In Asheville, North Carolina, two Marines were rumored to have been spat upon, while in Spokane, Washington, a threat to "spit on the troops when they return from Iraq" was reportedly issued. is it true that hippies never really spit in the faces of soldiers returning from Vietnam? Although hippies were sometimes accused of verbally attacking soldiers and spitting on veterans returning home from duty in Vietnam, or participating in the torching of ROTC buildings on college campuses, with the exception of a small radical fringe element, hippies did not verbally assault military personnel and did not condone acts of political violence. Australians did not support the war. Did protestors spit on returning Vietnam vets? Acceptance and integrating, in general, will be difficult for the Veteran upon returning home. I wasn't a returning Vietnam vet, but I was an ROTC student at Colorado State University from 1967 to 1972. A soldier, fresh from Vietnam duty, wearing his uniform, gets off the plane at an American airport, where he is spat upon by "hippies." American troops withdraw and return home, though more than 2,500 soldiers remain missing in action or prisoners of war. When the American soldiers returned home from World War II in 1945, they were greeted as heroes in the United States. Here’s one opinion and some possible answers. [/quote] Was spat No, they weren’t. N o one said "thank you." Why did it happen? Yes we did, by a large majority until the last couple of years [of the war]. No, they’re not. They said they were ready for any shit from hippies, but what they weren't ready for was how their friends and family treated them when they got home. ... As in "Just who was actually spitting on returning Vietnam vets in the seventies?" It was not an uncommon scene for returning soldiers to be confronted at airports by protesters carrying signs with anti-war slogans. They certainly don't honor our fallen soldiers, who have been sent to foreign soil to die for their oil, as a result of the lies that go all the way to the top of their REPUBLICAN party. Coming Home To Less Than A Hero's Welcome It's Veterans Day, and the families of soldiers who have come back from Iraq and Afghanistan can celebrate together. The stories were usually very specific. Some forums can only be seen by registered members. - [quote]Any Vietnam vets have any experiences they would like to share? "Those who served honorably in Vietnam were portrayed as baby killers, psychos, drug addicts and warmongers by Bob Dylan. 8 years ago. American soldiers returning home from Vietnam often faced scorn as the war they had fought in became increasingly unpopular. If they were flying back home from their base, they would have traveled in their civilian clothes. A battle hardened soldier who was just coming back from Vietnam would have literally killed a punk kid spitting on them. Warren Woessner (1971) This War. His name is Claude Anshin Thomas, and his book sits in front of me now, entitled AT HELL'S GATE. My tour of duty in Vietnam ended in August of 1972. Vietnam veterans are social misfits, loners, prone to alcoholism and violence. Vietnam Soldiers Returning Home & Post Traumatic War Syndrom Returning home soldiers were spit on and called 'baby-killers' or 'crazy Vietnam vets.' All the Vietnam veterans I know wold has beat the Fn daylights out of anyone that spit on them and it may have happened in a few cases and that would have happened in California because the bulk of protesters are in California and look close at who is protesting what type of people they are, but true Americans don't spit on returning soldiers, they have better sense than that. If anyone ever did really spit on a returning vietnam soldier… Well, first off, the Nixon administration. So why did it become an issue after Vietnam? None were looking for a parade but all were certainly looking for human support and help in readjusting back to civilian life after their brutal war. Soldiers returning from Vietnam were attacked by organised anti-war protesters who spat at them, threw blood on them and called them “baby-killers”. This attitude surely helps, but please remember, the soldier must train himself or herself to go from warrior mode to civilian mode. As far as the spitting goes, most Vietnam vets I knew came home in the middle of the night and knew to go change into civvies ASAP. From pro football player to Vietnam Soldier. William E. Stafford (1972) May, 1972. Now Americans must find a way forward together. Its genesis was a controversial newspaper column of 20 July 1987 in which Chicago Tribune syndicated columnist Bob Greene asked whether there was any truth to the folklore that Vietnam veterans had been spat upon when they returned from the war zone. Philip Levine (1972) Walking Away an Undeclared War. By David Vergun, Defense.gov October 7, 2020. A soldier coming back from Vietnam would have been on a military flight vs. commercial; so civilians wouldn't be there when they landed. WINSTON-SALEM -- Last week voters went to the polls to select a vision for the future. Since 2000, I've been using this column to track Vietnam vet spit allegations as they appear in the press, and have found nothing that contradicts Lembcke's basic assessment. This is not a tragic story, but it may be that the low-grade disapproval felt by millions of returning … Communist North Vietnam invades South Vietnam and controls the country. (county, elect) User Name: Remember Me : Password : Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! That is how I landed on this site and how glad I am to be