Cold War Vets
Submitted by Hecktor on 13 December 2007 - 9:36am.
I have been struggling with something for a few years now. when i joined the navy back in 82. manny of my teachers and civic leaders in my town called me stupid for joining. and told me how i was ruining my life. and now these same people now that thier kids are in the millitary they are held up high for thier patriotism and leadership.
i cant help feling quite upset( to put it nicely) where the hell was theier support back when i could of used some.
last year one of these so called leaders asked for help getting a list together for all the graduates of our local highschool who had ever served in the military. well now here is a project i can get behind, so i thought. as i volunteered to help out i soon found out that they where limiting the time frame to just desert storm. ok thats ok but as we proceeded i noticed a few names missing and tried to add them to the list and one who i know was dishonarably discharged. as i tried to correct these problems i finaly got the hint, it was just a list of his son and thier selected friends. so i spoke up and raised a bit of hell about it. so to appease me they added me to thier list. well this made thier list even more meaningless since i did not belong to thier timeframe.
when the project was all over and they ran thier banner down main street in the parade i was the only one who refused to stand and recognize it. am i wrong in this?
well i just guess i wanted to know if anyone else is running into this what i call false patriotism? now dont take me wrong i am gratefull for the support the current vets are recieving, they do deserve it. but once again when i see hipocracy i must stand and scream at the top of my lungs. and so far at home here all i recieve back is oh well your just bitter.
thanks for listening
Brian R. Heck
Cold War Vets
I served from 1986 to 1994 and I feel the same way you do though I never experienced the issue you have. I am glad soldiers that are serving today are getting something, wether it be popular patriotism or something else. The question we vets need to ask ourselves is... what are we going to do about it?
????
Your so right... As many veterans as we are out here....What are we gonna do about it? Being a Patroit of the USA starts Young.. should start at home but as vets we should and can be in the schools as part of VFW programs or other youth programs... I work with a Junior Guard Program in my county schools.
SSGT65 USAF
My experiences....
I moved back home to Ohio after over 20 years away. I bought a house in a neighborhood I grew up knowing to be a nice and quiet neighborhood.
On my first trip to the local grocery store, I had worn my Army t-shirt. A woman behind me in line slammed into me with her cart. At first I thought it was an accident. Then she did it again as her husband/bf laughed. I asked her to please stop since I'm disable with a hole in my spine and she was hurting me. She proceeded to do it again...this time calling me a baby killer! I chalked it up to her being ignorant and left as soon as I could.
That incident was not isolated! I had to stop wearing any type of military or veteran clothing when I was in public. Plus, someone came into my yard and slashed my Army flag and my yellow ribbon around the tree was strewn all over my yard in little pieces. I'm never invited to block parties....but the guy up the street who got a dishonorable is! My vehicle is always getting keyed, scraped and hit by shopping carts because of my veterans plates. I walked out one day to watch a man pushing a cart into my vehicle several times. I pushed the alarm on my keychain to get him to stop. He just flipped me off.
It's not isolated. The treatment of vets is horrendous at best. I really, really just want to beat the holy crap out of them for how they make me feel!
is this recently? i have
is this recently? i have heard stories like this from vietnam era vets but not in the past 10 yrs. no matter when it was it was compleatly uncalled for and just plain f******** WRONG. i hope your injuries are healing including the mental ones inflictedafter the fact.
Assault and battery and
Assault and battery and destruction of private property are crimes. We need to put criminals in jail.
1) Put you local police station's direct line on your speed dial and call them whenever anything happens. (Use 911 for emergencies, and use the direct line when it is not an emergency)
2) Everybody's got an old computer sitting around the house. Use it with a cheap camera to record continuous video of your yard & car.
3) Get your permit to carry a concealed weapon. You're a former MP, so you know how to use it. "An armed society is a polite society"
Check out these two articles about veterans who were in similar circumstances:
71 year old former Marine defends himself:
http://www.nbc6.net/news/13585506/detail.html?dl=mainclick
Marines car keyed by anti-military lawyer:
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2007/12/anti-military-l.html
Heck, I can see your
Heck,
I can see your frustrations ,, It would really piss me off to. You didn't say where you are from,, I'm from a small town,, alot of support for kids going into military back in the 80's and even now.. We also have alot of older vets,, All I can say is I feel your pain.. Good luck.. SSGT65 USAF
i am in certral Iowa here. i
i am in certral Iowa here. i hope this is just a local flaw. but somehow i am afraid it is more widespread than that.
Brian R. Heck
What about?
what about everyone else out there on Veteran.com that are in the time period of duty that Heck and myself selved???
SSGT65 USAF
Bryan, Welcome to the era of
Bryan,
Welcome to the era of 'Popular Patriotism'. I remember coming back from Desert Shield/Storm (the First Gulf War)... but I also very clearly remember the vets coming back from the 'Nam.
