Boots: by Lee Tucker

Boots at The Wall

As a Vietnam Veteran, I share many feelings with so many others.

We all served our country at a time when many of our countrymen didn’t agree with the war, or our participation.

Some of us volunteered, others were drafted, but all of us landed in the same country to fight the same enemy.

There are those who believe that their part in the war was more significant than others.

There are those who feel guilty for coming home alive, instead of in a body bag.

All of us are confused as to why we were shunned and protested against for serving our country.

All of us are Vietnam Veterans…

The military, like any machine, can only work when all of its parts are functioning the way they were designed. This includes all of its different branches: Infantry, Artillery, Naval Support, Air Support, Medical Support, and so many others, right down to the mechanics and company clerks. Without every single person involved, the machine will not function at full capacity…

Each Veteran was processed in country the very same way, and given their orders to a specific area to serve within the confines of their MOS. We were issued gear that included Jungle Boots that we would all wear for the time we spent in country.

And so, life in Vietnam began…

I was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi. It was January of 1968. I was about to understand the full effect of “Tet”…

Being assigned to a mechanized infantry unit, we spent the majority of our time patrolling the rubber plantations along the Cambodian Border.

There are many stories of horror and heroism and just plain Hooah-ism that I could write about, but all of us have stories that we either share, or keep to ourselves. My story here is short and heart felt…

To all of you who have taken a bullet, watched a fellow soldier die, survived a human wave attack, survived mortar and rocket attacks, fired those big guns that scared the hell out of everybody, saved a soldier's life in the field, or in a field hospital...

To those who came out of nowhere and swooped down from the sky to get us out of bad situations…

To those who flew over us and dropped bombs on areas so we could continue our mission…

To those who processed our orders, coming and going…

To everyone who wore the Boots, I say thank you… 

Boots at The Wall

No one else could have felt your fear, or your pride, only you, when you laced up those Boots every day…

We all should be proud of our service. No one else walked in your Boots. No one else has the right to judge your importance.

Thank you all for your service to our country.

Welcome Home Brothers and Sisters…

Lee Tucker,
United States Army
Republic of Vietnam
January 1968 to January 1969



“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

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A Chat With Lee Tucker

Lee Tucker

Note From CJ:  I want to share a conversation I had with Vietnam Vet, Lee Tucker, the other day, just after he sent me his thoughts about visiting The Wall for our Memorial Day salute:

"When I went to The Wall, a feeling of entering a hallowed place seemed to surround me.  

Although I told myself I would be strong and pay my respects, I was met by a wonderful woman who was a volunteer guide at the wall.  

She spoke to me and asked me what years I spent in Vietnam. I told her and she took me to that area. She then hugged me and welcomed me home. 

I broke down and released many years of pent up emotion. I spent the next few hours there with other brothers and sisters from our war. 

It was a very powerful and emotional day, but also a day I when was never prouder to be a Vietnam Veteran, surrounded by brothers and sisters that could never come home with me. Our cause was just!  May they rest in peace ..."

So, with Lee’s kind permission …

CJ:  What you wrote about your visit to The Wall was very moving, Lee. It is among those that I will always remember.  Please tell me how you got to the place where you are now.

Lee:  It has taken a lot of years to fully understand my feelings. At this point, I am in a place that one could only pray for. I feel blessed to have my health, my lady, and my understanding of life. I do each day the very best I can, and try to give a little back.

Oh yeah, and I have learned to speak from my heart. How cool is that?

CJ:  That is ultra-cool, Lee! As Robert, my partner, says, "Heart to heart is where we start". What do you believe has helped you the most to get to where you are?

Lee:  I had to let go of all the pent up feelings brought on by what everyone else thought of the war, as well as what I thought of it. We can’t control the things that are out of our control.

You have to learn to love yourself. You can’t love anyone, or anything, if you don't know how to love yourself.

The day that I became proud of who I am, not necessarily what I've done, was the biggest step in the right direction. The past is history and we can read about that any time we want to. But what we have now is what it is, and we get to choose what we want to do with it.

I am the only one who can make happiness for myself. No one can do it for me. I learned not to be afraid to cry -- I didn't cry for over half of my life. Now I can cry looking at a tree.

We have to laugh every day and cry whenever we feel like it, and let as much love into our life as we can get. We are guaranteed today. Tomorrow is just a hope. Like the song says, “Live like you are dying”.

CJ:  Lee, you've summed up the whole purpose of Memoirs From Nam in just a few paragraphs. Bravo. May I have your permission to post this on the blog? I have the distinct feeling that this will go a long way to help others on their own journey of self-discovery and finding peace.

Lee:  Well, I tend to ramble sometimes, but like I said, I speak from my heart. I have no problem with anyone seeing or hearing what I have to say. I sincerely want to help anyone I can to get to a place where they can experience inner peace. We all deserve that. Thanks for listening.

CJ:  You aren't rambling, Lee, not when you are sharing from your heart. I do think it might help others. When I try and decide what should go on the blog, I look at it from this angle -- if Doug had come home, would he think this would be helpful to The Brothers?"  That is what he was all about, even to becoming a combat medic -- he had a huge heart.

What you said about accepting yourself, loving yourself, sums it all up. You can't love anyone else until you can love yourself. True, true, true.

Lee:  And then along came my Brenda at a time in my life when I was trying to figure it all out. She happens to be a Nurse and comes from a huge family of Army Vets. Her son right now is in the Army, a graduate of West Point, an Iraq War vet, and he has since become a Jag Officer.

She has been absolutely amazing with me, helping me to believe that is it ok to be me. Now I believe it, and life is as it should be. But, the root of it all is convincing yourself that it is ok to love yourself and then to get on with it.

CJ:  You are a good friend, Lee Tucker, and I only just met you. Amazing. There is a higher purpose to everything.

Well, I've taken up enough of your time. I thank you most sincerely for sharing your thoughts with me. Please give my best to Brenda!

Lee:  Thank you! You are an amazing woman and a friend as well. Just remember, if you ever need to chat, I'm as close as your computer. Have a great day!

CJ:  Thank you, Lee.  You have a great day, too!

“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