What You Think You Know About Vietnam Veterans May Be WRONG.

The Story

It was hot and humid. The hissing overhead lights around the compound were drawing bugs of all kinds. All he wanted was to go get dinner at the mess tent. Then the darkness of the night exploded with the sound of bullets whizzing in from the dark jungle outside the fence. Snipers were using everyone out in the main area as targets and at least 3 men were down that he could see from the doorway of his quarters. The big overhead lights made it easy for the snipers to pick off anyone who tried to move in any direction. Hearing groans and knowing that there were men who needed medical assistance, he grabbed his M-16. Making a dash for the relative cover of a picnic table in the yard, he set up to shoot—not at the snipers, who he could not see. No, he shot out the lights, one after the other, until the snipers bullets stopped coming and help could get to the wounded in the cover of darkness. Though he was not a “combat” soldier, he was awarded the Bronze Star medal for his bravery and the lives he saved.

This was my dad. Thirty-five years old, career Air Force—had a wife and three children waiting for him at home. It took 20 years but this is what he finally told me about why he received the Bronze Star. He was never one to talk about the war and not one to talk about himself. A lifetime of hunting and fishing had prepared him for the marksman’s medal he received before even heading in-country. A marksman’s medal that saved many lives one hot, humid night at Pleiku AFB in Vietnam in 1967.

Many of those who came home from this horror of a war were

misunderstood and maligned. In honor of my father and those he served with, here are some little-known facts and myths about Vietnam veterans.

Vietnam Veteran Demographics

The demographic makeup of the troops serving in Vietnam has long been misrepresented. Popular myth says that most of those serving were poor and uneducated, were drafted and were disproportionately black Americans. The truth:

• 79% of those who served were high school graduates or better. The troops in Vietnam were among the best educated that the United States has ever sent to war.
• Those who came from well-to-do areas had a greater risk of dying because they were more likely to be pilots or infantry officers.
• 2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers. My father was career military and I have long believed he volunteered to deploy to Vietnam.
• 86% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasians, 12.5% were black, 1.2% were other races. This is roughly the same percentages as the United States population at that time.

Their Damage

Vietnam veterans were/have been wrongly painted as being so damaged that they could not function in society and often committed suicide or became drug addicts. The truth:

• Other than a brief 5-year period directly after the war, when the suicide rate for Vietnam vets was 1.7% higher than others who had not served, these veterans were no more likely to commit suicide than anyone else. In fact, this group had a lower suicide rate than others in their age group going forward.
• There is no evidence of any higher drug use in Vietnam vets than the others in their generation.
• Vietnam vets have a lower unemployment rate and higher personal income (by 18%) than others in their age group. 91% of them say they were glad they served and 96% were discharged honorably.

War Crimes?

The myth and lie that Vietnam vets are/were baby killers and war criminals. The famous picture of Kim Phuc, the little naked 9-year-old running from burning gas is often blamed on American troops. The truth:

• No Americans were involved in this.
• The planes dropping napalm were South Vietnamese forces, flown by SV pilots.
• Even the photographer who took the picture is South Vietnamese.

Honorable Service

Were there isolated incidents of atrocities committed by US troops? Yes. Were the clear majority of troops honorable and focused on helping the South Vietnamese people? Yes. I can speak from personal experience on this. My father came home with literally hundreds of slides and pictures of Vietnamese children. He was horrified and tortured about the living conditions these children were in. American men and boys (4 troops who died in Vietnam were only 16!) were empathetic to the people they were fighting for. In fact, 74% of those who served said they would do it again, even knowing the outcome.

Homecoming

Then they came home. My father was told not to wear his uniform as he travelled because he would regret it. Many of our brave vets were spit on, cursed at and generally disrespected for the service they performed. Thankfully, time has healed some wounds and today, 87% of Americans hold Vietnam Veterans in high esteem. The travelling Vietnam Wall came to our town and we lined the overpasses to cheer as it arrived. I have never been prouder to be an American.

Dishonorable Service

One more statistic for you, because this is my pet peeve. Four out of five men who claim to be a Vietnam vet is lying. You read that right—four out of five. I personally cannot stand it when someone claims this distinction who did not serve and has never served. I graduated high school in 1972, the first year that 18 year old’s could vote; voted for Nixon and he ended the war that year. My husband’s draft number never came up because it was over. So here is my personal test for those who approach me and tell me they are a Vietnam vet. I ask when they were born—most people will immediately answer this question without thinking about it, so I usually am confident I have the truth. No one born after 1954 (my birth year) served in Vietnam, so when someone says they were born in 1956, I just walk away.

The rest of the story

He came home thin and tired, short tempered at first. He took to lecturing us on how much we had—he was right. Loud noises still shook him for a while, but many of these quirks were temporary. However, the dad who left was cheerful, funny and the life of every party. The dad we got back was quiet, withdrawn and sad. I don’t think he ever lost that sadness, try as hard as he might. He had seen too much and grieved for the children and people left in that sad country torn apart by war.

In honor of my wonderful dad, CMSGT. James A. King, I salute and thank all veterans of all wars for their service and sacrifice.

With sadness from my amazing grace filled life.