As I walked into a bar in Va Beach in the company of several DS/S vets the owner happened to be there. He recognized us as customers from the previous summer and offered us a round on the house for our service. As the table top came over with the tray my cohorts welcomed their beers, but I handed mine to the owner and said "I appreciate your offer but give this to the next Viet Nam vet who walks through the door, they never got their welcome home from a war far more msierable then we endured".
Turns out the owner was a Nam vet... and I drank for free the rest of the night.
What you were subjected to has nothing to do with Patriotism and everything to do with micromutual admiration societies ie small town cliques. Otherwise referred to as hobnobbin' or communal politicin'. It's a bullet on his resume for Mayor in 5 years, nothing more. BZ to ya for standing up for your ethics.
YOU know what you did (as long as it wasn't classified feel free to discuss it) and in time the world will know as well. In the meantime wait until America becomes disillusioned with Iraq/Afghanistan and the 'support' falters when the survivors roll down mainstreet with missing arms and legs or go buggo in Central Park and America sees the reality of its arrogance... just as it did in that dragged out paddy war in Viet Nam.
We veterans who can appreciate the US went into Iraq and Afghanistan and made the same mistake we made in Viet Nam: we entered a regional conflict (yet again instigated by foreign policy failure and US Gov't greed and corruption wanting another puppet leadership somewhere) and engaged in combat action without a definitive exit policy.
My take on Iraq? Iraq isn't a war anymore.
It may well have started out that way, but the 'war' is over and we won. We achieved every military objective established prior to engagment.
Now it's a 'police action', and our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines shedding their blood in the sand are conbat troops... not cops.
Bring 'em the hell home and let the UN do its job.
Gunner Retired
Thanks Gunner. I figured
Thanks Gunner. I figured some vietnam era guy would have responded to this. I saw the movie Flags of our Fathers after going through all of this. and I found the movie saying almost exactly what I had said to our so called leaders. Mainly if we arent going to do it right we shouldn't do it at all.
Brian
Very True..... War is very
Very True..... War is very much over.... Its the UN 's mission now..... Bring our Heros Home, and lets take care of the USA,, starting with our Home Borders.....SSGT65 USAF
that sounds nice. but what
that sounds nice. but what has the UN ever done without our troops? the UN is the biggest screw up ogrinization we have today. the only thing they can do is pass resolutions. it takes our troops to enforce anyting they say. that is what got us into this in the first place. Lets throw out these so called diplomats and turn the building into low income housing for our people. then the UN will acutually be helping somone.
Brian
True
What can the UN do with out the US Support?
Ron
SSGT65 USAF
Stand around and look
Stand around and look pretty?
Gunner Retired
Cold War Veterans
I am a new member here on Vets.com. Glad to be aboard. I am a Cold War Veteran, too. I am a member of the American Cold War Veterans Organization.
If anyone is interested in "linking up" try americancoldwarvets.org
Check it out and post on the forum as a guest and/or register as member. The ACWV has been pursuing congress to issue the Cold War Victory Medal for over 8 years, and we need any cold war veteran to help us out on this project.
jim811
Cold War Vets Ignored.
Until recently, I had never heard of the American Cold War Veterans Organization. My apprehension with this organization is that it was formed because
we get no recognition from other veterans groups. Even our government is reluctant to give us credit for serving our country. I'm not even eligible to join the American Legion, since I never served in one of our country's armed conflicts. STICKS IN MY CRAW! It's one thing that the general population ignores
us, but the cut goes deeper when we are not appreciated by fellow veterans.
Regards, Gene
"It is illogical to put a
"It is illogical to put a cap on VA funding when it is
impossible to put a cap on the number of those
wounded and injured in service to their country."
Hi ya Jim 811; Thanks for the Heads up on the americancoldwarvets.org. Iam heading there after this post.
Iam a 1974-1978 Nam era vet, served with the 351st SAC Minuteman Missile Wing, Whiteman AFB, MO
Heres, the catch however. When I left the AF in 78, I was going to tear up the GI Bill..The REAL one, and get a high powered degree in Accounting. I failed math in high school, actually every year in school. But, I had this 'thing' about myself that I could do anything. BUT, I had NO clue as to what I had just spent 4 years doing prior. I recently found out the 351st had been the REASON for SALT 1 & SALT 2, remember the Kissinger, Ford and Carter eras with 'Parastroika' and the Russians over nuecs, and their deal to reduce warheads?
It was over the EMC upgrades(nonclassified as of today) that Whiteman had under gone the years from 1973-1981. The rest is history.
I was a WINNER, but had no idea until Iam now 51 years old and NOT 18-22 as back then....Dumbed & Numbed by the 'System' and then DUMMY'd by the VA. I have some problems, ill get to next.
After my first wife decided she was sick and tired of my 'what ever it was about me' she hated, decide to split along with my 2 daughters of 18 months and 3 years and go home to mommy.
