Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

A lot of us here on UHH are in our 70s and later. In 1960 I was ten years old and WWII had ended only 15 years before. I can't recall a lot of talk about people who served during that war -- and they numbered in the millions. The most memorable display of veterans was during parades when a VFW branch had a contingent in the parade. Now a half-century after Vietnam, there is much more recognition, talk, and community involvement in that war than anything I can recall about WWII. Many groups have tables set up during events like Memorial Day and the 4th of July highlighting things like MIAs, Wounded Warriors, and homeless veterans (this would include what we call sandbox veterans -- the ones that fought in the Middle East). I guess the difference is the proliferation of social media. We are much more connected across our immediate home areas and nationally. When events occur, we know about them and their efforts for recognition. They can make a statement about their concerns and generate community support much easier than fifty years ago.

I wonder how the youth of today see us (Vietnam Veterans). We are the old guys dressing up in battle fatigues and marching in Memorial Day Parades.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

That's because they didn't experience any of it.
To them it's just history.
They simply don't understand.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

The sad state of affairs is that the youth of today are historically ignorant of a lot of things NOT superficial ! Look at the interviews of Young folks on the street who can't even tell you how many states are in the US. The majority of young folks don't have a clue and are just led by the nose. A lot of young folks are spoiled because they are the pampered generation and don't have a clue about those that gave EVERYTHING !

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Sad, isn't it.......

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

I believe those young folks that are ignorant of commonly known facts are cherry picked from numerous interviews to support the interviewer’s point, agenda, or claims. There will always be those among us, regardless of age, that just don’t pay attention.

Stan

thumpercat2

This morning I went to Starbucks to get coffee and by chance I put on my US NAVY Corpsman ball cap. 🧢 When I drove up to pay the young barista and I got to talking aabout wheat sheath pennies and I said that I guess I was just an old guy, she looked at me and reminded me about all those who didn't make it to my age. I responded by saying to her that for me every day is Memorial Day. She really understands!

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

I agree with your perspective, Bill! WWII veterans are 100+ years old. Not many around. Vietnam, and later military involvements, are mostly history to those 20+ years. My Grandkids, ages 19, 21 and 24 have no clue about "those days". I share stories of my youth and later years with them, if they show an interest, but I don't make them a captive audience. They enjoy some of "my stories", but are much more interested in their own lives. I think that's the way it should be, but I do think the history of our nation and the world deserves more time in their lives. I doubt it will happen unless social media provides the stories.
Mark

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

I’m also a Vietnam veteran, but quite frankly don’t understand how they dress up in battle fatigues and march in Memorial Day Parades. It’s a time in my life I want to forget, not re-live over and over. WWII I can understand because we were attacked. Who attacked us in Vietnam?
I can remember headhunters telling me to take “Vietnam Veteran” OFF my resume, because employers didn’t want to hire them.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

It is a matter of honor and the US living up to promises made. I'm not sure we lived up to either of those propositions in Vietnam or Korea or any conflict since then. We are a member of SEATO and have an obligation to all our South Eastern allies to defend them. We backed out of both Korea and Vietnam without finishing the job. In the Middle East, we win and then give the countries back to the people we fought against without continued oversight as we did with Japan and Germany.

I'm afraid the US does not have the respect we had after WWII. If I were Taiwan, I would be skeptical about the ability (or rather resolve) of the US to protect it against an all-out attack from mainland China.

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

In France there are huge cemeteries filled with WWII American soldiers who fought and died on their homeland, and yet to this day Americans are looked down on by many French people, especially in Paris.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

The 1960s and '70s were a very divisive time due to the Vietnam war. I think a lot of the recognition of veterans today is an effort to make amends for the way many service members were treated when they came home from Vietnam. Those who served did so either selflessly, or as the result of a draft, and in both cases, deserve ultimate respect and honor for their service. I taught my kids as they grew up that they should always honor those who serve in any military conflict, because freedom has a price. Regardless of what we think about the justification for a war, those who participate are doing some of the most difficult jobs that exist.

My Dad was a signalman on a supply ship in the Pacific in WWII, and again in Korea. He NEVER talked about it. He just wouldn't, and wanted nothing to do with the VFW or any other veterans' organization, or anything that would remind him of war. Mom told me in my teens that he had lost several good friends who were on another ship that sank in the Pacific. The scale of WWII was so large, nearly everyone knew someone who lost someone. I knew a few who went to Vietnam, but they all came back alive. Two of them had serious PTSD.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Sad, because we, and the other allies, saved their asses......

M1911 Loc: DFW Metromess

If it wasn't for us, the French would be speaking German as their native language.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Ya, das ist richtig!

pendennis

I served during Viet Nam in the Navy. I was assigned to a public affairs unit (drill team), and part of our duties entailed being in parades in the New England area. At the time, a lot of those smaller towns were celebrating bicentennials, so we got to see small town New England up close and personal. It was nearly unbelievable just how much those folks appreciated veterans from all eras. There were still a lot (relatively) of Great War veterans, thousands of WWII and Korean veterans, and by 1970, many Viet Nam vets. There were parades, dinners, and we found out in short order, that our money was no good at the bars, taverns, and restaurants. We were treated especially well by the WWII vets who'd come back, got their careers started, and were successful.

Most of us in our unit could have been the sons of WWII vets, and we were treated as such. I can remember a couple of towns where we were treated to pot luck dinners by the citizens. At the end, as usual, there was food left over, and they boxed it up, and sent it home with the married guys. They knew what it was like to be short on money, and we appreciated every box that had leftover roast, potatoes, etc.

I still have souvenir beer mugs that sit on my shelf, and each brings a fond memory.