Vietnam War Interview Forum

Guest

>My question is what is there in a horrible situation such as the Vietnam War that could later make soldiers miss it?

>From what I know, I couldn't imagine anyone missing war, but im sure my teacher gave us this question for a reason. I am just having trouble thinking from another point of view.

>Can anyone with firsthand experience in the war help?




Some may miss the adrenaline rush of a fire fight, time slows down as your mind and reactions accelerate.  Using lethal weapons to solve problems is the ultimate personal power trip.  Living while your enemy died can produce images of superman.  Retelling the stories can impress others an give personal status.

I am sceptical of those who tell stories too freely.  Many turn out to not be as great a hero as they say, they may not have been there at all.  I heard seven out of ten people who claim they are Vietnam Veterans are not.  Some have a need to feel a part of something that was important and a little dangerous.

Those who lost their lived don't seem to be honored when some relate their life threatening experiences.  Sometimes those who didn't make it home took much bigger chances to save those of us who did come home.
There was fellowship amoung us that can't be found back home.  We laughed and cried, lived and died together 24/7 for months on end.  We were connected in ways that circumstnaces here at home can not reproduce.  We could understand one another without speaking, the losses of so many bound us together in mutual support, anger, frustration and unexpressed grief.  War was simple, survive or die, everything else was a distant second priority.  Life back home was complicated with less focus or understanding of what we were expected to do.  The rules at home were much more complicated and difficult to understand.  The goals at home were vague with multitudes of choices.  It was easier for some to go back to Vietnam where they knew what to expect.

One of my worst nightmares was that the Army had screwed up my paperwork and I had to go back a second time.  I knew I couldn't survive a second tour.  God supernaturally protected on my tour.  I was a point man which meant every third day I'd lead the column through the jungel.  Odds of becoming a casualty were about one in six missions.  Only by God's grace I stayed on point for nearly ten months.  I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  It wasn't the thrill, I was terrified the entire time.  I saw God bring me through when so many others didn't make it.  It took thirty more years before I could start facing all that happened.  God was patiently waiting for the relationship we are beginning to share.  All the horror of Vietnam and the wrong back home drove me to find out all that is good and right.  

I was a little bone headed in putting things together.  I hope it doesn't take as long for you to find Him.