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My Dad MY Hero's

My Dad started his military life with the Korean war he never talked about it.
When I was born I never saw much of him he was sent to Greece but I remember the pictures the uniform when he came home from Greece to me he was a stranger. Four years later it was off to Vietnam and back to the picture off the uniform and seeing my hero's my father being treated like that day I knew my world had turned upside down. He was sent to Okinawa next we were going to go. At each airport there were these people insulting my family in uniforms the joy I felt when I would kick them and spit at them and call them names. I guess what gets me the most was to me they were my Dad coming home and I could not let them get away with it. No one was stopping them so who would see a 7 year old kicking and punching those long hair funny dressed bad people. I made it a mission of mine long ago to welcome home All the Vietnam Vets and all others as well for they are special people and I love them all I just wish I could have hugged more of the Vietnam vets coming home while we were at the airports waiting to go to Okinawa. I know how you were treated and I know that it does not go away. I remember one history teacher telling about how he protested the war and talked about going to the airports WRONG thing to say in front of me teacher or not I spoke my mind If you are a true American Honor all VETS AND SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN. MY Dads Was Eugene T. Williams Staff Sargent

Karen Willis
Vidalia, GA

the term welcome home does not work for me, it's too late

Got half way through my story then every thing went blank.I'm not writing it again. This is another tipical treatment to the Viet Nam Vets. Welcome home does not work for me because of all that I have gone through and the fights defending myself because I went to Viet Nam. And for the record I have never killed a baby but I sure was accused of it when I got home from Nam. Not all are guilty of accusing me or fighting me. If I get a welcome home from a Vet, well that does work for me. Any way Semper Fi to all of my brothers in arms, Marines or not. See you all in Heaven and you know why I say in heaven. Because we have already spent our time in Hell. You know it and so do I. Take care Brothers. See you soon enough. Hopefully I'll be there to welcome you aboard along side of General Saint Peter.

Jarhead
Lewiton, ME

Was it Divine Intervention? By Lt. George Bentz (US Air Corp)

In December in 1944, I was stationed at Ellington Field in Texas training cadets to be navigation officers. We were permitted to take weekend trips with a pilot and training officers to a destination close to the home town of all on board. On this trip, I was the pilot. Our destination was New York City. After some time, I attempted to contact the control tower, without success. Our electrical system was down. I was on top of a cloud bank with no beam to descend on. I circled for a while testing instruments. No gyros were working and some instruments were on "static" electricity. Using my fluid compass, I flew north. I had a number of navigation officers on board and my goal was getting them on the ground safely. Suddenly a hole seemed to open up in the clouds and I saw a runway below. The runway was for test landing and too short for my aircraft but there were no other options. There was a house off one end of the runway and fields in the other direction. I decided to come over the house, land on the runway and use the farmland to finish my landing. But, when I ran out of runway there was a small building ahead of me with a woman standing in front. I cut the power, but momentum was carrying me forward. I kept hitting my left brake. My left landing gear collapsed and my left wing dropped to the ground causing my right wing to rise over the woman and structure. The plane ended up in a small ravine. The officers who picked us up said there had been no hole in the cloud where I came down. So, was it Divine Intervention?

Anonymous
Philadelphia, PA

My wife is my Wings of Hope!!!!

I wrote this to a artist who painted "Wings of Hope"- "My name is Sgt. llamas,stationed at Ft. Bliss,Texas.I'm a injured soldier. I was deployed to Mosul,Iraq in 2007. I came home to my family in Dec. right before Christmas. Since my accident, My back injury has gotten worse to the point that i had to have lower back spinal fusion. The doctors removed 2 disks from back and i am on to recovery.

I have been with the Wounded Warrior Transition Battalion which help wounded soldiers get help they need. As I went to the Army hospital for my surgery on July 1st 2008, I walked through the hallway with my wife and I saw that you are a military artist. I saw your painting you did for the military "Wings of Hope" which reminded me of my wife. I say this, is because she has been a inspiration to me. She has she stood beside me in all the decisions I have made, including coming back into the army once again from a 3 year break in service and since we barely got married on 070707. When I saw the artwork wings of hope, I thought to myself, 'that this artist must do more art for the military'. I said to my wife, "You are my Wings of Hope for our family and
we are the fallen, wounded soldiers and you are the angel here to carry us home when we are in need." I would like to give the 'Wings Of Hope' military art print to my wife to tell her how much we love her and we all appreciate all that she has done for our family and to tell her she is our angel. thank you for your time and effort."

Sgt. Llamas

Sergeant Llamas "Medically Retired 2010"
Corpus Christi, TX

Glider Pilots WW2

My brother Albert Adams (1917-2005) Was a Glider Pilot during WW2, he flew troops into Normandy the day after the main invasion. He had nothing much more to do and he was in hiding for a short time, until he had an another assignment, at which point he was transferred to England.
His first love was flying, he had his first pilots licence at 16 out of L.A.X. in the mid l930's.

