and losing best friends, losing half your sanity His father, John Fishback, a former Marine Corps machine-gunner, was wounded in Vietnam and, upon leaving the corps in 1969, joined Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Eighteen were Vietnam veterans and eight were deployed in Iraq. "Homecoming: When the Soldiers Returned From Vietnam is a book of selected correspondence published in 1989. Magnum, P.I. For More Information: www.OperationSong.org. Always Remember, Your email address will not be published. Modern Warriors' hosted by Pete Hegseth returns with a new episode in honor of Veterans Day. Make sure to familiarize yourself with our rules and guidelines before participating. I think it had to do with that the people did not really want America and there allies there and sense a lot of the south victimise where supporting the viat con this lead to a lot of soilders becoming frustrated because they where told there over there to help this people yet they where helping the guys killing there Friends. I think it also had a lot more popular opposition than any war since. You were filled with painful memories from the things you had to see, Officials say they can't, Xcel's plans for big EV charging network in state spark strong opposition, After pandemic hit, cultural groups hope for boost from state, Innocence Project takes up case of man convicted in Mpls. As time went by, other conflicts and wars involving America took place, and young men and women from those battles and hostilities began returning home. One veteran put it this way: All I knew is I hurt inside and I didnt know why, you know? thought we had no business being in to start with. Aint it time for some respect and and a little gratitude, Bridge: Maguens earlier researchsupported by the Veterans Health Research Institute-NCIREhas linked killing in combat with PTSD, depression and suicide. Soldiers came back from there only to be labeled as baby killers. Out in the field, Vietnam was a caldron of heat and humidity. It was a direct result of the 1945 Yalta Conference, where Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill agreed to abandon the Vietnamese (who had helped defeat the Japanese in World War II) and give all of Indo-China back to the French. Those boomers in uniform were more blue-collar and minority than their generational median, but they were not some marginal part of it, nor were they the only ones to fight. And even though its 50 years overdue. Some Gave All. The Vietnam War was a conflict that lasted from 1959 to 1975, and involved the United States, South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the National Liberation Front. Winston Churchill, reflecting on the Boer War, understood it a century ago, and the Vietnam generation experienced it a half century ago. Legion Logistics is a third-party logistics provider (3PL) based in Newport, Kentucky. David: I can tell you this about my time with Operation Song, which I believe has been about seven or eight years at this point. Why Is Assange in Jail and Not Seymour Hersh? Depending on what year is considered the beginning of the Vietnam War, 1959, 1961, 1965, history tells us the escalation of the war began in 1965 with a major building up of American forces that lasted until 1968. Exercises include discussion groups with fellow veterans and writing letters to the person they killed.

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why were vietnam veterans called baby killers