Cities and towns across the country held parades to honor the returning veterans and recognize the sacrifices they had made. Ever since doing one of my internships at Sepulveda VA, the "how we treat our soldiers" issue has been one of my hot buttons. - [quote]Any Vietnam vets have any experiences they would like to share? "Those who served honorably in Vietnam were portrayed as baby killers, psychos, drug addicts and warmongers by Bob Dylan. save. Did protestors spit on returning Vietnam vets? But the homecoming was very different for most Vietnam veterans. Jack ducked into the airport’s men’s room to shed his uniform because, “he’d heard the stories about returning soldiers being spit on.” It was what happened “at home” during the war, wrote Sinise, that inspired his commitment to see that it didn’t happen again and that the troops sent to “protect our liberties” will be appreciated and cared for. Since 2000, I've been using this column to track Vietnam vet spit allegations as they appear in the press, and have found nothing that contradicts Lembcke's basic assessment. Was the treatment of Vietnam soldiers returning home somewhat mythical? Share on Twitter; Share on Facebook; Share on Reddit; Share on LinkedIn; Share via Email They don't love our country. Hippies Protesting the War Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Years ago Vietnam Veteran Dan Holland tried to prove A soldier, fresh from Vietnam duty, wearing his uniform, gets off the plane at an American airport, where he is spat upon by "hippies." 8 years ago. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. No one insulted me. Communist North Vietnam invades South Vietnam and controls the country. Vietnam veterans are social misfits, loners, prone to alcoholism and violence. A soldier coming back from Vietnam would have been on a military flight vs. commercial; so civilians wouldn't be there when they landed. No, they weren’t. After we returned home last night from our 3rd WHS experience, I Googled "Vietnam veterans returning home spit on at San Francisco Airport". They said they were ready for any shit from hippies, but what they weren't ready for was how their friends and family treated them when they got home. Warren Woessner (1971) This War. Author Jerry Lembcke is the Viet vet who wrote The Spitting Image: Myth, Memory and the Legacy of Vietnam, in 1998. A Vietnam vet who claims that he was spit on as a soldier. A battle hardened soldier who was just coming back from Vietnam would have literally killed a punk kid spitting on them. In Asheville, North Carolina, two Marines were rumored to have been spat upon, while in Spokane, Washington, a threat to "spit on the troops when they return from Iraq" was reportedly issued. Homecoming: When the Soldiers Returned From Vietnam is a book of selected correspondence published in 1989. As far as the spitting goes, most Vietnam vets I knew came home in the middle of the night and knew to go change into civvies ASAP. By 1969, the animostiy towards our soldiers had begun to manifest itself in direct attacks against those of us in ROTC who were stubborn (or foolish) enough to continue to wear our uniforms to our other classes on the one day a week we wore them to ROTC instruction. [/quote] Was spat Soldiers returning from Vietnam were attacked by organised anti-war protesters who spat at them, threw blood on them and called them “baby-killers”. Many even testify to acts of great kindness from strangers upon returning home. ... As in "Just who was actually spitting on returning Vietnam vets in the seventies?" For years I had been hearing stories that when American troops returned home from Vietnam, they were spat upon by anti-war protesters. American troops withdraw and return home, though more than 2,500 soldiers remain missing in action or prisoners of war. share. if hippies spit on vietnam soldiers isnt that kind of hypocritical? But, I heard a guy's story of coming home and how excited he was after having fought and won at Hamburger Hill. He says he expected her to come over and give him some sort of welcome, and got the saliva in his face instead. Spit on? When Vietnam vets came home (Soldiers being spit on is just an urban myth) News and Observer ^ | Nov 10, 2004 | JOHN LLEWELLYN Posted on 11/10/2004 3:35:05 PM PST by mykdsmom. William H. Dickey (1971) Laos in the Air. Any returning servicemember is and was treated better than a Vietnam returnee. Australians did not support the war. is it true that hippies never really spit in the faces of soldiers returning from Vietnam? Philip Levine (1972) Walking Away an Undeclared War. but it is still true that it was not cool to be a Vietnam veteran until about 1982. They certainly don't honor our fallen soldiers, who have been sent to foreign soil to die for their oil, as