Joanne Shields
Glendale, AZ

Thank you

This a moving story that may bring a few tears...I met this young Vietnamese Lady though a personal friend on Face book..We talked a lot and then she told her family story to me..Her Grand Father served in South Vietnamese Army..After the US pulled out, he was put in prison for a while by North Vietnam..He was released and somehow managed to bring his immediate family here rather than serve under Communist rule..He has passed on, but this young girl wrote the note to me..She was not even born during the conflict..She was very close to her Grand Father...She has now adopted me as her Grand Father who has passed...WHAT OTHER HONOR COULD THERE BE> for a NamVet that returned to country that did not want us

William Ralston
Cleveland, GA

I was ashamed of my service in Viet Nam..

I was drafted at the age of 18, in 1965 and was sent to Fort Lewis, Washington for 9 months of "Advanced Infantry Training".
The training included a lot of dummies that we were ordered to push our bayonets through, while screaming "Kill! Kill!"
When the 9 months of hate training and brainwashing were up we were sent to Viet Nam on a huge troop ship.
The things I saw there were horrific and I my PTSD only showed it's signs a few years ago.
On my way back home, a woman on the plane asked me where I was coming from and where was I going?
I couldn't get out the part of where I was going to, because she spit on me when I told her I was coming from Viet Nam.
I didn't understand it, because I had not been versed on the American hatred for that war and how Americans were treating returning soldiers.
I WOULD like to know that woman's name (and her address), though.
No, there were no parades or even a mention of my coming home.
My mom had asked her boss if she could take the day off, so that she could see me as I came to her door.
He told her, "no, you will be able to see him ALL of the time now!"
Heartless!
She took off anyway, with the threat of losing her job.
Actually, she was the most important person for me to see then, anyway.
Now, it just angers me that the American people could have done that to the soldiers (who really didn't have a choice, but to serve in Viet Nam).
The guilt should always be with them.
It is far too late for them to try to apologize. It can't be accepted now.

Mel Taylor
Louisville, KY

Stand Down Poker Run

On 9-11-11 the VFW Post 4305, Men's Auxiliary in Winter Garden, Fl, held a poker run to assist in the Orlando, Fl. VA annual Stand Down. The run was put together in 30 days. We would have been happy to have 20 folks show up, and raise $500.00. The official count was 72 bikes, and over 100 people. We raised $3366.00 Just a tad more than we expected. All of the funds raised will be donated to the Homeless Services Network, which puts on the Stand Down with the VA . We feel that there is no greater cause, than to help those, who have served us. At last years Stand Down, 333 vets were assisted in a one day event. We certainly hope that our donation will make this years event more successful. This was our first function, and we look forward to providing more assistance to our veterans in the future.

Phil Taylor
Winter Garden, FL

Son Of A Vietnam Vet

I am Proud of ALL American Service men and women, who diligently and -
bravely, put their precious lives on the line for either our country, or another
country, that needed our help to restore government and peace.My father-
"Jimmy Dean Pruitt" went into the Army in April of 1964 at age 16, and by-
December 1965, he landed in Vietnam. His unit he was assigned to was-
" B Battery, 2nd Battalion 20Th Artillery {1st Cav-airmobile}. I learned that
his duties ranged from "Doorgunner", Ammo Handler, Petro Spec, you name
it he did it!. His particular unit was a "Helicopter" unit, and was a "new" form
of weaponry, "Aerial Artillery", Huey helicopters UH1-B {C} AND D models-
heavily equipped with armament. 25 years later, ultimately he would commit
suicide, a direct result of PTSD and alcoholism. Later i would learn, he was on medication from the VA, but the only counseling i was aware of, was the -
"Alcoholics Anonymous" meetings, as a teen, i was apart of his recovery &
would attend those with him. War isnt pretty, and i know its hard on our-
servicemen and women, but to all Veterans who may be reading this, Please
Please, get help if your in a bad place with your head. When my dad died-
that day, i was the one who discovered his body, and will always be etched -
in my mind forever. Consider your children, your family, how it will affect them, us, your loved ones. I thank you all for serving our country, or assisting
another country to fight for peace. My message is, get help, we need you-
around to continue on being a Father, Mom, Brother, Sister and more -
importantly, a Soldier, Marine, Airman, Seaman of the US Armed Forces!! -
Mike.....

Mike Pruitt
vannuys, CA

Woman Vets

My story is short, my first husband was in Vietnam and I remember no parades, no yellow ribbons, no well done son welcome home. He was spit on and despised by a country he laid down his life for. How ungrateful is that! But I welcome all of our Vietnam vets home with yellow ribbons and a great big THANK YOU and a big GOD BLESS YOU!!! LET FREEDOM RING!! I served this country for 20 years, and I don't ask for glory I just ask for a simple Thank You for your service, cause it was given without expectation, without thought of heroism, just my contribution and grateful that I as a woman was finally be allowed to serve. God Bless America long may she stand!

B Rose
Owensboro, KY