Welcome Home

Today in the mail, I got yet another letter from my pen pal Vietnam Veteran, Member of the 1st Cav. SGT Paul D. Sicca. It was possibly the most emotional letter from him yet. (I've written about him in my blog before in "Victory Overpowers") His message rang loud and clear in my head hours after reading it. He told me of a story I've heard time and time again but never in this detail. Reading it brought tears to my eyes.

Now I sit at my keyboard debating on how can I paraphrase this when I've realized its impossible. I will let him tell you himself…

"When you hear the story about us during the Vietnam War, how we went into their villages and destroyed it and the killing of old men, young men, women, and children, it's not true. " He writes, "Dustin, you have met me and talked to me and have been around me. Do I look like I would hurt those defenseless people, especially children?" My answer is never. "I have heard this for more than 40 years and to this day people have asked me 'Were you a part of killing all those innocent people in the Republic of Vietnam?' I would tell them those stories are not true. We did not do what the press said we did. The press made us feel as if going home was not going to be a good time for us. A lot of people from our own country made us feel as if we were some kind of monsters and if we did all they said we did I don't think I could live with myself. My nieces and nephews have kids and I love them all.

"There is no glory in war when men are sent out to kill each other. I did what my country asked me to do. And all I got for protecting my country was people calling me 'baby killer.' I guess they did not understand or care about me. Back then, they avoided me. I really didn't feel welcomed home, but I say I am proud and always will be honored to have served and defended this place called America and proud to be one of its sons. I was there in Vietnam and what I did was to try and keep all of us young and old men and women and children free and safe so that we could and will live in peace forever.

"What I did was not for myself, but for this place I call home and America. And for all these years in return I have asked for nothing, but only a little respect and consideration. But to think that during that time the people of America would turn their backs on us, but then we found a placed called Marked Tree, 'God's Special Place'..."

Now I sit and wonder what to say after that. Do we, as Americans see what we have done to our veterans? The pain they feel everyday due to their regretted homecoming was caused by us. Paul tells me stories of Vietnam, what they went through. He told me that you didn't want to grow close to somebody, because one minute you were planning your life after war with your new pal and the next he was gone. Vietnam was not kind to them and their homecoming was supposed to be something to look forward to, but instead it was something so dreaded.

My friends, the parade we held for them and all of the other festivities meant to much to those men and women. To see that they were appreciated. If you ever see a Veteran out, stop him and shake his hand as say thank you. Such a short message will mean everything to him.

I thank you for reading and please feel free to comment. Have a blessed day.

Dustin Hood