As a Vietnam Veteran I want to post this for my forgotten comrades

[Jeffersons Ghost]

I mean does it really matter if we honor a veteran after he freezes to death in shame alone under an interstate bridge? Many of my comrades were so screwed up they became marginalized and withdrawn, after fighting a semi-civilian force. I fully expect more mental causalities from Iraq. Bumper stickers or flag waving just doesn't seem to ease the pain and nightmares.


When Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurrah! Hurrah!


We'll give him a hearty welcome then,
Hurrah! Hurrah!


The men will cheer, the boys will shout,
The ladies they will all turn out,


And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.


The old church bells will peal with joy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!


To welcome home our darling boy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!


The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

Get ready for the Jubilee,
Hurrah! Hurrah!


We'll give the hero three times three,
Hurrah! Hurrah!


The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.


Let love and friendship on that day,
Hurrah! Hurrah!


Their choicest treasures then display,
Hurrah! Hurrah!


And let each one perform some part
To fill with joy the warrior's heart,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

[Minnesota Libra]

1. The fourth one from the bottom and the last one says it all and I.........

.....thank you for the reminder of what this day is truly all about. Whether we agree with the particular war or not these are our countrymen who have suffered so much in our name and deserve all our respect and help.

:patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[Benhurst]

2. Thanks for the post, Jeffersons Ghost. Recommended. NT

3. I was able to get to know a vietnam veteran very well.

He had a lot of psychological traumas, but he is doing well with a wife and family now, and he is growing spiritually.

I would never enlist into a war such as the one in Iraq, knowing what I know about Vietnam.

[acmejack]

4. I salute my brothers & sisters today.

And respectfully remember the many who were not as fortunate as I.

[Virginia Dare]

5. Nobody comes back from war the same person that left...

we are creating a whole new generation of traumatized war veterans. Will they get the help they need? I have my doubts. We'll probably just sweep them under the rug as usual.

P.S., thanks to all veterans and for your service.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

6. I appreciate your heart-felt sentiments VD

While the current administration did give a funding raise to the VA, services were still cut back because the raise was not sufficient to cover an increase in the number of Veterans who need its help.

[LuckyLib]

31. Exactly. "we are creating a whole new generation

of traumatized war veterans." It's already happening. Returning soldiers so damaged that their lives are falling apart. Some of them will be the new homeless veterans, with psychological needs and addictions, trying to get it together.

[leesa]

7. Thanks for this. I agree these soldiers will be even more traumatized

because it was so very clear that it was an illegal and immoral war before it was started and because we have no friends left in the world because of it.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

9. long ago when I was a inpatient at the VA

I met a guy who would run away, while covering his ears, whenever he saw children. It might sound funny but he had seen so many kids rigged with bombs explode in Nam it flipped him out.

[Time for change]

8. It's hard to understand how our administration can get away with such

things as cutting Veteran medical benefits - without having to pay a large political price for it.

I guess that the only explanation is the shameful lack of press coverage.

[FloridaPat]

10. I wonder if there is a special hell for gov't leaders who start wars

and put their soldiers in impossible positions for reasons based on lies or as in Vietnam - whatever the reason was.

Happy Memorial Day. Thanks for your posting

[Jeffersons Ghost]

18. we should update the song, WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME

when Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurrah! Hurrah!


We'll give him a hearty swiftboating then,
Hurrah! Hurrah!

[lonestarnot]

11. Excellent post. Thank you!

:thumbsup:

[Cha]

12. No, it doesn't matter

where they died..not in the least.

Here's to all the fallen comrades from VietNam and all the wars..:patriot: :toast: :patriot:

[bridgit]

13. k&r

:hug:

[IndyOp]

14. VA Watchdog dot Org the #3 ranked veterans' web site in the country

“VA Watchdog is where the VA goes to find out what it's doing." Congressional Aide

The mission of VA Watchdog.org is quite simple.

We provide the latest information about the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) and other topics of interest to veterans and their families.

<snip>

We believe the VA provides excellent healthcare to qualified veterans. However, the VA is plagued by chronic underfunding caused by politicians who, every year, do not provide adequate monies to support the healthcare needs of veterans.

We also believe that the political appointees who run the VA interfere with the professional and dedicated workers of the VA who do not hold politically-appointed positions. Veterans' healthcare is NOT a political matter and should not be entrusted to those who owe allegiance to any political party.

We also support legislative efforts to take VA healthcare out of the discretionary federal budget and make it mandatory. Such a move would guarantee healthcare for veterans and take the politics out of the funding apparatus.

