I was drafted at the age of 18, in 1965 and was sent to Fort Lewis, Washington for 9 months of "Advanced Infantry Training".
The training included a lot of dummies that we were ordered to push our bayonets through, while screaming "Kill! Kill!"
When the 9 months of hate training and brainwashing were up we were sent to Viet Nam on a huge troop ship.
The things I saw there were horrific and I my PTSD only showed it's signs a few years ago.
On my way back home, a woman on the plane asked me where I was coming from and where was I going?
I couldn't get out the part of where I was going to, because she spit on me when I told her I was coming from Viet Nam.
I didn't understand it, because I had not been versed on the American hatred for that war and how Americans were treating returning soldiers.
I WOULD like to know that woman's name (and her address), though.
No, there were no parades or even a mention of my coming home.
My mom had asked her boss if she could take the day off, so that she could see me as I came to her door.
He told her, "no, you will be able to see him ALL of the time now!"
Heartless!
She took off anyway, with the threat of losing her job.
Actually, she was the most important person for me to see then, anyway.
Now, it just angers me that the American people could have done that to the soldiers (who really didn't have a choice, but to serve in Viet Nam).
The guilt should always be with them.
It is far too late for them to try to apologize. It can't be accepted now.
Louisville, KY