Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day 2014

In 2011, U.S. Senator Richard Burr, a ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, encouraged communities across the nation to establish “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.”

A resolution was passed unanimously by the United States Senate designating March 30th as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” to honor the return home of our armed services members after serving in Vietnam.

Sadly, our Vietnam Veterans never returned home to the heroes’ welcome they truly deserved. Instead, they were caught in the middle of the turbulent debate surrounding our country’s involvement in that war.

We know these men and women served our county with honor and bravery during the Vietnam War. These veterans deserve our respect, recognition and overwhelming gratitude for their sacrifice.

I ask everyone to take a moment today to recognize and honor all of the men and women who served in the Vietnam War and to remember that today marks the official “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day”.

“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

Taps for my Soldier

Taps for My Soldier

by CJ (Parrish, Kempf, O'Brien) Heck

A gentle breeze chatters the leaves
as birds sing their greetings.

 
The sun shines 

on a day like any other,
and yet like none before.

 
Two mirrored rows of uniforms
line up like blue dominoes,
white gloves holding rifles at the ready.

 
A lone bugle cries. 

Twenty-four notes.
Each note, slow as a tear,
blankets ears and heavy hearts.

 
In the silence between,
even nature holds its breath.

 
Gone is the breeze.
Gone are the bird songs.
Gone is her hold on composure,
all lost in the bugle's lament.

 
Solemnly a soldier approaches.
White gloves present a tri-fold flag,

 
and in one final mournful note,
legions of silent voices unite
to call a comrade home

and his young wife weeps.

[from the book, "Anatomy of a Poet", by CJ Heck]

Read a Preview of "Anatomy of a Poet"

Buy "Anatomy of a Poet" at Amazon.com  

"Taps for My Soldier" included by invitation in the Taps Exhibit, The Taps Project, Arlington National Cemetery, May 29, 1999.

"Taps for My Soldier" included in the book, The Other Side of Sorrow by Cicely Buckley, edited by Patricia Frisella (Poetry Society of New Hampshire, 2006).

“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

Healing Old Wounds

**Please Share This Post**

To all Vietnam and other veterans, their families and friends:  Sharing can be a way of healing. Grief and loss can isolate, anger even alienate. Shared with others, our emotions unite us, as we see we aren't alone.  We realize others weep with us.

[Douglas Scott Kempf - KIA September 5, 1969]

As a (1969) Vietnam War widow, it is my wish to provide a healing place where you can write about anything you want. You have the truths America should hear.  The “Memoirs From Nam” blog was created for that very purpose. 

Come and visit.  Read what so many others have already shared.  I encourage you to share your own stories and email them to me with “Stories from Nam” in the subject line:   cjheck60porsche@gmail.com.   

I'll be waiting to hear from you.   Memoirs From Nam Blog

“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

The Eagle Cried ...

The Eagle Cried

The Eagle Cried

by Rick Turton

The acrid smell of cordite
Still hovered in the air.
No breeze to wash away
The scent of Satan’s hair.

The Medivac’s are fading now,
Their cabins filled with dead.
So many grisly pictures
Are surging through my head

Another hill’s been taken
The earth all charred and black
We all know what’s coming;
Tomorrow…”Give it back!”

The Eagle cries from barren trees
His tears, he cannot hide.
Where once a proud, young soldier stood
My Warrior Brother, died.

The scorched ground that surrounds me;
Am I in Dante’s Hell?
This skirmish now is over.
We saw them as they fell.

My Warrior Brother, Donny,
Died that gruesome day.
He took the bullets meant for me
With his final words did say,

“Tell Mom and Sis I loved them!
Please! Don’t let me down!”
I promised I would tell them
A promise I’d soon drown.

The Eagle cried that tragic day,
Back in Sixty-Eight.
A promise made…un-kept,
To my Warrior mate.

One thing that I’m sure of,
A thing that gives no rest.
The hounds of Hell still battle
Deep within my chest.

A bottle’d been my address
For forty years or more.
I’d take ‘most any drug,
I couldn’t find the door.

Somewhere there’s a record,
Of drugs and booze and tears.
When I crawled out of the bottle
I’d been buried in for years.

Half a decade sober.
Not a real long time.
That’s how long I’m clean tho’,
My life’s becoming mine.

The winds of war are blowing by;
In history books they last.
I’m in the winter of my years,
My best days...they have passed.

The one thing that I’ve never done
One thing I cannot face:
To visit the Memorial,
The headstone for that place.

My daughter said, “You have to go,
To honor those who died!”
I said I know I should…
But that I’d go…I lied

Then one day the phone rang;
A call I knew I’d dread.
It was Donny’s sister,
“Please help me!” Karen pled.

“I’ve spent these years just searching
I even hired a sleuth.
I finally found out where you live…
I need to know the truth.”

“The Army’s always been real vague,
And their answers never matched.
I need to know what happened;
They always seemed detached”

“Our Mother has passed on now,
But I still need to know;
I’d really love to meet with you,
Please…just show me how!”

The hounds of Hell are roused again;
Their howling has re-started.
I force their shrieks out of my mind,
My path, it has been charted

Quiet now, you dogs of war!
It's time for a new quest!
It's time for me to wrestle you,
And lay your souls to rest!

Then I thought the one thing,
A thought I'd never say,
Should I meet her at The Wall,
And put my hounds at bay?

I finally said I’d meet with her,
With a voice that was not mine.
The Wall is where I’ll meet you.
I’ll see you there at nine.”

I saw flowers in her hand,
As she walked my way.
“Yellow roses were his favorite.”
Later she would say.

