Vets respond to homecomings

DEAR READERS >> I recently ran a letter from “Old Veteran,” who noted that, as a Vietnam vet, he feels quite uncomfortable when people say “Thank you for your service.”

Old Veteran noted that “There are many wounds that have never healed” because of the way service members were treated when they returned home from Vietnam.

I later ran a response from “Upset,” who claimed that this mistreatment was an “urban myth.”

These letters have prompted hundreds of responses from other veterans — and those who love them. Some of these responses are below.

On this Veterans Day, I’d like to say to all service members: Thank you.

Veterans who have been mistreated when they returned stateside after serving in unpopular wars report that they have yearned to hear these two words: Welcome home.

DEAR AMY >> The letter from “Old Veteran” made me cry.

I too was subjected to a lot of nastiness coming home after my service was completed. The day I got home and changed my clothes was the last day I ever talked about being in the service. I moved away from my neighborhood and never told a soul that I had been in the military.

So, please tell “Upset” that this is not an urban myth. I would tell that person to reach out and speak to some Vietnam vets, if they have the guts to hear the truth about how this country handled itself during this time.

— Detroit Mike

DEAR AMY >> I’m an Army brat. People told me my dad was a baby killer when he was serving in Vietnam. And in 1977, I was spit on when I was wearing my ROTC uniform on campus. I understand people want to believe that those things never happened, but they did.

Let’s never let that happen again.

— Proud to Serve

DEAR AMY >> It’s been 52 years since I came home from Vietnam. For the first 30 years or so after I came home, I didn’t tell anyone I was a Vietnam veteran because I didn’t want to be harassed or ridiculed, but not anymore.

No matter how unpopular the war was, I am proud of my time in the U.S. Army Infantry, and I don’t care who knows it. — Proud

DEAR AMY >> My mom was a nurse in Vietnam and always had mixed feelings about serving in the Army.

She was in the hospital seeking treatment near the end of her life, and the nurses and doctors found out that she was a veteran.

They started asking questions, and also thanking her. In the week before her passing, she said it took her 40 years, but she was never so proud to have served.

She knew her kids were proud, but strangers saying “thank you” and showing respect for her service boosted her. She finally felt like she fully came home.

To all of the vets out there: Thank you and welcome home. — Daughter of a Proud Veteran