GSUTV: Return to Vietnam
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- čas přidán 9. 01. 2019
- In this GSUTV special presentation we bring two Vietnam veterans back to the country that left such an indelible impression on an entire generation. Fifty years later the wounds are still healing.
I returned to Vietnam four years ago. I was Ok until I got to Hue and stood looking down Le Loi street. All I could picture were Marines being shot to pieces during the TET Offensive in 68. I could feel the presence of those men that fought and died there. It was a surreal and emotional experience.
Indeed. I wasn't in the war but visited Hue last year. The buildings in the documentaries about the battle in Hue are still there. The town looks virtually unchanged. Da Nang on the other hand....
US vets who returned to post war Vietnam Socialist Republic were welcomed by their victors .Who agreed the US soldiers were also victims of lying corrupt US politicians who sent teenage troops to kill and die in a distant land that wished them no harm .
Charlie company did nothing wrong
I have seen the pictures of the battle in Hue - and stood in the footsteps of the photographer. If you know where to look you can still find shrapnel gouges and bullet holes in the stonework of Dong Ha tower. I found it a deeply haunting experience. Thank you for your service
@@peterflynn9123 our battery was set up at Phu Bai which was only 8 miles from Hue the night TET started. We also had a sister battery with us at the same time. Between the two batteries, we had ten 155mm howitzers the commanding officer of the 1st Marine Division, general LaHue would not believe that there were 3 regiments of NVA and VC in Hue and insisted that that there were only two companies in Hue. The Marines were out numbered 20 to one at the time of the battle yet a South Vietnamese general would not allow direct fire from artillery or air support. Not until the Marines were receiving heavy casualties was the ban for artillery and air lifted. If you are interested in the battle of Hue, read the book Hue 1968 by Mark Bowden. He was the author of Black Hawk Down. The book goes into great detail about the battle. I often wonder how many Marines we could have saved if only they would of let us fire support when the battle began.
I did two tours in Vietnam. When I got back to the "World" my country rejected me. I got out of the Navy in 1973 the veterans organizations rejected me. Decades later I applied to take a trip back to Vietnam like the one in this video, I was rejected time after time. So I got my passport, a visa and a plane ticket on my own dime. I flew across the Pacific alone. I walked out of the air conditioning on to the sidewalk at Tan Son Nhat just after midnight into the dark and heat alone. The Vietnamese people welcomed me back, I didn't feel alone any longer. The money I spent was the best investment I ever make.
My respect to you sir (from Australia) for your service to your country. My brother was K.I.A April 1971 Phuoc Thuy Province. He made many, many great American friends, as he always wrote to me.. It was one of his American friends that placed him on the Huey, just as he passed away. My deepest respect to you and all who served.
I'm a proud Vietnam/Draft resistor. "Poor Me" stories from you guys are a dime a dozen. You did something incredibly stupid by engaging in a war you had no business in. The ONLY thing you should have cared about is you weren't sent home in a box. This need to get back to Vietnam is ridiculous.
@@edreynolds8721 Thank you. I am responding from my hotel in Hanoi. I have been in Hanoi one day now and have put another bad dream away and having a great time.
@@edreynolds8721 What a Neanderthal comment. The "hippies" were dirty pinko Commies?? You weren't around back then (you said) yet you talk such stupid and ignorant BS. Everyone HAD a choice just like I did to go to Vietnam. Since you know so much....prove me wrong.
As I have already said in another comment, I am a Vietnam/Draft resistor....and guess what...I wasn't a hippie.
@@bboomermike2126 It's great that you are there economically supporting the socialist/communist Vietnam you went to fight against. I think I made a very wise choice to resist the Draft and Vietnam. They seem like a gracious people...but don't be surprised if they are quietly laughing their asses off at you. Would you really blame them?
This truly brought tears,and touched my heart....