“Hello, my name is Karen.”
She said when we did meet
“Donny wrote me many things,
I knew that you’d be sweet!”

“I know this must be hard for you,
But I really need to know.
Please tell me how my brother died,
That day, so long ago.”

The moment had arrived.
I could hide this fact no more.
I said things I’d kept hidden,
Behind my mind’s locked door

She took my hand in hers,
And waited patiently.
My head bowed down as I thought
Of words I had to say.

I knew my words would stab her heart
But she would not look away.
She watched me as I told her
Of that ghastly day.

“Your Brother died in my arms
In that nameless place.
He took the bullets meant for me
And died as we embraced!”

Her head dropped down, when I was done
Her chin upon her chest.
A single tear rolled down her cheek,
“Now Donny’s laid to rest.”

I walked with her as she made her way
To the Wall of Stone.
She laid the flowers at the base
Her silent prayer was sown.

At last I’ve honored those who fell,
Whose names are etched in rows.
We touched the name of Donny,
Who died so long ago.

And we cried…

The Eagle’s cry is heard again;
It lives within the Wall!
Each time a name is touched
The Eagle gives his call.

© Richard Turton 2014

All Rights Reserved

Rick Turton

Rick Turton
Vietnam 1970-1971


[Post Script:  May 22, 2014:  Rick Turton has just learned today that Jodie Stevens, a Christian Radio Personality in Sacramento CA is going to read his poem, “The Eagle Cried…” on the air in honor of Memorial Day. She will read it on May 23, 2014, about 8:10 in the morning. Her show is syndicated nationally and is available online at 1039thefish.com. Understandably, Rick feels truly honored and humbled and hopes it will help even one more Vet start the healing process.]



“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

Again and Again

Dustoff Helicopter

by Jim Van Doren

I have this recurring nightmare:

Even though we were scheduled to be "2nd Up", we've flown into the same hot LZ again and again today, under fire, to rescue the wounded - a dozen at a time.  On our 5th mission this day, 11 Nov 65, I recognize the soldier I'm loading.  God, no!  It's the medic who's been bringing me his wounded - again and again - all throughout the battle.

[Infantry soldiers are trained to seek out whatever cover or concealment they can find, but when the ground medic hears, "Doc, I'm hit!", he will rush toward the enemy guns to rescue his wounded buddy.  Under fire!  Without hesitation!  Again and again!]

We've loaded everyone we can cram onto the Huey and lift off; now I can triage my patients.  God, no!  The medic's gut-shot, and I can't save him!  I have other wounded aboard I can try to keep alive until we get them to the field hospital; maybe the Chaplain can help those I can't.

Then I wake up again, in a hot sweat again, and apologize again to my wife for kicking her out of bed with my thrashing - again.  My war is long over, we remember, and I go back to sleep.

But it's not over.  Now I'm being deployed overseas, again.  I've lost more buddies than I've saved, so I've stopped counting.  I don't know if I can keep any of them alive anymore; I know I can't keep them from being wounded, and that drives a cold stake through my heart.  But I have to go - again and again - because they will need me - again and again.  God, no!

Then I wake up again, but this time I don't go back to bed.  After half a pot of coffee I realize the second nightmare is not mine - It's that of the medics I may never know, who have been deployed - again and again!

But I DO know them, and their buddies - and so do you. God, no!

Jim Van Doren
Dustoff Medic
Vietnam, 65-66

"I was born in Ohio, but grew up in Vietnam."

“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

"Do You Know Who I Am?"

Sir Scott's Oasis Steakhouse

First of all, this is a true story.  It was contributed by Thomas Chase.  (Thank you, Tom!)

The radio station America FM was doing one of its 'Is Anyone Listening?' bits one morning.  The first question was: 

"Have you ever had a celebrity come up with the 'Do you know who I am?' routine?"

A woman immediately called in.  She said a few years ago, while visiting her cattle rancher uncle in Billings, MT, she had occasion to go to dinner at a restaurant that does not take reservations.  

She was told the wait would be about 45 minutes.  Many local ranchers and their wives were there and waiting.

Ted Turner and his ex-wife, Jane Fonda, came in the restaurant and requested a table.  The hostess informed them that there would be a 45 minute wait.

Jane Fonda asked the hostess, "Do you know who I am?"

The hostess answered, "Yes, but you'll have to wait 45 minutes."

Then Jane asked if the manager was in. When the manager came out, he asked, "May I help you?"

"Do you know who we are?" both Ted and Jane asked.

"Yes, but these folks have been waiting for their turn to be seated, and I can't put you ahead of them."

Then Ted asked to speak to the owner.  The owner came out, and Jane again asked, "Do you know who I am?"

The owner answered, "Yes, I do.  Do you know who I am?  I am the owner of this restaurant and I am a Vietnam Veteran.  Not only will you not get a table ahead of my friends and neighbors who have been waiting here, but you also will not be eating in my restaurant -- tonight, or any other night. Goodbye."

(Only in America ... is this a great country or what?)

Sir Scott's Oasis Steakhouse
204 W. Main,
Manhattan, MT 59741
Phone: (406) 284-6929

** If you ever get there, give this fellow a sharp salute, buy a steak, and tip the waitress. They have ten steaks on their simple menu from 12 oz. to 32 oz. and there are toothpicks on every table!

Thomas Chase
Business Support Analyst
Lorain Tool Enterprises, Inc.
1676 East 28th Street
Lorain, Ohio 44055

Phone:  440-277-6255

Fax:  440-277-1444

Website

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“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