Within 72 hours after narrowly escaping a rocket attack on Dong Ha, Vietnam, I arrived in the United States. It was 2:30 am on July 6, 1971. Outside the chain link fence were hundreds of people calling us names such as babykillers and worse. They threw stuff at us. And the MPs met us with big German Shepherds to sniff us . I could feel my trigger finger twitch, I wanted an M 60 machine gun in my hands in the worst way. Welcome home!! And it got worse! We were treated terribly for a long time. Even the VFW turned their back on us. When I called to join hoping to find a place where people understood, they said they did not consider Vietnam a war! I know that anyone coming home from war has it tough. I doubt if anyone had it as bad as we did.

Your story is heartbreaking. Vietnam ended the year I was eligible to go. Your story is true to the memory I have of you and your fellows returning home. The treatment was horrendous. All I can say is thank you. And, I am truly sorry.