Vietnam War - Democratic Underground

norepubsin08

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Thu Feb-19-09 06:27 PM
Original message

Vietnam War

I just had to write today...Exactly 40 years ago today, my father was shot and killed in Vietnam..I was 7 at the time. I am writing because last week for the first time in my life, I was able to go to Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC and view his name on the wall, take pictures, leave a remembrance and do an etching. It was quite an experience. My family got to go on this trip and I scheduled an extra three days in for sight seeing, I am so glad we did and I never thought seeing that would have affected me as deeply as it did. Just wanted to share, not even sure it belongs in this forum!

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mike_c

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Thu Feb-19-09 06:34 PM
Response to Original message

1. .

:hug:

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norepubsin08

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Thu Feb-19-09 07:38 PM
Response to Reply #1

10. Hey my name is Mike C also!

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TahitiNut

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Thu Feb-19-09 06:36 PM
Response to Original message

2. On Monday, I'll be 'celebrating' a 40th anniversary as well

Edited on Thu Feb-19-09 06:54 PM by TahitiNut

I wrote about it 2 years ago, and will again on Monday. (See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=2867 )

You can (as you probably know) see the pages for those who died on this date forty years ago at http://thewall-usa.com/search.asp?curpage=1&name=&lname=&hometown=&homestate=&service=&age=&ssn=&ranknum=&dobmonth=&dobday=&dobyear=&casmonth=2&casday=19&casyear=1969&searchpanel=&casualtiesdate=2%2F19%2F1969&birthdaydate=&searchwoman=

We who came back alive will NEVER forget our brothers who weren't so 'lucky.'

:hug:

Forty years ago today, we lost ...
:patriot: EDWIN ARTHUR ACKERMAN
:patriot: WARNELL EUGENE ATEN
:patriot: THOMAS MICHAEL BLACKWELL
:patriot: LARRY ALLEN BODELL
:patriot: DAN RAE BYHAM
:patriot: JAMES WENDALL DALTON
:patriot: CHARLES MILTON DOWNS
:patriot: HOWARD LEE EARLY
:patriot: DANIEL JOHN FOSTER
:patriot: CHARLES FOULKS
:patriot: GARY ROY GENTH
:patriot: RICKIE NORMAN GUNDERSON
:patriot: RONALD JOSEPH HILLMAN
:patriot: CHARLES ROBERT JAMES
:patriot: CHARLES DONALD JONES
:patriot: JOHN ANDREW KUCICH
:patriot: CHARLES REID MAIN
:patriot: ABRAEL MALDONADO
:patriot: E G MAYS
:patriot: WILLIAM O SHEA
:patriot: JOHN WAYNE POE
:patriot: MICHAEL THOMAS ROWE
:patriot: DAVID ALAN SCHNEIDER
:patriot: JOHN JOSEPH SEERY
:patriot: RONALD DEAN SHAFF
:patriot: BARRY WAYNE SMITH
:patriot: ROY DIXON STOFFREGEN
:patriot: STEVEN DALE TANNER
:patriot: ELTON RAY VENABLE
:patriot: RICHARD LEE WAYCASTER
:patriot: MACK HOUSTON WILHELM
:patriot: ROBERT G WIMP
:patriot: HOWARD EUGENE WRIGHT

May they rest in peace and honor. :patriot:

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norepubsin08

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Thu Feb-19-09 07:39 PM
Response to Reply #2

11. Yup he's in there!!!!

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Are_grits_groceries

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Thu Feb-19-09 06:36 PM
Response to Original message

3. Glad you got to see it.

:hug:
It never ceased to affect me no matter how many times I saw it.

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Winterblues

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Thu Feb-19-09 06:36 PM
Response to Original message

4. Forty years ago today I was in Vietnam

I had friends there, that like your father did not make it back. Sorry for your loss.

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Tangerine LaBamba

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Thu Feb-19-09 06:37 PM
Response to Original message

5. It's a remarkable site, isn't it?

I watched it being built, and was there for its dedication. I have always taken guests there at night, when the intensity of the experience is even more powerful.

My sympathies for your loss. I'm glad you were able to make the trip and do all the things that those left behind must do. The Wall is a living thing, paradoxically, populated, as it is, by the names of the dead. The visitors, with all their offerings, keep it alive.

I have a childhood friend there. I visit him every so often..

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Blue_In_AK

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Thu Feb-19-09 06:37 PM
Response to Original message

6. I'm glad you got the chance for this closure.

Edited on Thu Feb-19-09 06:39 PM by Blue_In_AK

I did the same for my little cousin whose name appears there when I was down in 2005 for the antiwar march. I thought I was all prepared for the impact, but I couldn't stop the tears. That place really gets to me.

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Still Sensible

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Thu Feb-19-09 06:38 PM
Response to Original message

7. I am glad you got to make the pilgrimage

Peace

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G_j

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Thu Feb-19-09 07:22 PM
Response to Original message

8. I thought I was prepared for it

but the emotional impact was extraordinary.
I've been there a few times over the years, it is always a moving experience.

RIP my people

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barbtries

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Thu Feb-19-09 07:33 PM
Response to Original message

9. my son and i are going

weekend after next - never been before. i'm really excited. i'm glad you got to visit the wall and see your father's name there. my father died when i was 13 (not vietnam - he was a pearl harbor survivor and died at 49 of a heart attack) and was buried in a military cemetery in Oregon. i've never seen his grave. i don't know anyone who died in Vietnam. if you would be willing to PM me with your father's name, i would be happy to look him up when we're there as well. it would be an honor.

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