Veterans’ Day Welcome Home
This year, like every year, I posted my portrait as a young platoon sergeant to my Facebook avatar, not as a way to attract the inevitable “thanks for your service” comments or even the flirts that I get (obviously from blind women). No, I posted it because I’m proud that I had an opportunity to serve my country. I never did anything heroic, nor do I claim that service in itself makes me a hero. But, those two decades of service has had a huge impact on my life and the lives of my family.
Another reason I do it is because my military antecedents of the Vietnam generation weren’t encouraged to discuss or advertise their service. When they came home from their war, they took off their uniforms and their service remained in the duffel bags in a dark corner of their basements. Even the soldiers who fought in wars before them didn’t respect their service. The Korean War veterans experienced the same treatment from the World War II generation when that war was fought to a draw.
Somehow, that black scar across the landscape on the National Mall etched with 58,000 names changed that. I won’t try to explain the phenomenon, I’ll just recognize that was the turning point for Americans’ appreciation for military service. Now, I can be publicly proud of my service because of the sacrifice that Vietnam veterans made, the sacrifice that came after they returned from war.
The pendulum has swung all the way back to the other extreme, now people who never served want to strap on a uniform and tell wild tales about wars in which they never really served. Our Stolen Valor page is chocked full of them. I guess we should feel better that everyone wants to be like us, but trust me, we don’t.
The appreciation that Americans have for their military has even prompted the people who haven’t served to denigrate our service in an attempt to elevate their own station in life by attempting to drag our reputations down to their level. They even make it attractive for veterans to come out this time of year and write articles about how they don’t think they should be thanked for their service. We have a word for that, now – it’s called being a Blue Falcon.
I’ll admit that I’m a little embarrassed every time someone thanks me for my service, because being in the military was the best times of my life, and I’m embarrassed that someone thinks that I need to be thanked for the privilege of getting paid for being the best asshole I could be.
But, I know the feeling that I got the first time I went to downtown DC on Veterans’ Day and, encountering a lone Vietnam veteran hanging out on the periphery of the activities, I reached out my hand and said “Welcome Home”, he shook my hand and then quickly brushed away a tear, embarrassed by his own emotional reaction to those two simple words.
Maybe that’s what we all want – instead of the thanks, the martial pageantry, the placards, the cheers – maybe we just want to feel welcomed back here in our home.
My special thanks to all of the Vietnam veterans who made sure that we didn’t have to wait two decades to feel welcomed.
Category: Veterans Issues
Amen.
Truer words have never been spoken.
I covered an honor flight with a Vietnam Vet. I know his family as one of their kids plays hockey with mine. Anyway, he was on the flight home and we were talking about how all he ever wanted was a “welcome home” after Vietnam. He was over it and kinda just rolled with it over the years.
When the plane landed and 30 plus active duty and Guard people formed two lines for the vets — all WWII, Korea and Vietnam — to walk through, he sniffled. When he was greeted by more than 2,000 people who cheered him on, he baweled. Third greatest thing I have ever seen, next to the births of my two kids.
So, thanks for posting this. I’ll have to find the video I shot of him that night and post it here one of these days.
Andy Kravetz, reporter
Peoria (Ill.) Journal Star
akravetz@pjstar.com
Spot on.
Thanks Jonn. For many things, but especially for this post.
Thanks Jonn. Nailed it.
Had a veterans parade here where I live on Saturday. First one I’ve ever attended. Numerous people came up to me and thanked me. Each time I could hardly respond, because it choked me up so much.
Thanks Jonn, you have no idea how much your comments mean to me!
Jonn,
I guess you know where I stand as for this Veteran’s day. I’ve given up al-together, all I need is to just stay in my own back yard and forget all about my time in the service, far as things go there was never a Korea, or the Forgotten War as they called it. You know what both you and I went through last year with the KWVA and the phonys that we both raised hell with. right now all I have is the VFW & American Legion to look forward to, the others, can go take a flying crap. So this is what I think and feel about Veteran’s Day.
Sam
Jonn,
This essay could be your best….or least in the top three.
Particularly poignant for me was the paragraph;
“Another reason I do it is because my military antecedents of the Vietnam generation weren’t encouraged to discuss or advertise their service. When they came home from their war, they took off their uniforms and their service remained in the duffel bags in a dark corner of their basements. Even the soldiers who fought in wars before them didn’t respect their service. The Korean War veterans experienced the same treatment from the World War II generation when that war was fought to a draw.”