here. A Vietnam vet who claims that he was spit on as a soldier. Now, with the return of our soldiers, they are welcomed with open arms. Parliamentary Procedure. William H. Dickey (1971) Laos in the Air. They don't love our country. Ever since doing one of my internships at Sepulveda VA, the "how we treat our soldiers" issue has been one of my hot buttons. save. Author Jerry Lembcke is the Viet vet who wrote The Spitting Image: Myth, Memory and the Legacy of Vietnam, in 1998. tundrahopper4 said: Newo, The first million bucks I make will result in teams of investigators being sent out on this one. In Burlington, Vermont, a leader of the state National Guard told local television, "We've had some spitting incidents," and then claimed one of his Guardswomen had been stoned by anti-war teenagers. But coming home … Share on Twitter; Share on Facebook; Share on Reddit; Share on LinkedIn; Share via Email For years I had been hearing stories that when American troops returned home from Vietnam, they were spat upon by anti-war protesters. By 1969, the animostiy towards our soldiers had begun to manifest itself in direct attacks against those of us in ROTC who were stubborn (or foolish) enough to continue to wear our uniforms to our other classes on the one day a week we wore them to ROTC instruction. Spit on? Was the treatment of Vietnam soldiers returning home somewhat mythical? Cities and towns across the country held parades to honor the returning veterans and recognize the sacrifices they had made. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. And they obviously don't love our troops. if hippies spit on vietnam soldiers isnt that kind of hypocritical? But, I heard a guy's story of coming home and how excited he was after having fought and won at Hamburger Hill. share. Not everyone agreed with WW2 but no soldiers were ever spit on. For me—and I think most others returning—we transported in a civilian airplane, that landed on a military base, which would have greatly restricted civilians from being where they could protest against us. Hippies Protesting the War Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Years ago Vietnam Veteran Dan Holland tried to prove He said he dressed in his military best and, with a chest full of medals puffed out, was filled with patriotism and honor when he got off the airplane at a California airport. Unlike the hero status given to the returning soldiers form World War II, the soldiers that served in Vietnam were portrayed as baby killers, psychos, drug addicts and war mongers. Homecoming: When the Soldiers Returned From Vietnam is a book of selected correspondence published in 1989. The war was slow to take action against PTSD and to provide veterans with the help they needed because of the public's general disapproval of the entire war. 7 2 27. comments. No one insulted me. but it is still true that it was not cool to be a Vietnam veteran until about 1982. The process of returning to the U.S. felt like you were being sneaked back in. When Vietnam vets came home (Soldiers being spit on is just an urban myth) News and Observer ^ | Nov 10, 2004 | JOHN LLEWELLYN Posted on 11/10/2004 3:35:05 PM PST by mykdsmom. I cannot understand who would show such disrespect to a soldier who risked their life to keep America safe from harm. He argues that the common claim that American soldiers were spat upon and insulted by anti-war protesters upon returning home from the Vietnam War is an urban legend. Many of their loved ones didn't want to hear about their experiences or would try to minimalize it. The most commonplace letters were in many respects the most poignant. Any returning servicemember is and was treated better than a Vietnam returnee. Tundrahopper4 tundrahopper4, May 1, 2005 #34. newo Lifetime Supporter Lifetime Supporter. But the homecoming was very different for most Vietnam veterans. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads. By Dante A. Ciampaglia. During the Vietnam era, the returning soldiers were hated and loathed because of the war. He says he expected her to come over and give him some sort of welcome, and got the saliva in his face instead. After we returned home last night from our 3rd WHS experience, I Googled "Vietnam veterans returning home spit on at San Francisco Airport". Nixon elevated the issue for two reasons: so that getting them back could serve as a substitute for victory in Vietnam, and -- unlike the returning soldiers who criticized the war -- the POWs and their families still supported the war effort by default, thereby serving as heroic endorsers of Nixon's policies. In the Vietnam war, there were more than 58,000 deaths and more than 300,000 wounded as well as more than 700,000 veterans who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Coming Home: Vietnam Veterans in American Society. Jack ducked into the airport’s men’s room to shed his uniform because, “he’d heard the stories about returning soldiers being spit on.” It was what happened “at home” during the war, wrote Sinise, that inspired his commitment to see that it didn’t happen again and that the troops sent to “protect our liberties” will be appreciated and cared for. Right now, I am reading a book about a Vietnam Veteran who turned to Buddhism for therapy, and he says he was spit on by a young woman at the airport upon arriving home. Probably rare. Many even testify to acts of great kindness from strangers upon returning home. Any returning servicemember is and was treated better than a Vietnam returnee soldiers! 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