Thank you, Ruth, for your service in Vietnam -- Welcome Home.
With my warmest regards and respect,
CJ
"Thanks to all of the vets who served in Viet Nam.
My name is Ruth (King) Beasley. I accepted scholorship funds from the Navy to get my education. In return, I agreed to serve in the U.S.Navy Reserve Nurse Corps.
Little did I ever think that, as a result, I would be serving in Viet Nam as a twenty-three year-old nurse assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps 49th Surgical Hospital at Qui Nhon.
I have no regrets, though. It's just that I was so young, but not as young as these brave souls that I saw each and every day coming through our surgical facility. I very seldom even knew the names of the ones coming through, because I stayed busy in the surgical room during those sixteen and seventeen-hour days that we worked.
The aging process has really caught up with me now, but I still remember that year spent in Viet Nam and the many horror stories associated with our days there. To a person, we all felt proud that we were able to help these brave young men -- and I still say it with the same sense of pride today.
Sometimes, it seemed that our small facility was overwhelmed day after day, but we all had that pride in what we were doing.
One more time ... Thanks to all of the brave men who served there, and there is a special place in my heart for all of you.
If there is anyone who reads this and they came through our hospital during my days there, please let me hear from you.
South_Shore33@yahoo.com.
Ruth (King) Beasley
Lt .U.S.N. Reserve"
I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of God, I will. ~Everett Hale
Comments from Facebook:
ReplyDeleteJan Hoffman VERY Nice & Thank YOU Ruth for YOUR Service. VietNam era Service people did NOT get the recognition they DESERVED.
CJ Heck
Thanks, Jan -- you are always so positive. Just what these vets need ;)
Leanna Wilson
Very nice article -- Thank you, Cathy. I served in the U.S.Navy as a Dental Technician 3rd Class Petty Officer. I enjoyed my tour of duty immensely! I am sorry for your loss, I was not aware. My brother, Melvin, also served in the U.S. Marines in 1968. His tour took him to Viet Nam but my tour was all state side service.
My time in service was marred by a very brutal rape which took almost 15 years to recover from. It happened off base the day I was released.
Jan Hoffman
Leanna, thank you for your Service & your brother's too. You have my condolences & my deepest respect.
Tanya Rachel Sigman
Leanna, I'm always available for a chat, if you feel like it.
Leanna Wilson
Love to Tanya! Talk to you soon! It's really nice that you remember me! I sincerely appreciate all my buddies from High School, even if I wasn't able to participate in your lives because of home situations. I miss my classmates and friends very much.
I guess the old adiage is true "Those were the good ole days!" Maybe it takes getting old to appreciate it all.
Leanna
Tanya Rachel Sigman
Good ole days were filled good times, but many of us had things we dealt with behind closed doors -- you just didn't know. The time for building friendships and renewing those youthfull years is at hand. It's never too late. Good to talk it out Leanne.
CJ Heck
Leanna, I'm so sorry you had to go through that so many years ago. It had to have been awful for you -- like Tanya said, I offer my heart, should you need me.
Leanna Wilson
Hi! Cathy, Thank you for caring, it is very much appreciated! The years
with counseling have helped me immensely and meds are working! It was just one of several things that I have had to deal with over the years. I think my life reads like a real melodrama!
I think if Mom would have let me have friends I would have been more savie to the world I was going out into. My parents wanted to protect me though and thought they were doing the right thing. The one trust that I have had though it all was the Lord and His love that guided me though it all and still is! I love Him dearly!
Leanna Wilson
Thank you, Jan!
Kay Easterling
It looks like your hard work is finally paying off! You are doing a great service to all those brave veterans from Nam. CJ, you are an angel!
CJ Heck
WOW. Thank you, Kay, but if I am an angel, my 'halo' is kinda tarnished and heck, it just won't stay 'up there' where it belongs-- it tends to slip down around my neck like a necklace and then choke me!
I do wish more vets would come forward and share, but nothing happens overnight, right? It's been a labor of love from the get-go ...