topic Re: Old story. in Community Chat

Old story.

LilacTree — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 21:59:47 GMT

I dated a man who admitted to me that he had been drafted and his unit was sent to Hawaii for "holding" before being sent to Viet Nam. On the day his unit was flown to war, he managed to take a plane back to NJ, went straight to Fort Dix and turned himself in. After a hearing, he was given a desk job where he completed his tour of duty. Every soldier in his unit was killed within the first month.

I know how I felt upon hearing this. How do you feel?

Re: Old story.

Free2be — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:03:07 GMT

How do I feel? Sad for everyone who died and curious both about how he managed to get a ticket to fly to NJ and what was said in the hearing at Fort Dix.

At least one person of that group lived.

Re: Old story.

151949 — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:03:35 GMT

I don't think all men are cut out to go to war. I knew many friends from when they were kids who were really messed up after returning from Viet Nam. they are now senior citizens and are still messed up in the head. Good for him that he figured out a way to stay alive. I am fundamentally against war or killing of any sort . I'm glad my Dh was an only child and the sole support of his widowed mother so he was exempted from the draft.

Re: Old story.

terrier3 — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:03:49 GMT

On 1/21/2014 Free2be said:
How do I feel? Sad for everyone who died and curious both about how he managed to get a ticket to fly to NJ and what was said in the hearing at Fort Dix.

At least one person of that group lived.

My sentiments too.

My mom (who would be about 90 if she were still alive) was one of the very first anti-war protestors in our neighborhood back in the 60's. I was out marching with her as soon as she would let me.

One of my cousins was MIA - shot down over Cambodia - his body was never found, although he had told us he would take the cynanide capsule in the cockpit if he was ever shot down, so we knew he was gone, just never knew the exact circumstances. Another cousin made it back home safely - but he was the first of our relatives to agree with my mom!

Re: Old story.

chrystaltree — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:03:58 GMT

I feel....like it's a fabricated story.

Re: Old story.

tansy — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:04:11 GMT

That he was one very fortunate man.

Re: Old story.

foundinlv — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:04:59 GMT

On 1/21/2014 happy housewife said: I don't think all men are cut out to go to war. I knew many friends from when they were kids who were really messed up after returning from Viet Nam. they are now senior citizens and are still messed up in the head. Good for him that he figured out a way to stay alive. I am fundamentally against war or killing of any sort . I'm glad my Dh was an only child and the sole support of his widowed mother so he was exempted from the draft.

Well said and I agree.

Re: Old story.

Mama Mia — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:05:39 GMT

I think, IMO, that it is just that, a story.

Re: Old story.

kittykatkay — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:05:57 GMT

We never know do we.......until we walk in someone else's shoes. I can't judge this man nor would I want to. All I would say is I am sorry so many perished during not only the Vietnam War but all wars as well.

Re: Old story.

foundinlv — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:07:31 GMT

Times were different then with the draft.

Re: Old story.

foundinlv — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:08:17 GMT

On 1/21/2014 chrystaltree said:
I feel....like it's a fabricated story.

You frequently say that chrystaltree on many threads.

Re: Old story.

SydneyH — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:09:53 GMT

How does one manage to go AWOL without being court martialed?

Re: Old story.

serenity4ever — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:11:49 GMT

It was a different time back then. I think his having to live with the fact that others were killed and he chose to leave his unit will probably haunt him for the rest of his life.

Re: Old story.

pinkskates4 — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:12:19 GMT

Since that action is basically desertion in a time of war, I'm surprised at the outcome - he was given a desk job?????

Re: Old story.

Free2be — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:12:23 GMT

He would have had transportation to the airport -- how does a serviceman, especially a greenie, manage that? And money. And some help in covering for his absence.

And he came from a family of privilege where their pressure helped him in court -- unless his immediate arrival at Fort Dix made the difference.

But then, had that got out, all kinds of servicemen would have done the same to avoid being killed.

I'm not saying this story can't be true but there has to more to it.

Re: Old story.

dooBdoo — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:13:12 GMT

I'd want to know more details, such as how someone would slip away AWOL, get a plane, report to a military base, and avoid being arrested and jailed.

But I've worked with so many veterans and active-duty military, and I have so many in my family, so I have a concept of the terror many face along the way. So, I don't feel judgmental but I feel sad for the loss. The loss of all who have sacrificed for all wars.

Re: Old story.

SydneyH — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:13:54 GMT

On 1/21/2014 Dagna said:
Since that action is basically desertion in a time of war, I'm surprised at the outcome - he was given a desk job?????

Maybe someone can clear that up. That's not usually how things work, then or even now.

Re: Old story.

terrier3 — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:16:33 GMT

On 1/21/2014 SydneyH said:
On 1/21/2014 Dagna said:
Since that action is basically desertion in a time of war, I'm surprised at the outcome - he was given a desk job?????

Maybe someone can clear that up. That's not usually how things work, then or even now.

One of my son's friends was in the National Guard and was called to help out at Ground Zero.

He saw some pretty horrible things, freaked out and took a bus back home. He hid out for months...then finally turned himself in. He never had a trial, got out due to mental stress.

Re: Old story.

LilacTree — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:36:41 GMT

He told me that whenever he started dating someone new, he admitted to that right away. If there was any "fabrication," it started there with him, not here with me, although it does not surprise me in the least those here who would insinuate it was me.

I tried to post this on the thread that was just deleted, but the "conversation had already been discontinued."

We dated for a while and it was never discussed again. He was a good guy who seemed to suffer a lot from this experience.

Re: Old story.

MrsLorraine — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:45:52 GMT

On 1/21/2014 Ford1224 said:
I dated a man who admitted to me that he had been drafted and his unit was sent to Hawaii for "holding" before being sent to Viet Nam. On the day his unit was flown to war, he managed to take a plane back to NJ, went straight to Fort Dix and turned himself in. After a hearing, he was given a desk job where he completed his tour of duty. Every soldier in his unit was killed within the first month.

I know how I felt upon hearing this. How do you feel?

Sick to my stomach, for all the soldiers in his unit who were killed. It was a stupid, pointless EXPENSIVE war, both in dollars and lives. A complete waste.

ETA: out here in the Pacific Northwest, there are a lot of Vietnam vets living in the forests. They were so damaged they couldn't adjust to "normal" society. They are the casualties too