I am a viet Nam Vet and have friends that couldn't qualify for the service. Some had medically unqualified and others had deferments. I don't hold it against them and they gave us full support. If I wasn't drafted, I wouldn't have volunteered. The ones I have problems with are the FAKES. We had a guy claiming to be a POW join our VVA.

He had fooled a few VFWs and was taking everything they would give.

 

 

So welcome to this gang of woodworkers, make yourself at home.

 

Salute bro. This topic can be a real can of worms for sure.
There are many who served in Nam that came back to horrific receptions and there are some who came back and are still causing trouble, but I won't name names.
I enlisted freely but was also signed for the draft.

With the way things are going now, today, I would not enlist freely. Which is pretty sad.

I enlisted in the Navy when I was 17 (1963). Got trained in aviation electronics (AQF). Sent to Vietnam on the USS Constellation with a Squadron of A-6s (VA-65).

I am so happy for the way today's returning Vets are treated. It still hurts, though, thinking about the way we were treated when we came home.

 

If I had it to do over- I wouldn't change a thing.

 

I hear ya Lew. I've told this story before but when I returned from Thailand out freedom bird had to re-fuel in Hawaii. We were caged in a the Honolulu terminal separated from the general public by a gate. You couldn't get close to the gate because you'd get spit on.

 

Moving up a nice welcome by our own veteran Ron Altier.