I did 2 tours in Nam: 67-68 (41st Sig Bn @ Qui Nhon} & 70-71 I99th Light Inf @ long Binh; 1st Cav Div @ Bien Hao & La Kai; then on to Camp Holloway with 1st Avn Bde in Pleiku. If I ever went back besides the other places been in country, the 3 places that mean the most to me are: Qui Nhon during Tet '68, La Kai awarded the Bronze Star Medal & Pleiku when I last had breakfast with my best friend we called "Short Round" who was killed when his Huey was shot down later that day. It's been 50+ years and still suffer the fog of war. I envy you guys who have the courage of going back. Still have a lot of anger now even as a 73 year old, but my wife of 50 years who was an army medic has helped me so much. We got married after only going together for 2 months, I was 23 and she was 20. That's the best thing that ever happen to me. Without her who knows what I might have been. It's because of her I made a career in the military and earned 3 college degrees including a masters.
I remember how poorly Veterans were treated, made me ill. Thought I'd never see the day that Veterans would be returning to Vietnam and meeting and bonding with former enemies, personally I think it is wonderful as that was an especially brutal war. Can't begin to even imagine how you feel as I've never had to serve in any war, thank God!
Thank you to all who served in Vietnam. Thank you for your service and sacrifices. Most of all, Welcome home soldiers
Good documentation film. War is brutal. Let's build a bright future.
Love...... without fighting please. No war. Live peacefully.
I’m a Vietnamese. For us younger generation, we have no recollection about the war. The only think that we’d know is from our older family member telling us or from the text book and museum. I think all of us would put it just like the Hàm Rồng guerrilla: “we were enemy in the past, now we’re friends, let’s shake our hands.”
I’d love to meet the US vet. They seems delightful and friendly.
Outstanding work. What powerful stories they have. Congrats, GSU.
I met Joe today, randomly in Tionesta, Pa. He told me about his documentary. He also gave me a challenge coin. A very moving experience. And this film is great
Really enjoyed this. Watched with family...Tears and smiles.
Thank you.
I have been to Vietnam twice - the place and people are beautiful. In general they have found closure and peace from their past - I hope more veterans can find such closure for their anguish.
I agree. I am writing this from my hotel in Hanoi. Put one more ghost to bed. Having a great time.
Most of the G.I . are young and inexperiences in VN war and most serve about a year or be wounded then they go home..for us Vietnamse soldiers have to fight until we are die or lost a leg and an arm or both .. any way we are so greatful for your servies in our stupid war and i hope and wish all the best to all of you and any one around the world did came to help us in those year..my condolences for all the people have died and their family in VN war. God bless you all from me. ( Ex South Vietnamese Navy. CA/USA.
Yes all very true. We Americans had short timers calendars. Our South Vietnamese allies had to fight to the very end. I often had bad dreams wondering about the Vietnamese PBR sailor we ran out on. (Ex American Sailor Rach Gia. CA/USA)
May God bless you All This made me cry What an amazing film.🙏🇮🇪🇺🇲
You combat vets are the real STAR'S and should be treated the way NFL and those Hollywood SCUM bags take for granted?? (HERO'S!!! ) thank you for your time to share this vedieo, WELCOME HOME!!!!!!
God bless ALL of our veterans. If you never received a welcome home from anyone, please from the bottom of my heart. WELCOME HOME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!! Theres a special place in heaven for all of you.
as a Vietnamese that had grandfathers fought the Japanese and the French , and my father , uncles fought the Americans... I really hope our people and the American people could one day be really closed friend and ally.
Outstanding and brilliant on all counts , well done
Excellent!
These 2 men true heroes! Welcome home.
This is a powerful, important film, not only for those who fought in Vietnam and their families; it's an important historical document for all those who have served and for those of us who are onlookers to their sacrifice and benefactors of the freedom they fought to protect.
And just who were the "benefactors of the freedom they fought to protect" ? Think that one out a little bit more.
@@topgeardel Yes, Sir, I have thought long and hard about everyone in wars, including my 2 brothers in Vietnam, my father-in-law who served in WWII and the Korean War, including my family members who still serve and fight for Democracy around the world. Yes, Sir, I think about freedom every day of my life. I think every human on earth should have the same rights I have. And I have lost loved ones...helicopter going down in Vietnam...need I say more..
@@nevasullaway6450Yes you should say more.
