Vietnam Veteran Appreciation Gathering

Vietnam veterans gather to talk about their experiences
Vietnam veterans gathered Saturday to talk about their experiences and to help one another heal. The fourth annual Vietnam Veteran Appreciation Gathering in Altoona and brings us the story.Posted: 10:40 PM Sep 19, 2009
Reporter: Chris Baylor Email Address: mailto:chris.baylor@weau.com%20?subject=Vietnam
Vietnam veterans gather to talk about their experiences
Vietnam veterans gathered Saturday to talk about their experiences and to help one another heal. The fourth annual Vietnam Veteran Appreciation Gathering in Altoona and brings us the story.

"My responsibilities as a young 19 year old was to be a patch man,” says David Backstrom.

"I was a teenage medic in what they call navel support activity," says Backstrom.

David Backstrom says up until recently Vietnam Veterans didn't get a lot of credit for serving during a dangerous time.

"I think what happened is they understand with another war going on they're thinking wow what the heck, well stronger language, but what an awful thing to have happen to solders," says Backstrom.

Backstrom was one of the vets who took to the open mic Saturday to talk about his experiences in Vietnam.

Thuy Smith and her group, The Thuy Smith International Outreach, put on the fourth annual gathering.

The group helps children in Vietnam and works with veterans here in the states.

"These guys are now seeing that it's a positive thing to come together like this. Vietnam was a long time ago but it will always be a part of them but we can come together and make it a positive thing today," says Thuy Smith.
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