In the early ’60s I served in an Army Ordnance company, very far from a combat unit. Therefore I was surprised to see one of our Spec-5s show up for inspection wearing a Bronze Star. He never spoke about it.
Decades later I tried to look him up on the internet and I found the website of the unit he served in during the Korean War. The unit history included the text of the commendation awarding him the medal. Under attack by Chinese troops, he had carried his wounded officer to safety under enemy fire.
F.H.L.Y, if you are still with us, on this Memorial Day I remember you and your bravery.
Let us never forget those that made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, in battle and in peace. Some of them can never be brought home to their families.
Yes I believe it was about freedom. From what I can remember North Vietnam wanted communism for the country while South Vietnam wanted to be more aligned with Western values and ideals and that’s the reason we stepped in to help the South achieve that goal. Unfortunately Congress was not on board and we were trying to fight a war with one hand tied behind our backs and it didn’t end well.
My younger brother was in Viet Nam. He and his squad were in a resting tent when it came under fire. Two members were hit, my brother pulled both to safety…he returned fire. He received a Purple Heart and Medal of Honor. He passed away 2 months ago atage 78. Every Memorial day he would salute the American flag while playing the National Anthem.
The tortillas for my first tacos came from Tony’s Hero Street Grocery, those two blocks of Second Street in Silvis, IL being so renamed because more servicemen from there died in combat than any other street in America. Not per capita – actual total. And all were Mexican-American. The park across the street from Tony’s has a monument in the form of an Aztec pyramid.
I am a Vietnam Era veteran. A lot of the “keyboard warriors” spout their ideas, pro and con, but they do NOT have the right to opine on Vietnam UNLESS THEY SERVED. If they did not, their opinions are meaningless. If you haven’t served and “paid your dues”, kindly keep your opinions to yourself, please.
I think it’s wonderful that you honor this young man’s life and he was terribly courageous and it’s such a tragedy he died. But do not kid yourself please he did not die for freedom, it was a senseless god-awful war that did no good for any one person on the planet…. and again by no means did he protect American freedom in my humble opinion. The American war machine destroyed so many thousands and thousands of American lives and Vietnamese lives. Many American men have died since of cancer caused by all the chemicals used in the war. They died prematurely, it was a senseless God God awful war.
My husband and I used to go every year for Memorial Day weekend to Washington,D.C. We would visit the memorials and monuments (and museums). We also went to the Concert at the Capital which plays tribute to our armed forces – current and past – alive or deceased. It is a terribly moving concert.
Unfortunately some years ago we had bed bugs and stopped traveling other than in a tiny RV we bought. That cut cities out of where we can go as we can’t park in them (and husband has to drive – no bus, no cab, no train as he suffers from motion sickness) and we do miss going there in remembrance and the concert in memory. Since then we have watched the concert on TV (PBS) every year as if we were there.
(Husband has recently found a truck garage in DC which accepts RVs by reservations and we hope to be able to go there again to pay tribute and remember those who over the centuries who have protected the country with their the military service and loss of their lives.)
Kiba65 6 months ago
Amen.
pschearer Premium Member 6 months ago
In the early ’60s I served in an Army Ordnance company, very far from a combat unit. Therefore I was surprised to see one of our Spec-5s show up for inspection wearing a Bronze Star. He never spoke about it.
Decades later I tried to look him up on the internet and I found the website of the unit he served in during the Korean War. The unit history included the text of the commendation awarding him the medal. Under attack by Chinese troops, he had carried his wounded officer to safety under enemy fire.
F.H.L.Y, if you are still with us, on this Memorial Day I remember you and your bravery.
Frog-on-a-Log Premium Member 6 months ago
God rest his soul.
s_krumpe 6 months ago
Let us never forget those that made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, in battle and in peace. Some of them can never be brought home to their families.
Alicelth Premium Member 6 months ago
May he rest in peace. Sgt Angel Mendez has a memorial on Find a Grave, number 69972264.
duggersd Premium Member 6 months ago
Thank you for your service, Marine.
WorkshopGardener Premium Member 6 months ago
Let us remember all who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Bruce1253 6 months ago
It is important to remember those who go in harm’s way, on this special day.
