Vietnam Veterans Days

Vietnam Veterans Day is Everyday
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
March 30, 2015

Putting up the post on Vietnam Veterans Day got me thinking about all that you are responsible for and most of you don't even know.

My Dad was stationed in Japan when my brother was a toddler and my Mom took him over there. My other brother was born at Fort Dix. By the time I came along, he left the Army but the Army never left him, so technically, I am not an Army brat. (Ok, some would beg to differ with that considering I was and still am a brat.)

My uncles were WWII veterans and a cousin served in Vietnam. I admit that I didn't really pay much attention to them since I spent my whole life listening the same stories over and over again, going to the PX in Hanscom Field with my Mom, parades, the DAV and VFW Post.

I know how hard it was for my Dad to have his claim approved back then but he ended up with 100% disability. I guess you could say when it comes to the problems reported recently, I am an expert considering I've seen the flip side of what veterans go through my whole life as well as what happens when their claims are honored. You don't ask for much at all. You only ask for what you need because something happened when you served this country.

Anyway, fast forward to adulthood and my second husband. A Vietnam veteran. We are not so young anymore, but we still hold hands just like we did over half my life. It is because of him I do what I do everyday. He's managed to save more lives than he knows. More than even I know, or so I've been told. Had it not been for him, I would have just,,,,well, I don't even want to think about that.

I admit it. I am totally in love. Not just with my husband but because of him. See, I've had over 30 years of getting to spend time with some of the most remarkable people in this country. YOU!

Again, the DAV and VFW are part of my life along with the Nam Knights motorcycle club and Semper Fidelis America, just about any other group in the Orlando area since I attend most of the events. They are all run by Vietnam veterans.

Then there is Point Man International Ministries, also run by Vietnam veterans. They started way back in 1984 doing peer support, spiritual healing and supporting families dealing with PTSD. Yep, that's how long we know what was needed and they stepped up to do it! I'm part of them.

There are a lot of things no one seems to want to take the time to talk about these days. After all, reporters can't even really manage to remember how long all of this has been going on, so acknowledging what you guys managed to do probably won't happen in our lifetime.

According to the news reports, PTSD is new and Afghanistan is the longest war. They say it started in 1965 and ended in 1973. Ok, then so why was the first one killed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall goes all the way back to 1956?

THE FIRST KNOWN CASUALTY
Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth, Mass. is listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having a casualty date of June 8, 1956.

His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who has a casualty date of Sept. 7, 1965.

And the last in 1975?

East wall, which was added approximately a year after the Memorial was dedicated. 1975 was the year that the last 18 casualties (Daniel A. Benedett, Lynn Blessing, Walter Boyd, Gregory S. Copenhaver, Andres Garcia, Bernard Gause, Jr., Gary L. Hall, Joseph N. Hargrove, James J. Jacques, Ashton N. Loney, Ronald J. Manning, Danny G. Marshall, James R. Maxwell, Richard W. Rivenburgh, Elwood E. Rumbaugh, Antonio Ramos Sandovall, Kelton R. Turner, Richard Vande Geer) occurred on May 15th during the recapture of the freighter MAYAGUEZ and its crew.

Let them say what they will because when all the talking is done, when they managed to erase years, all of you remember what happened and when for real since you were there. So let them come off as really dumb and then we can make fun of the stupid things they say. As it is, they haven't managed to figure out a way of telling the truth on suicides tied to veterans or even manage to mention the simple fact that the majority of veterans committing suicide are over 50 years old or that they got their 22 a day numbers wrong since most states say the rate of veteran suicides is double the civilian rate. Oh hell, since I'm on a roll here, they don't talk about how after you guys caused all the research with the DOD and VA, all their crappy theories and "prevention efforts" managed to actually increase suicides of younger veterans which are now triple their peer rate.

Like to see them look you guys in the eye and tell you how they managed to mangle what over 40 years of research proved when they repeated the same old bullshit of take a pill and you'll feel better in the morning or how they ended up with reporter after report of young soldiers still being treated as if they are slackers and mentally weak. Yep, that's all still going on as well as less than honorable discharges instead of helping them heal. That happened to 250,000 of you. As of latest report over 80,000 may get their discharges changed.

You risked your lives for everyone around you. Yet, it is not what you did during war that made such a difference in the lives of others. It was what you did afterwards.

You were turned away from some people, ignored by others. You were told to just get over it and get on with your lives. After all, you were only gone a year so no big deal. Right?

The older veterans didn't want you around because you were not one of them.

You proved them right. You were part of all of them.

Every generation suffering the same wounds you did yet no matter how you were treated, you turned around and said you would not suffer in silence the way all the other generations did. You fought for your brothers and then fought for your Dads, Uncles, Grandfathers and in the process, knew you would be fighting for all other veterans coming after you.

They sure don't have time to talk about what else happened to society in general because Vietnam veterans fought for PTSD research to be done. Not just for themselves but for everyone.

Crisis Intervention Strategies
However, it was the debacle of the Vietnam War that brought PTSD enough ... professionals did little to ameliorate problems returning Vietnam veterans suffered. ... Those research and treatment approaches have spread out to civilian areas of ... considers psychological, biological, and social bases as equally important.

You turned the page and re-wrote the ending for all other veterans giving them a chance to heal and everyone benefited by your battles to address trauma. You also showed the rest of the country that you had a bond that could not be broken by anyone or anything. Hell, you even managed to pull all this off without the stuff the younger generation can't live without. The Internet and social media.

So while too many folks actually forget what all of you did, here's some reminders. As imperfect as things are for the newer veterans, nothing would have happened on PTSD had it not been for all of you!

If you are a veteran with PTSD, remember one thing, you are not stuck feeling the way you do right now. You can heal and live a better life. PTSD caused the change in you but you can change again and then help other veterans heal as well. Vietnam veterans have been doing it for decades.

Gary Sinise tribute Vietnam Veterans
For the 7th year I was able to go with a choir to Epcot for the Candlelight program. This was the first year I saw Gary Sinise perform. He was fantastic but at the end of the show, he gave a moving tribute to Vietnam veterans.

Gary Sinise played a Vietnam veteran amputee in Forrest Gump. In the movie, Tom Hanks played a Medal of Honor Recipient and in the ceremony it was actually footage of a real Vietnam veteran receiving the Medal, Sammy Davis.

Sammy told the story of what happened to him after his actions saved lives. When you hear his story, it should clear up what some Vietnam veterans came home to.
May you stay forever young and know how much you really do mean to the rest of us!
You also showed us how to,,,oh heck, the list would be too long to list.