I was shattered and totaly lost. I roamed around the west to the mid-west, with a steam cleaning system I had purchased the equip and the training, to clean out restaurant grease traps, hoods...etc. Stayed drunk & stoned and finally lost all my equipment, and respect.
So, the next and only thing I decided to do was to go home to my parents and stay there until I could get some type of sanity. just enough to re-enlist, but in the Army.
Now, in 1983 there was some changes since the 10 years prior, plus, a whole new twist, I went into Armor as it was the best and quickest way to make rank. I was now 27.
The youngens'18+ looked up to me, somewhat because their NEW endeavor was a first for them but not me, I was platoon guide thru 8 weeks basic at The Disney Barracks @ Ft Knox. In AIT, the only black guy, prior service ARMY, was the 'guide' for the remainder 8 weeks.
I wanted to go to Korea, but got 'The Rock' in Germany instead. B/Co 2/32 3AD, on the Chech border, 75k, due East of Frankfurt. Got a 6 month extension,"For the Army". All this was after the Beirut Marine Barracks blew-up. The entire EURSA was in a state of hi-alert.
We had SMLM units wandering in the nearby country side, we had bombers, of Arab/MidEast descent driving thru our gates at night, twice. My unit was in the field for an average of not less than 320 days each year, my family was with me. I had remearried, she brought her two children of 2 years and 5 years old. Our daughter was enrolled in DOD elementary school in Butzbach. Escorted by MP;s to kindergarten, to and from our govt quarters, she was taught to duck and roll in school, she still remembers it. We went thru the Chernobyl accident, the winds shifted to the due West, I was posted, 300 KM due WEST from Chernobyl. We had NO idea, until my wife and daughter, some 12 years later, both had attempted to give blood at the Red Cross Mobile Blood unit, denied donating as we had been in W Germany during the 'BSE' & vBSE' years. No mention as to the fallout of April, 1986.
Iam now on SSD and just got a 10% for tinnitus, got NOTHING for the Hearing Loss, the VA gave me 2 hearing aids with a lifetime supply of batterys. I had claimed spinal and Bi-latteral leg, DJD, Osteoarthritus and Depression for the the Bi-latteral, Spinal conditions. I was on the M-60 A-1,2,3 & the NEW M1-IP tank. Ive got a leg wgich has shrunken by 1 inch, got a fused spine from L-2 thru L-5, fused T-2-T-4 from the tank accident I had during a 'Siberian Express' when I attempted to 'rescue' a sleeping gaurd, on duty, from my platoon, lockup inside of a M60 A-3 tank, hatch's closed with the personnel heater running and the engine OFF, I fell from the frozen infantry rail,iced up sponson boxs' to the ground with my lead, flak jacket on and full artic gear on and on my back. Medic Aid station diagnosed me with 'spinal complications'. 10 days Light duty, a back brace and arm sling for my right shoulder injury for the duration of the profile change.
I know my wife has got her problems from those years that due to my conditions, UNEMPLOYABILITY and our finanacial catastrophe, reminds her daily, too.
To make a long story short, prescribed by my VA/PMCP, Iam now in a wheel chair, take 11 prescription drugs, just lost a 4 year appeal for spinal conditions, i take HOT bathes here at home when the 10/500 Hydro-codone and 40mg Diazapam dosnt work. I have been on SSD since 2004 for the same problems Ive requested compensation for.........However, Iam fighting the VA over the lost Med/records that happened while I was on termianl leave. Ive tried twice, my congressman, John Boozman has tried 3 congressional inquirys, no 1983-1987 ARMY med records, anywhere to be found. The records were to be sent to me AFTER my termianl leave was up, 60 days worth. Ive gotten 3 copies of my med/file from AF, 1983-1987 however, after evrytime, I requested 1983-87.The DoD and Army/St Louis file section has 'LOST' thousands of GI's records who served in the 'Lebanese Era', the 3 years of 1981-1984.
I have an attorney for the CACVS request for a re-hearing of my case. NVER GIVE UP ON WHAT IS RIGHT, FOR YOU! I will keep the up FIGHT for my life and family's well being until I WIN. The 8 years in the Military Taught me that, Iam just a product of it.
Well, thats a life of a guy who gave ALL of his youth to his Country of which I Love. Since the war of the Normans in the 13th Century, my family has had a memeber in every war, since. Lost a brother and cousin in the Nam, my dad was in the Navy and served from 1939-1944, couldnt carry more than a 4 word conversation. 2 Great grand fathers in the Revolution, one in WWl along with a uncle, a grandfather in France. And now, 3 nephews in the Army, all have been to Iraq and 1 in Afganistan now.
Heres MY 20/20 HIND SIGHT for us ALL:
LOVE HURTS. And, we happen to have been fighting and or/preserving the PEACE for our country, for a 'system' that dosnt knw what 'HURT' is.
I can only wish for my grand childrens world.
getsteppin