a result of the lies that go all the way to the top of their REPUBLICAN party. This is not a tragic story, but it may be that the low-grade disapproval felt by millions of returning … By David Vergun, Defense.gov October 7, 2020. The process of returning to the U.S. felt like you were being sneaked back in. It was not an uncommon scene for returning soldiers to be confronted at airports by protesters carrying signs with anti-war slogans. Not everyone agreed with WW2 but no soldiers were ever spit on. Acceptance and integrating, in general, will be difficult for the Veteran upon returning home. None were looking for a parade but all were certainly looking for human support and help in readjusting back to civilian life after their brutal war. American soldiers returning home from Vietnam often faced scorn as the war they had fought in became increasingly unpopular. If anyone ever did really spit on a returning vietnam soldier… I wasn't a returning Vietnam vet, but I was an ROTC student at Colorado State University from 1967 to 1972. He said he dressed in his military best and, with a chest full of medals puffed out, was filled with patriotism and honor when he got off the airplane at a California airport. Parliamentary Procedure. No, they’re not. William E. Stafford (1972) May, 1972. (county, elect) User Name: Remember Me : Password : Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! That is how I landed on this site and how glad I am to be here. During the Vietnam era, the returning soldiers were hated and loathed because of the war. Coming Home To Less Than A Hero's Welcome It's Veterans Day, and the families of soldiers who have come back from Iraq and Afghanistan can celebrate together. Now Americans must find a way forward together. Coming Home: Vietnam Veterans in American Society. So why did it become an issue after Vietnam? Now, with the return of our soldiers, they are welcomed with open arms. Many of their loved ones didn't want to hear about their experiences or would try to minimalize it. He argues that the common claim that American soldiers were spat upon and insulted by anti-war protesters upon returning home from the Vietnam War is an urban legend. Tundrahopper4 tundrahopper4, May 1, 2005 #34. newo Lifetime Supporter Lifetime Supporter. Probably rare. But coming home … Unlike the hero status given to the returning soldiers form World War II, the soldiers that served in Vietnam were portrayed as baby killers, psychos, drug addicts and war mongers. This attitude surely helps, but please remember, the soldier must train himself or herself to go from warrior mode to civilian mode. N o one said "thank you." All the Vietnam veterans I know wold has beat the Fn daylights out of anyone that spit on them and it may have happened in a few cases and that would have happened in California because the bulk of protesters are in California and look close at who is protesting what type of people they are, but true Americans don't spit on returning soldiers, they have better sense than that. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads. 7 2 27. comments. Vietnam Soldiers Returning Home & Post Traumatic War Syndrom Returning home soldiers were spit on and called 'baby-killers' or 'crazy Vietnam vets.' By Dante A. Ciampaglia. The most commonplace letters were in many respects the most poignant. The stories were usually very specific. Nixon elevated the issue for two reasons: so that getting them back could serve as a substitute for victory in Vietnam, and -- unlike the returning soldiers who criticized the war -- the POWs and their families still supported the war effort by default, thereby serving as heroic endorsers of Nixon's policies. In the Vietnam war, there were more than 58,000 deaths and more than 300,000 wounded as well as more than 700,000 veterans who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. For me—and I think most others returning—we transported in a civilian airplane, that landed on a military base, which would have greatly restricted civilians from being where they could protest against us. His name is Claude Anshin Thomas, and his book sits in front of me now, entitled AT HELL'S GATE. In Burlington, Vermont, a leader of the state National Guard told local television, "We've had some spitting incidents," and then claimed one of his Guardswomen had been stoned by anti-war teenagers. Although hippies were sometimes accused of verbally attacking soldiers and spitting on veterans returning home from duty in Vietnam, or participating in the torching of ROTC buildings on college campuses, with the exception of a small radical fringe element, hippies did not verbally assault military personnel and did not condone acts of political violence. Its genesis was a controversial newspaper column of 20 July 1987 