I would like to thank all the Veterans who might read this, ecpecially 22 MAG. I read your post in Cross Wire and I want you to know that the way you and other Vietnam vets were treated was disgusting. You served your country and should have received thanks and respect from America. Please allow me to offer my heartfelt thanks now and I'm sorry you had to go through what you did. To all of our Veterans my wife and I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice. It's time to wake up America, we can not thank our Veterans enough!! God bless all of you!

Thats real nice of you to do that and it is appreciated. However I don't think the average person understands the gravity of what happens to war veterans that are injured and not able to work properly or at all after there service . I was injured at 19 years of age and rendered dissabled to some degree that made it very hard to pass a physical for a good job or even get some jobs at all. As a result I am very poor and living well below the standard of the average person.
If I had been injured in a factory accident I would have got a huge payout with no restrictions but because I served my country in a war I got a starvation pension with all kinds of restrictive rules to abide by that assures I stay poor.
The Veterans of WW2 got all kinds of assistance and land grants but Korea and Vietnam got very little without having to fight for it all the way. It will be similar for later conflicts also.
The US has more for education of Veterans than most other countries but where I come from
there is not much. Education is not much good if you are a cripple . Cripples don't usually get high paying jobs unless you were an officer they seemed to get all the support .
Inlisted men got thrown on the garbage dump of life.

Country, I'm sorry you had to go through that same treatment. Any Veteran who serves his country, regardless of which country, deserves the utmost in respect and care from that nation. Veterans of any nation should be getting the most comprehensive and ongoing aid they need whether medical, housing, or financial and the fact that you haven't is inexcusable. You have my respect, best wishes, and will be in my prayers. God bless you!

Thank you hunter177 for your kind words. County, very sorry to hear of your situation. People from around the world just don't understand war or what war does to people. "THE POWERS THAT BE" will never understand. Veterans returning home should be educated or taught a skill and be taken care of medically for the rest of their days at no cost to them. I can only sum it up with this quote we used to say in nam. I don't know who said it or where it came from but it sums up pretty much our veterans problems.

"For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected shall never know". (Only another veteran understands).

__________________
Semper Fi

Accura MR....
Parker Ballistic Extreme 275 GRS.
Blackhorn 209..110 GRS.
Fiocchi 616-209 Primes
4x12x40 Redfield

Thanks every one for your kind words and I also wish other veterans the best.
One job I did get that not many would do was the final stab in the back.
I served diligently an honestly for 17 years but in pain most of the time. Eventually i could not work anymore because some mornings I could not get out of bed or could barley walk.
So I applied to be pensioned off . The department I worked for in it's final assessment of my medical condition said " Oh well in hind sight you should not have been employed at all , because Vietnam veterans are unstable" . If I was unstable he would have got his head bashed in.
They never mentioned the commendations from Ministers and the fact I saved several peoples lives during my service .
30 years after Vietnam and the people are still twisting the knife .
Many other people had retired due to illness that were way younger than me and had done nothing of value for the department or their country but they were not insulted and vilified because they had to retire. They never even organised a farwell and one young guy who I saved his life on the job was so embarresed that he came to my home crying and apologising profusly for the others in the department. I don't know why we are treated like this but jealosy is part of it . When ever I was talking to department heads I could see that all they were looking at was my medals and commondations and not me. They had nothing on their chests .
I am in better health now because I got health care with my pension and am not under as much stress as I was before but there is no compensation for a lifetime of pain and low pay and lack of promotion . Ill be glad when it's all over.

Country, I'm sorry you've had to endure this treatment and lack of respect. You have the respect of my wife and I and we will continue to lift you up in our thoughts and prayers. God bless you!

yeah its hard to be a son/grandson of two that have been to war.and now have a son going to war this new year.but hey if it wasn't for them like all the others who have faught for or freedom we just might not have the freedom we have.so my hats off to those who have and are fighting.

22mag and Country.you guys are the best.you did something most wouldn't even think about doing.heck I couldn't even bring my self to doing the one thing you guys did.thanks for fighting for our freedom.the wife and I will all so keep you guys in our prayers.and hope ya'll have a Merry CHRISTmas.

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it only takes a person and rifle to just shoot at something, but it takes alot more to punch out little ragged holes all the time with 5 shots.

Country, we had a battalion of you guys attached to my unit the US 173d Airborne, were you one of them. I think they were from the RAR I also patrolled with a Chinese merc unit lead by an Aussie out of Vung Tau.

I didn't hear: "welcome back" or "thank you for your service" until a few years ago. It doesn't matter now.

No , I served with the 2 battalion RAR ( RAR stands for Royal Australian Regiment) and there is about 12 battalions most of the time .
I also served all around Vung Tau and Phuoc tuy province . The Nui tai vi . Long Hai Hills and Ben Hoa rubber , Mekong delta .
I don't know anything about Merc units out of Vung Tau but nothing would surprise me.

I am a Vietnam-era vet that served during the war but never assigned overseas. However, I was injured while in the preformance of my duties, and as a result I am a Disabled American Veteran. I have learned a few things and I'd like to share them with you in the hope that your life might be improved.