Along the political line...VA Watchdog dot Org does not endorse political candidates. We will, however, point out those politicians who, by their deeds and not just their words, truly support veterans. And, we will point out those who do not support veterans, again, judged by their deeds.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

17. VA Health-care providers are dedicated and often donate services

When the shift ends at the VA, the real commitment begins. Hats off to ALL VA nurses Drs, orderlies and other VA staff.

Now, I'd like to introduce a TRUE friend of the VA and ALL Veterans:

swift-boat this repuke a'holes!

[yellerpup]

15. The Danziger cartoon at the end really does it for me.

Good to see the faces of the returning 'NamVets all young again. Those war years, God, that was hard. It feels so awful to be going through it again with Iraq. You know we all know better, now. I thought we made that clear. Didn't we? Hell, I guess I'm just getting old. I won't forget though. Peace to my brothers.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

21. yep some never learn

peace to ALL my brothers and sisters who are serving and served.

[Jade Fox]

16. Thank you, JG....

I've been thinking a lot this morning about Viet Nam Vets, and how we as a country let them down. And how we are now creating a whole new generation of Vets, sent barely out of childhood to fight a highly questionable war. And why the hell people with the power to do so felt the need to repeat this disaster.

Bless you. :hug:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. The original, Irish, version was more apt.

While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athy
A stick in me hand and a drop in me eye
A doleful damsel I heard cry,
Johnny I hardly knew ye.

With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns
The enemy nearly slew ye
Oh my darling dear, Ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye.

Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your eyes that were so mild
When my heart you so beguiled
Why did ye run from me and the child
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye.

Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run
When you went for to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye.

I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home
All from the island of Sulloon
So low in flesh, so high in bone
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye.

Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg
Ye're an armless, boneless, chickenless egg
Ye'll have to put with a bowl out to beg
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye.

They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They're rolling out the guns again
But they never will take our sons again
No they never will take our sons again
Johnny I'm swearing to ye.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

20. MUCH BETTER VERSION

originals are generally better

[kineneb]

28. Fighting for Strangers

Steeleye Span's version of "Johnny I hardly knew ye"
(Different war, same result.)


What makes you go abroad fighting for strangers
When you could be safe at home free from all dangers?

A recruiting sergeant came our way
To an Inn nearby at the close of day
He said young Johnny you're a fine young man
Would you like to march along behind a military band,
With a scarlet coat and a big cocked hat,
And a musket at your shoulder,
The shilling he took and he kissed the book,
Oh poor Johnny what will happen to ya?

The recruiting sergeant marched away
From the Inn nearby at the break of day,
Johnny went too with half a ring
He was off to be a soldier he'd be fighting for the King
In a far off war in a far off land
To face a foreign soldier,
But how will you fare when there's lead in the air,
Oh poor Johnny what'll happen to ya?

What makes you go abroad fighting for strangers
When you could be safe at home free from all dangers?

The sun shone hot on a barren land
As a thin red line took a military stand,
There was sling shot, chain shot, grape shot too,
Swords and bayonets thrusting through,
Poor Johnny fell but the day was won
And the King is grateful to you
But your soldiering's done and they're sending you home,
Oh poor Johnny what have they done to ya?

They said he was a hero and not to grieve
Over two wooden pegs and empty sleeves,
They carried him home and set him down
With a military pension and a medal from the crown.
You haven't an arm and you haven't a leg,
The enemy nearly slew you,
You'll have to go out on the streets to beg,
Oh poor Johnny what have they done to ya?

What makes you go abroad fighting for strangers
When you could be safe at home free from all dangers?
 

[democrank]

22. Bless your heart, JG.

Peace.

[Octafish]

23. Why the smear on Ted Kennedy?

Gee. All he's ever done in office is try to make this a better country for ALL Americans.

His brother, the President, BTW, tried keeping the United States out of Vietnam.

Vietnam Withdrawal Plans

The 1990s saw the gaps in the declassified record on Vietnam filled in—with spring 1963 plans for the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces. An initial 1000 man pullout (of the approximately 17,000 stationed in Vietnam at that time) was initiated in October 1963, though it was diluted and rendered meaningless in the aftermath of Kennedy's death. The longer-range plans called for complete withdrawal of U. S. forces and a "Vietnamization" of the war, scheduled to happen largely after the 1964 elections.

The debate over whether withdrawal plans were underway in 1963 is now settled. What remains contentious is the "what if" scenario. What would Kennedy have done if he lived, given the worsening situation in Vietnam after the coup which resulted in the assassination of Vietnamese President Diem?