I don’t march in parades, wear the hats, bumper stickers or involve myself in conversations about Viet Nam except within these pages or at my Vet Group. I finally relented to my four sons who persisted in getting me to apply for Purple Heart plates for my car….even in that, I find some discomfort.
Two weeks ago I was at my Granddaughter’s first birthday party and on my blazer I decided to wear a small CIB pin that I bought at least 15 years ago, but never wore. I affixed it just above my Purple Heart pin.
One Afghanistan Veteran and friend of my son said to me. “Mr. M I didn’t know you had a CIB! Is that a Purple Heart insignia? Thank you for your service Mr. M.” He then gave me a hug and I had to take a walk around the block to compose myself.
Like I said, Jonn….thanks for all you do and all you say. It’s guys like me that feel welcome here – – like we have another home…….to drone on, perhaps a little too long.
John, thanks for this post.
Over 40 years ago I mustered out in Oakland, CA. They told us to change into our civvies as soon as possible to avoid confrontation.
It took me darned near 40 years to start wearing clothing that celebrated my service, that’s how ingrained the feelings of resentment were.
I didn’t go to Vietnam, I did my time in South Korea. But we were ALL painted with the same brush. I try not to feel jealous when I see how our returnees are treated today.
I try………
OC
Exactly OC. Not all of us were in the bush, I spent 71-75 on submarines but we were all treated the same when we came back. Like losers, like criminals. For many years I never talked about being in the Navy, just because it brought back bad memories of how I was made to feel. I’m glad it isn’t that way now.
Jonn, thanks for the essay, it really means something to be appreciated.
Hello from Toasty Coastie’s Spousal Unit.
She is back in the hospital today for an infection. She is ok and will be home in a few days. She was most emphatic about me coming on TAH to wish all our Marine Brothers a Happy Birthday, and to say Welcome Home to all our Brothers and Sisters who served over seas and also to thank you all for your service.
Jonn, Hondo,TSO, Sparks, Ex-PH2, MCPO, and Proud Infidel~
She sends you love and gratitude…she said you will know why.
I personally give all of you here on TAH my deepest gratitude for all you have done and thank you for your Service…
Welcome Home…
Sent an email to your old work email that I have. If you don’t see it, please send me one with an updated address. Toasty has mine. Hope everything’s ok.
Send her my best, please.
I have mixed feelings about have about how our Military is treated Today. I feel jealous, angry and sad. Not to forget feelings of pride of our young men. Gladden for them not to have to hide their service time.Happy that they can be treated for PTS now. Sidenote, Wes , you can use anything that I write about PTS or any other thing.
Nice post Jonn. You may not feel that you should be thanked because you enjoyed your time serving, but you (and your family) still made sacrifices that most of us never do – months spent in training and deployment, missed birthdays, holidays and births, uncomfortable heat and cold, lousy food, etc. For all of that, I thank you and everyone who has put on a uniform and signed that blank check. As for Vietnam, we never had the chance to welcome my uncle Jon Swanson home, his helicopter was shot down over Cambodia on February 26, 1971, his remains were not recovered. Several months later we had a memorial service at Ft. Logan Cemetery here in Colorado. Over the years, my Dad and his siblings along with my aunt and cousins, kept in touch with the POW/MIA office, supplying DNA once the technology was there and they were able to search the area. In 2001, we were informed that they had found remains of the helicopter and my uncle as well as his observer Larry Harrison. Of course, being a jungle and the fact that the helicopter burned, meant that there were only a few bone fragments, too burned for DNA testing and one tooth belonging to Larry Harrison were found. At the time of his death, Uncle Jon was nominated for the Medal of Honor by his commanding officer, but it was denied and downgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross. Many years later, there was an effort to revive the nomination for the MOH and around the time of discovering his remains we learned that his DSC would be upgraded to the MOH. Thanks to my cousin who had interned for several congressmen, as well as several currently serving members of Congress, they were able to coordinate the Arlington Cemetery funeral with the MOH ceremony at the White House. So on May 1, 2002, on what would have been his 60th birthday, we honored him in the Rose Garden, along with previous MOH recipients and those recently affected by the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. Two days later we… Read more »
@ OC
See by your post that you served over in Korea, I went into service three (3) months after it started Sept 15th, 1950 Discharged Sept 10th 1952, so if you were there around that time what outfit were you in???? if your anywhere’s around the state of Iowa look me up, might have things we can relate to. Jonn can give you my email address.
Sam
Sam, I was in Korea ’71-’72 at Camp Casey.
I’m from MN and have pheasant hunted in Iowa. I’d move there in a heartbeat, but the wife won’t cuz it’s too far from the Grandkids.