Reminds me of the ww2 us soldiers years later going back to the places they fought in France and Germany to visit and make great friends with there formal enemies (German heer.) May all soldiers be blessed in honory.
I was a medic there as well and have told vets the same thing he did only it pertains to now and not then.
🇺🇸👍 Great work. God Bless our veterans.
Great video/interviews/stories. Thanks for sharing this.
I was a weapons mechanic in the Air Force, I extended my tour another 6 months to save enough money to buy a new car. So I made 2 trips back to the States, I didn’t see any protests, I was expecting them though an changed into my civies both times before I boarded my flights back to Virginia. On my first trip home I was on a flight that made a stop in Chicago, it in December, snow storm cancelled our flight to Va, as I was getting off the flight the Captain said come with the crew, he recognized my Vietnam hair and tan, and my worn-out look as a Vet. They took me to their hotel, got me a room and took me to dinner with the whole crew. They were so nice and welcomed me home, it was not what I was expecting, I was 20 then. My second return was normal with no protests either. I was 21 then, I did see some protests on tv while at home on tv. 5 years later I joined the Army an flew Hueys 10 years for them, War was over then, did hear some hair raising stories from Vets who flew in the War.
love these
I had two tours in Vietnam. After first tour 65-66, I was at a party and people laughing with me discovered I was a Vietnam returnee. I then became a baby killer. I then left the party. Went back to Nam in 69 came home in July 70. Vietnam was not my first combat assignment. I went to the Domican Republic before Vietnam.
What did y’all do in Dominican? I’m from Canada. Born in 80. But very interested in this since I was ten ( 1990) I dunno why
bookreaderson I was an Army officer there. In 1965 the Dominican Republic had a civil war. We from the US was on the governments side.
Multi tiered Investor interesting. I’m from Canada and lots of people go ther for vacation
bookreaderson After all the recent deaths their tourism has practically disolved. I spent time there after the war in 65 and loved it, but too many major problems involving lack of security has destroyed tourism there for a long while.
This video is very meaningful to me.
In war all are losers, but perhaps, the biggest constituent casualty was the number of Sth VN orphans. What happened to all the orphanage in the Sth VN.
I went back to my catholic orphanage Cô Nhi Viện An Lạc, 1 in Saigon, another in Biên Hoà that I escaped as a little boy & led to a Bụi Đời life (Dust of Life) or street kid in Saigon.
I asked people who lived there, many said they knew there was an orphanage in the past, but they didn't know what happened, where were the orphans.
I read some english language Vietnamese Catholic bulletin published in USA that mention the Children Rescue Mission at the dusk of the Saigon regime. All praised the nun, nurse, charity workers high. It sounded bullshit to me. I've been there, done that & got a flimsy shirt cut out from an American Chute material that made us shivered in winter.
I wrote to them an open bilingual letter expressing that I'd like to confront any person who claimed his/herself as an orphan or workers or nun, or carer. That Vietnamese Catholic News Bulletin censored my letters & never contacted me.
Why I want to confront them? because the Charity worker swapped many real orphans for the COCCs (Con Ông Cháu Cha= Children of the VIP) on the heels of the Americans flew out at the fall of Saigon.
Whoever in Cô Nhi Viện An Lạc please contact me I was known as "petit noir" for my dark skin & small body before 1975 in the An Lạc orphanage.
they were our enemies and we will never forget the past because it isn't only pained but also proud history for us
but now is new age and new generation therefore whole we will direct to future so we will forgive all to open beautiful, peace, happy future
I suppose the old axiom is true that time heals all wounds. Recently a friend who had visited Vietnam said that the people there had no ill will towards the USA or its people but were very afraid and concerned about China.
🙏
Many American vets are now living in retirement in Vietnam for various reasons. It is sad that some can not afford lives here in the US and have to spend the last part of their lives in Vietnam where the actual non-official inflation doubles the prices every 3 to 5 years.
❤
who knew 100 years from now..the history repeated but then..you and your enemy had reconcile so..