At the core of the debate is this question: Did President Kennedy really believe the rosy picture of the war effort being conveyed by his military advisors. Or was he onto the game, and instead couching his withdrawal plans in the language of optimism being fed to the White House?

The landmark book JFK and Vietnam asserted the latter, that Kennedy knew he was being deceived and played a deception game of his own, using the military's own rosy analysis as a justification for withdrawal. Newman's analysis, with its dark implications regarding JFK's murder, has been attacked from both mainstream sources and even those on the left. No less than Noam Chomsky devoted an entire book to disputing the thesis.

But declassifications since Newman's 1992 book have only served to buttress the thesis that the Vietnam withdrawal, kept under wraps to avoid a pre-election attack from the right, was Kennedy's plan regardless of the war's success. New releases have also brought into focus the chilling visions of the militarists of that era—four Presidents were advised to use nuclear weapons in Indochina. A recent book by David Kaiser, American Tragedy, shows a military hell bent on war in Asia.

The Vietnam war, instead of ending before it began in earnest, bloomed in the mid-1960s into a nightmare conflict that consumed 58,000 American lives and an unknown number of Vietnamese in the millions. Within America, the divide over the war existed not only in the streets but also within the halls of power, where many decided that the cost was too high.

CONTINUED...


http://www.history-matters.com/vietnam1963.htm

Oh yeah. I remembered three families I am close to who lost sons in Vietnam.

COWARD FROM
CRAWFORD

[Jeffersons Ghost]

25. I actually didn't notice it was Teddy until it was WAY to late to fix it

Ted might not be my favorite Democrat but the other senator from MA is high on my list of heroes. Those two brothers of Teddy were true patriots and freedom fighters. anybody here seen my old friend John?

[Octafish]

27. Thanks. Understood.

My son is a Cub Scout and today his Pack participated in a local Memorial Day observance. My heart swelled as I saw him in uniform, carrying an American Flag. My heart broke as I thought of all the people across this nation who missed a son or a daughter, a brother or sister, a mom or dad. We all owe our freedom to them and all who served and you.

[yellowdog]

24. Thanks, Jeffersons Ghost

I have spent a lot of time today thinking of Jim Hembree, Mick Smith, Larry Hotz, and Jeff Lynch. I grew up with these guys and we never got to have a legal drink together because they were all dead in Viet Nam before we were 21. It kills my soul to see it all happening again.
Peace and Love

[Mnemosyne]

26. The lady with the cart reminds me of

a friend in Alabama. He can't stay inside, pushes around three carts and suffers terribly mentally and emotionally. I haven't seen him since 1996 and don't even know if he's alive.

It should never happen. :grr: This is another shame of this country. When I hear people comment that "they like to live like that" or "it's what they choose" - I can get pretty irate. Mitch Snyder and I corresponded for several years until his death. And I've been homeless, certainly not by choice. I know how fucking hard it is and to be out there with PTSD has got to be horrific.

I often think of the men that ended up in the wilderness after coming back. I know they wish to be forgotten, but my heart breaks to think of how they must feel to isolate themselves so extremely.

I was seriously involved with two Marine vets in the 70's and early 80's and married Army. PTSD destroyed all of those relationships. I tried to help, but they couldn't get out of their personal hells. They were all good guys, just needed something and I don't know if they even knew what exactly. Alcohol played a major part of problems.

Thank you for serving JG. It is appreciated more than you know. :hug:

[brer cat]

29. I loaned a few bucks to a vetnam vet today...

what a "memorial" day celebration. But what else can an individual do? They are being ignored by VA or pissed-poor served. But are we serving them by just passing on a few bucks? Many have MAJOR problems. Too many questions, too few answers. sigh.

[diamondsndust]

30. NONE of them are ever forgotten here..EVER.....

great post though.. K&R

[Kurovski]

32. Kick(nt)

[Hekate]

33. Great pictorial essay

Thanks...
I remember learning that cheery version of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again" in 4th grade -- I think the song book's illustration was of Civil War Union soldiers.

I think I was in high school when the Clancy Brothers recorded the much grimmer Irish rendition. What a contrast.

We thought our country wouldn't do this again -- send our young off to die in a senseless and unwinnable war. But our country's now being run by madmen and greedy bastards, and it isn't their sons and daughters who are being maimed and slaughtered. As Cindy Sheehan says, they have no skin in the game.

I'm glad DU and the VFP are among those working hard to make sure our new veterans will not be shunted aside and forgotten, despite this evil administration's worst efforts.

Hekate

VFPSB:
http://www.vfpsb.org/index.html
National VFP:
http://www.veteransforpeace.org