If John wants to give you my e-mail that would be fine.
OC
I hate to draw away from the conversation and what you wrote, Jonn, but I need some advice.
I’ve been seeing people wearing military things, and I’m not sure if they are. I saw a guy in Marine get up, wearing a tan/green shirt, white hat with an EGA, and blue blood stripe pants. Then, a few minutes ago, I saw an old guy wearing a jacket with an SF tab sewed on his arms.
I know this is Hillsdale, but Stolen Valor is Stolen Valor. How can I tell who is real, and who is full of shit?
A pretty good trick with the Marine fakers seems to be to ask them what the USMC birthday is (I’ve used it a couple of times). If they don’t know that, they’re fake as shit, period.
SF? I dunno, maybe ask him what SFG he served with and where it was located and if he’s fake, maybe he’ll slip up (make sure you’re info there is rock solid, though, because there are groups that are no longer active, and I honestly don’t know if there was ever a case of an SFG being transferred to a new base location).
I’m certain the vets here have better advice, but that would be what I would try.
Do try and get some photos and a POB, DOB, and full name, though. Jonn and Hondo can cook up a good little surprise for him then if he’s fake
FYI – when I was assigned to Ft Devens, the 10th Special Forces Group was mostly there – 1st Bn was assigned to Germany. In 1994-5, the 10th moved to Fort Carson.
Thanks; I figured something like that had to have happened at some point.
You seem to be a Marine in “undress Blues”. Ask him if he did his recuit training at Camp Pentleton or Camp Leune ? Joe
Not a vet, Joe, but I’ll keep those questions up my sleeve.
Marines do Phase One at Camp Pendleton, CA, don’t they?
Jonn, thank you for being the best asshole that you could be. NCOs are the backbone of the military. You are better than most of us. I salute you and your brethren.
Here’s something I posted on my blog a couple of years ago.
http://writesong.blogspot.com/2011/11/memories-of-veterans-day.html
“I reached out my hand and said “Welcome Home”….” It is our honor to be able to say that to another Veteran. It’s special. I don’t care to analyze it. It just is.
Thank you Jonn for your service and I thank each Marine, Soldier, Sailor and Airman here who served. Thank you as well for this remembrance of a memorable day. To all here, Welcome Home, no matter when or where you served. God bless each of you, brothers and sisters, who are part of my TAH family.
Like most of you, I want no glory. I want no fawning accolades. Even the simple thanks I get when I wear my ballcap in public kind of makes me blush.
I did what I felt is necessary. No more, no less.
I just wonder how many fake assholes are going to partake in the festivities that were paid for by people that gave their all…
Good God I hate Stolen Valor…
Happy veterans day. My wife and I are both vets and pulled our son from school today. We consider this day more important than some of the other holidays schools get of now.
imho
Thank you ALL….
There’s something going on today at Hillsdale called “Operation Gratitude”. It’s about writing a letter that will be sent to a random veteran. Not nearly fucking enough wrote, but I did.
I’m really hoping I put it to words right. I pulled from what I learned here: The wish for normality, the pressures of modern culture against him and the empty platitudes of some who say thanks for the wrong or hollow reasons.
The core of what I said was that I couldn’t understand what he went through and how he sees it, not as a civilian, not yet, but I did say that I would always respect him and anyone else who signed the papers. Even if he didn’t see himself as one, he’d always be a personal hero to me because he took that hard road that so many spit upon or never even see.
I don’t know how you guys feel about it; I added my address so he could mail me back if he wishes to correct me for saying something fucking idiotic that I might have said while trying to convey this, but…
I just hope I did it right.
Wanderer – this vet thinks ya done good!!
Our little town school out here in the fly over had a veterans program today. It got a little misty for this Viet Nam Vet. It’s been awhile since this has been done and the gym was packed. When my nephew went off to war after 9/11 I dedicated myself to honoring their service now instead of waiting 50 years.
Well done Jonn. And happy Veterans Day to all; including my late father and my oldest son.
Thanks Jonn. Excellent!
I am a vet, so you know how I felt when this winter storm tore down my flag. It was washed and hung to dry with honor, but the gratitude that I have for the freedom to raise my country’s flag and fly it in honor or the millions that have given me the right to do so is unbounded!
Thank you all.
edit: for the millions
sigh
Good post.
Just getting around ot reading this. Unplugged for most of the last 4 days.
I don’t like getting thanked and usually surprised when people do because I don’t tell many. it just never occurs to me.
welcome home to all my brothers and sisters.