If you are a disabled American veteran, especially a disabled Vietnam Veteran, you are entitled to comprehensive retraining into an occupational specialty that is commensurite with your disability and your areas of interest. You should make plans to contact the VA and request information regarding the Disabled Vietnam Veteran Retraining Program. It will start with a test that will determine your interests. Once that's been determined by you, you're eligible for 2-4 years of educational tuition, books and study materials, tools and testing equipment. Additionally, depending on the size of your family, you're also to recieve a monthly subsistance allowance.

I did it. They paid for my education, books, study materials, even a tutor when the going got rough. They bought all required tools and instruments, and paid me monthly. If you need help, contact the DAV (Disabled American Veterans). They'll help you even if you're not a member, and if they won't, then I'll contact them for you as a Life Member and insist upon their help.

Additionally, there are Governmental Jobs that you will receive a Disabled Compensible Veteran status, generally called a "Disabled Ten Point Vet" hiring advantage. That means that if you must take a test, 10 points will be added to your score in gratitude for your loss on behalf of your Country. It dosen't matter about the percentage of your disability. I have worked with guys that were 80% disabled that could outwork, out program, and were outstanding. Believe me, they have reasonable accomodations for whatever you might require.

If you have problems obtaining information from the VA, DAV or any Governmental Branch you might desire working for, I'll help you, and my brothers-in-arms will help you. You're not in this alone. Let me know.

I just noticed that you are from Austrialia. Please pardon my mistake. I thought you were a veteran of the United States Armed Forces. I'm saddened to hear that Vietnam Veterans are at a disadvantage there. I will not stand for it, nor will I allow disrespect for ANY vet. Thats probably why I jumped the gun.

That's OK , I should have stated that straight up I guess.
I do look on in envy of what US veterans get in the way of retraining.
However we do get very good free health care and now I get a better pension than I had for many years . However we are not as respected in Australia as US veterans are in America.
In fact a Vietnam veteran that is a gun owner in Australia is a victimised person , because you can not afford to have even the slightest dissagreement with anybody because if they makea complaint to Police they will label you unstable and the Police will confiscate your guns even though the other person is the protagonist .
If I was not married with children and grandchildren I would sell everything and move to some place else and start again .

They were Nung (sp). Chinese Nationalist that moved from China, when Mao took charge, to Northern Viet Nam, then around 1954 moved to southern Viet Nam in another move to keep out of the Communist grip. They were led by an Aussie. I have always wondered what has happened to these poor people.

I think it was 1 RAR that was attached to us. We, 173d Airborne Brigade, left Okinawa May 1965 as a unit, we only had 2 infantry battalions so 1 RAR made up out third battalion. We also had a Kiwi 105mm battery attached. This was at Bien Hoa. Initially, my battalion, 1/503 Parachute Infantry landed at Vung Tau and the rest of the brigade at Bien Hoa. We joined the rest of the brigade about 1 month later. We moved around a lot, and lost way too many men.

The 173d picked up 3/503 and 4/503 around 1967 so we no longer needed the Aussies. But those Aussie attached are still considered part of the 173d Airborne and attend our reunions.

> of what happens to war veterans that are injured and not able to work properly

They become homeless, become alcoholics if they are not already, end up eating the rest of their meals in soup kitchens, and die alone on a park bench in the middle of the winter.

> I would sell everything and move to some place else and start again .

You will be welcomed in Texas. You might still be as poor, maybe even poorer, but, you might breath easier in a better atmosphere.

Although that does happen, its far more likely due to PTSD, Brain Injury, etc. The Veterans Administration has improved greatly, still has a ways to go, but Streak Eagle is spot on with the retraining (Vocational Rehabilitation). The VA may also award you a disability pension, the amount is based on percentage of disability, married, number of children (school age or younger), etc. http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.htm

Having disability awarded can be a real headache, I recommend contacting your state veterans assistance people and having them help out. I'm hardheaded and did my own application, its not easy.

Andy

On another note, one of the memories I will carry forever is getting off the plane from Iraq in cold, pouring rain in the middle of the night and being greeted by Vietnam Veterans, some in wheelchairs, all smiling. In a nutshell, they told us that if the Vietnam Vets can help it, no soldier will return from overseas and feel like they did.

Thank You

Andy

Our country has come along way but not far enough when it comes down to taking care of our vets. I want to thank all who replied and all who still may reply.
Thanks to all the vets from other countries who where with us every step of the way.
To all the families who's son or daughter that gave their all, I want you to know that they are the hero's. God bless them all!

__________________
Semper Fi

Accura MR....
Parker Ballistic Extreme 275 GRS.
Blackhorn 209..110 GRS.
Fiocchi 616-209 Primes
4x12x40 Redfield

I have a friend who lives in Elpaso Texas and from what he tells me I would love Texas also.
Actually I could get US citzenship if I applied as my mother was born in Hood River Oregon and was a US citizen all her life.
The problem is family ties . Once you are married then have children and then grandchildren you are stuck in that spot . I am afraid it's just a pipe dream now .

That is fantastic ! It has brought tears to my eyes.

after 20 years service with small disability %. acquired 3 degrees under the GI Bill and managed to work til 68 years old. now 100% disabled. but not a problem as I am 81.
For the younger vets to be disabled at a young age has to be pityfull. As stated US vets can get much help and job training. So, go for it......

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Blessed are those who expect nothing......for they shall not be disappointed............................