SameAsOldFfred 6 months ago
So Vietnam was about freedom? I can’t believe this propaganda has returned. Have we never learned anything? And so we continue on….
walt1968pat Premium Member 6 months ago
THANK YOU!
ladykat 6 months ago
A good subject for Memorial Day.
Linguist 6 months ago
We were called to serve, and we did.
We were sent to fight and we went.
We did our job and came home.
We don’t need your praise and we don’t want your thanks.
We do want you to remember those of us who didn’t make it back and those who came back too broken to fix.
We want you to remember those fallen, unsung heroes who died so you could pretend your cause was just, their deaths were noble.
_____Linguist, a Vietnam Veteran
oakie817 6 months ago
amen
Niko S 6 months ago
Yes I believe it was about freedom. From what I can remember North Vietnam wanted communism for the country while South Vietnam wanted to be more aligned with Western values and ideals and that’s the reason we stepped in to help the South achieve that goal. Unfortunately Congress was not on board and we were trying to fight a war with one hand tied behind our backs and it didn’t end well.
The Orange Mailman 6 months ago
This is my favorite Memorial Day tribute in the comics today. Red & Rover is second.
MuddyUSA Premium Member 6 months ago
Regarding what she said….AMEN!
MuddyUSA Premium Member 6 months ago
My younger brother was in Viet Nam. He and his squad were in a resting tent when it came under fire. Two members were hit, my brother pulled both to safety…he returned fire. He received a Purple Heart and Medal of Honor. He passed away 2 months ago atage 78. Every Memorial day he would salute the American flag while playing the National Anthem.
rickmac1937 Premium Member 6 months ago
Thank you
Otis Rufus Driftwood 6 months ago
Thank you for telling us the story of Angel Mendez.
Silence Dogood Premium Member 6 months ago
And today we honor Trump’s “Suckers and Losers”!
raybarb44 6 months ago
Thank you…..
GaryCooper 6 months ago
The Vietnam War was not fought for freedom. It was fought to extend the American empire.
byword84646 6 months ago
Today I honor the two Purple Heart recipients in my family including my Aunt who served in the WAC during WWII.
gcarlson 6 months ago
The tortillas for my first tacos came from Tony’s Hero Street Grocery, those two blocks of Second Street in Silvis, IL being so renamed because more servicemen from there died in combat than any other street in America. Not per capita – actual total. And all were Mexican-American. The park across the street from Tony’s has a monument in the form of an Aztec pyramid.
tservaas Premium Member 6 months ago
Today I will be particularly thinking of a cousin who lost his life to the Vietnam Nam war
Shikamoo Premium Member 6 months ago
Happy Memorial Day to our neighbours south of us.
Thorby 6 months ago
I am a Vietnam Era veteran. A lot of the “keyboard warriors” spout their ideas, pro and con, but they do NOT have the right to opine on Vietnam UNLESS THEY SERVED. If they did not, their opinions are meaningless. If you haven’t served and “paid your dues”, kindly keep your opinions to yourself, please.
pamela welch Premium Member 6 months ago
Very nice; thank you Gracie ♥
wogisch Premium Member 6 months ago
I think it’s wonderful that you honor this young man’s life and he was terribly courageous and it’s such a tragedy he died. But do not kid yourself please he did not die for freedom, it was a senseless god-awful war that did no good for any one person on the planet…. and again by no means did he protect American freedom in my humble opinion. The American war machine destroyed so many thousands and thousands of American lives and Vietnamese lives. Many American men have died since of cancer caused by all the chemicals used in the war. They died prematurely, it was a senseless God God awful war.
mafastore 6 months ago
My husband and I used to go every year for Memorial Day weekend to Washington,D.C. We would visit the memorials and monuments (and museums). We also went to the Concert at the Capital which plays tribute to our armed forces – current and past – alive or deceased. It is a terribly moving concert.
Unfortunately some years ago we had bed bugs and stopped traveling other than in a tiny RV we bought. That cut cities out of where we can go as we can’t park in them (and husband has to drive – no bus, no cab, no train as he suffers from motion sickness) and we do miss going there in remembrance and the concert in memory. Since then we have watched the concert on TV (PBS) every year as if we were there.
(Husband has recently found a truck garage in DC which accepts RVs by reservations and we hope to be able to go there again to pay tribute and remember those who over the centuries who have protected the country with their the military service and loss of their lives.)