I am Canadian, and we did not participate. However, my father served our country for 32 years. He despised the Vietnam war, but was proud of his brother in arms across the border. I find these men quite remarkable
What about south Vietnamese ex-soldiers abroad and in Vietnam still suffered about their own war and their own daily life and their children without future at home in Vietnam from the Vietnam government ? No reunion between ex south Vietnamese soldiers with US ex Vietnam veteran in the US ?
@The patriot YOU ARE THE ONE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT MY COUNTRY VN..I AM LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE 75 AND A EX SOUTH VIETNAMESE SOLDIER AND I AM OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW ABOUT THE US AND MY OWN VN BETTER THAN YOU ARE AND YOU SHOULD TO BE A SHAME NOT TO KNOW ABOUT VIETNAM COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT AND I BET YOU NEVER EVER HAVE LIVE IN VIET NAM EVERY DAY TO KNOW OR TO RESEARCH WHAT AND HOW TO FEEL TO LIVE WITH COMMUNIST DICTATOR GOVERNMENT .. SO I AM NOT A SHAME TO SAID SO.
I am a Vietnam Veteran US Army n served in Vietnam from July 1969 til September 1970. Today I suffer with Combat PTSD n belong to a group of Veterans who meet on Wednesdays at the Wilmington Delaware VA(before Covid) n I often wondered if there are any Vietnamese Soldiers( south n north) in the region who could come n discuss with us their experiences . Hopefully after this Covid issue maybe someone could contact me who is Vietnamese n served during the conflict so maybe we could meet n discuss things of course we would need an interpreter. So if anyone has any knowledge of this please let me know. Thanks
@@billcowan6070 qué sucedió con los perros exploradores que el ejército abandonó allá en Vietnam al fin de la guerra ?
20:32 👍
i came back from nam in nov. '69. i took a bus from oakland ,ca. to petaluma ca. on a bus . no one said slurs to me. it seemed they didn't know what to say. there was a numbness. my brother was with a macv team in hue dec. ' 67-dec. '68. i was the 25th div. dec. 69 to nov. '70, nixon gave me a 28 day cut. we returned to nam in 2013 for 3 weeks. i want to go back again. by the way i kept a journal.
American government must stop being a war monger and a bully country. Then the world 🌍 would be more peaceful and less destructive.
12:38 Why did the translation use feet when the Vietnamese guy was using meters? 😂
Because Americans still don't understand metric system.
@@goondocksaints9597 Yeah I still don’t understand why they don’t teach it here
Vietnam West North East
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In June of 1971 a Phz, AZ Superior court Judge gave me a choice of señtences.. #1- go to AZ DOC for 5yrs, #2- report in at "Camp Bearcat" to finish his son's last 6 months after he took emergency leave and deserted to Canada.. I turned 18 yo walking trail fora 2nd Lt- 3rd Marine division- 214 delta, 369 Echo.. All I ask God to do is rectify the actions of a professional coward by letting Johnny Clinton die a slow, painful death..
NQ 36)Ng thanh Son 🔨 Doan Nhu Lan ⭐( NQ 36 🔥💥 chien thang "cuoc 🦆🎵 (?🐠 Pearl Harbor without Hiroshima Nagasaki
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Forgiveness? I don’t need to be forgiven for anything. I was thrown into a war and I fought to survive but did nothing to be forgiven for. I guess if you did things that were outside of your mission then those individuals might want to seek forgiveness. I didn’t and none of my brothers did. I don’t understand this aspect of the film, seeking forgiveness.
American fighting for money but Vietnam fighting for country.
I didn't fight for money. What "Vietnam" are you talking about? There was more than one during the American War
@@bboomermike2126Yeah one was puppet state another was the real one fighting for their country.
@@robertisham5279 Can you tell me which one was which? I was only there, I was only cannon fodder. I had no inside information you seem to have. Can you explain for me?
Whie people know how to twist the story and pretent to regret
North Vietnamese know how to twist the story and pretend to regret
@@blingman78regret abt what? We beat ur white a** yankees and made yall rage quit LOL quit being so salty yankee
@@blingman78regret about what? We beat yall pale yankees and made u rage quit the war LOL 😂
@@blingman78Regret what? They were defending their country.