I think that for many who have been away from home for a period of time coming home is a along awaited event. Those of you who have served your duty overseas counting the days to become a Short Timer seem like forever. That day that you pack your gear for the last time and walk across the runway board the Freedom Bird for home is one of those days you’ll never forget. During the Vietnam War a combat soldier who re-Upped to complete his Military Serves I country early many time would go from a combat patrol one night and state side and out of the Army within 48 hours. Walking the street in a world he or she hadn’t seen in over a year. From one unreal world to another forgotten and change place.
This day is one of those day for me … I had two operation in country (Vietnam) but today June 25[SUP]th[/SUP] I was loaded on a stretcher into a C-130 and was leaving Vietnam. It was not how I want to leave this country that I had learned to enjoy and the people whom I knew. I felt that this country will always be part of me and a second home of my growth and maturity. I was leaving Vietnam but not for America, I was going to Japan for additional operation and recovery but still I was leaving … and that was difficult for me.

If you see or know of a Veteran welcome he/she home today for me…

Nothing to add. One of my favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd songs is Coming Home, though.

I have had several friends come back and I always thank each and everyone of them. I wasnt born when my father came back from Vietnam. I do remember the struggles he had for years. Even now I think some of the problems is prolly related to the time he served there. The chemicals used to kill bugs and such caused problems with a lot of vets from that era. My mother and grandparents has told me his return wasnt as nice as most vets would like it. The troops he returned with were mobbed by protesters. I know a kid that graduated a few years before me was in kuwait the first time around and he has had four different kinds of cancer related to the chemicals they were exposed to. I help with him every chance I can.

Some men/women from my wife's unit returned last Friday. It was my first time ever seeing a ceremony, welcoming them back. It was awesome. I wish I could have told every single one of them thank you.
Not looking forward to my wife deploying though.

What is going on? Two good threads by belly in a 2 day span.

I cannot imagine what the would have felt like but I bet it was amazing coming home.

My brother went on 3 deployments in 5 years. There wasnt a ceremony when he would come back but I know he would always say he never felt safer then when he would step back onto US soil.

I go home everyday after work. My cat misses me while I'm gone all day, and greets me as soon as I walk in the door.

Hope this helps.

dlazz;1212879 wrote:I go home everyday after work. My cat misses me while I'm gone all day, and greets me as soon as I walk in the door.

Hope this helps.

A cat......... fucking pussy