Some gave the last full measure of devotion.
Like a lot of veterans, as I grow older I grow a little fonder of my military service. It’s not that I enjoyed my time in the military so much as I appreciate how it shaped my life and how much respect I have those who serve. I was drafted into the Army in 1966, during the height of the Vietnam war. After basic training at Ft. Bliss, TX and radio school at Ft. Huachuca, AZ and Ft. Gordon, GA I was deployed to Southeast Asia. When I came home from Vietnam, in May 1968, I was honorably discharged and sent home to resume my civilian life.
I was one of the fortunate ones. I didn’t see that much combat. I didn’t come home with PTSD or any other mental disorder. I didn’t face much in the way of protests and anti-war sentiment from people I came in contact with. Maybe it’s because I came home to Oklahoma and it was not a hotbed of political unrest. I did come home more mature but maybe not more focused on my calling in life. That didn’t occur until I met my wife.The important thing is, I did come home. The opening photo is from the traveling exhibit of the Vietnam memorial wall. It contains the names of 58,281 service personnel who did not come home alive. They gave their last full measure of devotion to a cause that they may or may not have supported or understood. They sacrificed their future in the name of freedom that they would not enjoy. A soldier does not pick the adversary, the location nor the battle in which he/she is engaged. The soldier answers the call of his/her government and serves wherever needed. This country produces the finest fighting force in world and it is populated by the best young men and women on the planet. Thank you to the families of my 58,281 brothers and sisters in arms that laid down their lives in Southeast Aisa. Welcome home to those who, like me, were fortunate enough to enjoy life after service. Ameria, you’re welcome.
Monday’s Music Moves Me
The theme this week is Memorial Day songs remembering those in general or a specific person who served, pick songs you think that person might have enjoyed or songs that make you think of a your fallen hero. I give you popular songs when my brothers-in-arms served.
Driller's Place 
Thank you for sharing some of the details of your Vietnam service. I worked for years with a man who volunteered for service and served two tours in Vietnam. I loved your set. I was singing right along with Sitting on the Dock of the Bay and White Rabbit (I had the 45 of the latter). My husband is a big Steppenwolf fan and had most of their vinyl albums. Alana ramblinwitham
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1967 is kind of a music desert for me, since I was in Vietnam at the time and we did not get the latest top 40 tunes on Armed Forces Radio.
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Thank you for your service.
The music of the time is some of the best popular music ever written.
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Yes, we had the best music ever. Even my grandchildren love the songs of the 60’s and early 70’s.
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Thank you for your service and we are glad you survived and didn’t have any really bad experiences. Mom’s uncle served in Vietnam and was shot down in a helicopter, but survived. It was never a time he liked to remember.
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Most soldiers involved in heavy combat prefer not to discuss their service because there is no way to explain combat in a manner that a civilian will understand.
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Thank you for your service. I’ve always felt the Vietnam vets were not properly honored when they came home.
Very nice playlist.
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Extended conflicts in which neither party truly surrenders are difficult to celebrate when the troops come home randomly.
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Thanks for sharing your account when you served in the military, glad you came back alright without any bad experience to haunt you. We hope one day that all of you who served in the Vietnam War be given the honor you deserve.
Great song choices, which must have been the songs that encouraged the soldiers as they thought about home.
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Part of the problem was Vietnam was not a popular war. The other thing is we didn’t win the war and all come home together. We came home when our tour of duty was up. I don’t really have any ill feelings about the situation. I’m just glad I came home in one piece and of sound mind and body.
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You and hubby were fortunate. You both got to come home.
Love the videos.
Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week, my friend. 🙂
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I give all credit to the God of all creation for bringing us home safe and sound.
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Great songs and thank you for your service. I am like you, the farther my time in the military is, I grew fonder of it. It helped me mature as a person.
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I have told people that I wouldn’t take a million dollars for my military service and experience, but I wouldn’t give you fifty cents to do it again.
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Thank you for your service. I an thankful for all the brave men and women who served our country .
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This country has always produced the best military in the world.
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May God bless you for your service my friend! Viet Nam was a hell hole I’m sure. My brother brought you your supplies! Yes, he was a sailor on the U.S.S. MARS & U.S.S. ALUDRA. He came home safe & sound & I’m very happy you did too! Great tunes my friend. Have a great day!
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Thankfully, my tour of duty was relatively uneventful.
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I’m glad you were one of the lucky to return home after serving in Vietnam. Thank you for your part in preserving America’s freedom. War is one of those ugly necessities we must face from time to time. It would be so wonderful if people all around the world could live free of tyranny but sadly that is not meant to be in our lives on earth. I love the old photo of you and the excellent capture in the second image! I was blessed that my two uncles serving in Vietnam and one in Korea came home. They all saw a lot of combat. One uncle was in the jungle where Agent Orange was sprayed. He has a lot of health problems because of that and I remember after he returned, he had to stay in the hospital because of PTSD. War is cruel. Your song picks are great and ones popular at the time that you were drafted. Thanks for sharing and for joining the 4M party, my friend. God bless you and have a boogietastic week!
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Honestly, I don’t think you could travel anywhere in Vietnam without passing through an agent orange infected area. Even if you didn’t travel, the trucks and equipment that came to you had been through those areas. Three and a half years ago I had a large abdominal cancerous tumor removed that my doctor associated with my service in Vietnam and agent orange. It’s all good now and I give all of the glory to the Creator of the universe. Have a very blessed week.
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I remember you telling us about your abdominal tumor but I didn’t know that it was connected with agent orange. WOW! Praise the good Lord for bringing you through such a scary health problems! God is so good!
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