Sending you and your family lots of hugs.

Life can get rough. I wish I could stand by you when you make that call.

At any time but especially during the holidays- I send positive thoughts your way. At least your Mom has you for support and that will help her tremendously.

Life can change so rapidly....we need to treasure each day we have with the people we care about.

Will keep you and your uncle in my thoughts.

Of expressing heartfelt thanks to your uncle. And reaching out a supportive arm (figuratively) to you.


Fucking Hell indeed.

Big hugs for you and your uncle...

innocently trusting elected politicians to make the best moral decision, went into battle knowing we were protecting our Nation.

We found out later or quickly we had been misled.

Your Uncle and I are comrades having fought in the same battles - - for naught.

George W. Bush is remembered for the following and your Uncle and I are mere commas:

to all of you, and to those of us who were left behind, of that lying, miserable travesty of "a just war". Like you, we learned the lies very quickly, and, as family, loved ones, friends, watched so many of you suffer endlessly on your return. there are no words. . .

a slow salute one last time for one of my dear friends, and asked "Why God, Why?"

Not received an answer yet.

I'm not sure if my Uncle Don was pulling my leg, or playing on my arachnophobia, but he told me there were spiders over there that were big enough to make noise as they walked on the jungle floor.

Fuck me I wouldn't have slept a wink.

the best for your uncle, for your whole family. know that your DU family is here for you.

Sending good thoughts for you and your family.

Damn. Sorry to hear this, cherokeeprogressive.

A friend of ours just found out he has skin cancer - hopefully they caught it early enough. I hope there's a similar prognosis for your uncle.

DU needs a "reply all" button so those of us who want to say thanks for kind words can reach out to all who gave them.

It's going to be a very long day tomorrow as I wait for my Aunt's phone call.

Your words mean more than you'll ever know.

It's tough...but I'm impressed that you are there for him.

Bravo.

Peace.

where he laughingly remembers teasing you. His rough life even before leukemia did not affect his cheerfulness and he would want you not to be too sad. It's hard, but you have to be as loving - but tough - as he is...he probably knew something was up at that dinner.

We sure send our best ones to war, don't we?

... we will be pulling for you here. I hope and pray right here and now that your Dear Uncle does not have Leukemia, and that whatever he is suffering from can be treated. Sounds like you're in a situation where you have to be strong for your Mom and for your Uncle's family, even though you feel like crumbling just like them. Listen, you try your hardest to be strong in the face of this situation, and then you come here and crumble. You now have hundreds of DUers who will give you all the support you need.
God bless and keep your Uncle in the palm of His hand.

I'll keep you and your uncle in my prayers.

Whatever happens, at least your uncle has you--and that probably means more to him than you know. Were I in his place, I know it would mean a lot to me.

What you're going through stirs up a lot of stuff for me. Vietnam again, and the profound sense of loss and grief that goes with it. Those I knew who died there (more than 60), and those we've lost in the aftermath--some by their own hand. Losing my little brother, who served with me in Vietnam, 2 years ago.

I've had a lot of personal experience with loss and grief, but I'm not sure I'm getting any better at dealing with it, or that I have any special wisdom to offer you.

If worse comes to worst, it may, in a way, be tougher on you than on your uncle. He's been through a lot, and he's a survivor. If he was in the jungle with the spiders, he may have been an Infantryman--which means he's been through some shit, and more shit being wounded. He probably lost friends there, and more over the years afterward. He probably has a lot of experience, himself, with loss and grief. And, like a lot of us, he's probably experienced amazement that he's still here.

As for his PTSD and substance abuse, a lot of us have been there, done that. But many of us recognize not only the negative and tragic consequences of that fucking war in our lives; we also see the positive consequences. On visits to schools to speak about the war, one thing i'd say was, "You didn't have to go to Vietnam to find your compassion. But it sure could add a lot of depth."

When you see your uncle again, you might ask him if he gained anything positive from his war experience. You said he regained his family, which is a striking development. Raising the question about the positive effects of Vietnam may be illuminating.

Let me say again:

Whatever happens, at least your uncle has you--and that probably means more to him than you know. Were I in his place, I know it would mean a lot to me.

And, when you see him again, tell him you ran into another VN vet online who says, "Welcome home, brother," and wishes him the best...

that it is something treatable.
Sending goods vibes and wishes for good news.

...how's it going?? Please update us on how your Uncle is when you can find time. God Bless...

You have my condolences.

and I hope it's not as bad as it sounds like it could be. Bad time of the year to get bad news like this and hope he recovers.