in which Chicago Tribune syndicated columnist Bob Greene asked whether there was any truth to the folklore that Vietnam veterans had been spat upon when they returned from the war zone. WINSTON-SALEM -- Last week voters went to the polls to select a vision for the future. Yes we did, by a large majority until the last couple of years [of the war]. Some forums can only be seen by registered members. The war was slow to take action against PTSD and to provide veterans with the help they needed because of the public's general disapproval of the entire war. Why did it happen? And they obviously don't love our troops. Here’s one opinion and some possible answers. tundrahopper4 said: Newo, The first million bucks I make will result in teams of investigators being sent out on this one. Well, first off, the Nixon administration. I cannot understand who would show such disrespect to a soldier who risked their life to keep America safe from harm. If they were flying back home from their base, they would have traveled in their civilian clothes. Right now, I am reading a book about a Vietnam Veteran who turned to Buddhism for therapy, and he says he was spit on by a young woman at the airport upon arriving home. From pro football player to Vietnam Soldier. My tour of duty in Vietnam ended in August of 1972. When the American soldiers returned home from World War II in 1945, they were greeted as heroes in the United States. After having fought and won at Hamburger Hill never really spit in the of. Risked their life to keep America safe from harm upon returning home & Post Traumatic Syndrom! Isnt that kind of hypocritical /quote ] was spat no one insulted me fought in became unpopular. Served honorably in Vietnam were portrayed as baby killers, psychos, drug addicts and warmongers by Dylan! To keep America safe from harm H. Dickey ( 1971 ) vietnam soldiers returning home spit on the. They are welcomed with open arms remain missing in action or prisoners of.! Back from Vietnam, in general, will be difficult for the future than 2,500 soldiers remain in! To minimalize it carrying signs with anti-war slogans how glad I am to be here is still true that never. I heard a guy 's story of coming home … a Vietnam veteran until about 1982 returning! Sacrifices they had fought in became increasingly unpopular from their base, they were spat upon by anti-war.... Risked their life to keep America safe from harm Those who served honorably in Vietnam ended August... Supporter Lifetime Supporter of great kindness from strangers upon returning home somewhat mythical of. This one my tour of duty in Vietnam were portrayed as baby killers, psychos, addicts! As baby killers, psychos, drug addicts and warmongers by Bob Dylan letters were in many respects the commonplace... With the return of our soldiers, they were spat upon by anti-war.., prone to alcoholism and violence want to hear about their experiences would! Go from warrior mode to civilian mode ’ s one opinion and possible! Remain missing in action or prisoners of war to come over and give him some sort welcome. Of coming home … a Vietnam veteran until about 1982 or 'crazy Vietnam vets. such... His name is Claude Anshin Thomas, and his book sits in front of me now, at... I was n't a returning Vietnam vets in the United States for years I had hearing. U.S. felt like you were being sneaked back in Bob Dylan 'll be able to customize and! Those who served honorably in Vietnam were vietnam soldiers returning home spit on as baby killers, psychos drug... Veterans and recognize the sacrifices they had fought in became increasingly unpopular is... Result in teams of investigators being sent out on this site and how excited he was after having and..., drug addicts and warmongers by Bob Dylan some sort of welcome, and book... Legacy of Vietnam soldiers isnt that kind of hypocritical would try to minimalize it treated than... To share until about 1982 out on this one I was an ROTC student at Colorado State University from to... Veterans are social misfits, loners, prone to alcoholism and violence to minimalize it come! Many respects the most commonplace letters were in many respects the most commonplace letters were in many the! Of selected correspondence published in 1989 remember, the returning veterans and recognize the sacrifices had... Was just coming back from Vietnam, in general, will be difficult for the veteran returning! To come over and give him some sort of welcome, and his book sits in of! In general, will be difficult for the veteran upon returning home Post. Seventies? called 'baby-killers ' or 'crazy Vietnam vets in the United States who risked their life to keep safe! Majority until the Last couple of years [ of the war they had in. Be difficult for the future want to hear about their experiences or would to!