Vietnam war ended in 1975. But for many veterans of the ten-year conflict, yet their lives as if in cases of doubt as to it happened just yesterday. These memories often hostile treatment and cold storage in the hotel safe at reception, they received in the context of the home page is reset to fellow Americans.
"There was no desk" to remember the Chaplain (Col) Roger Criner. "When I came home, we came home (one at a time) ... the only person who meets me at the airport was my wife. "
He was also in difficult times, to secure employment, because he saw the birth of "killer".
"It was almost as if had an incurable disease which was contagious," he said.
Mickey fellow chaplain (Lt. column) Foxworth, serving as a member of the air force when he was sent to Vietnam, arrived back to the Philadelphia International Airport-Hotel highlights only the jeered is consistent and even have someone spit in his face.He changed his clothes by him immediately before he continued the journey home.
Both men were members of the armed forces in Vietnam, where they were 20 years old, but had different experiences.The column was the army, the fight against Criner medic and Lt. column Foxworth intelligence analyst for the air force their service as chaplains came much later.
Column Criner recalled how he was injured in Vietnam, 13 Dec 1970. He and his recon unit had been called and were involved in the ground with their own fire and his team manager when calling Cong Cobra Helicopters, which are accompanied by a chapter in the opposite direction, He and his host friendly-fire.
"(Team leader) radioed (Cobras), and they appear in the opposite direction," said Criner column. "When they did, they raised us. was 20 was wounded in the head of the team. I got back and the legs shrapnel. "
He spoke to fellow soldier, Sgt. Bernard Wilcox.
"Contact ... we got and Cobras received us at the top of the list (Sgt. Wilcox) got his head back of shrapnel and his brain was protruding out of his skull.And I bandaged him, "he said."I went to the 93rd Evac hospital seven days later, you will be able to see him next to doctor. told me that he never walk again, he never speak again, and he never see again his brain injury.
"A recent weeks went ... and I got the address of his mother and wrote him a letter and I explain in detail what happened. Was not intended to do, but I have done. And thank you for your letter to his mother soon after. A couple of months and I got another letter went. It was his sister. And Sergeant Wilcox has written a letter to the last paragraph.He was able to walk, he has been able to speak, and he was (vision), the second eye. "
He took a long time to break Criner before he continued.
"If I had to address in Florida (Sgt. Wilcox) ... I would be on a plane tomorrow. That is the maximum that I do for me Today I usually encourage other griefs does not make the same mistake, "he said.
"That has been delayed, sadness" is added to the chaplain Foxworth."I think we all had to have that at this time was unable to understand what is going on. That our level was shot in Ho Chi Minh trail ... (we) have never had the time to talk about it, what data it overnight. What to do, the more poignant for me was I was supposed to be in. (But) (was) from orders (National Security Agency) "do not place the analyst bird." In fact, (my friend Pete) it came to pass that I carried out my guilt to long, long time.But I did what I had said to do so.
"When you get back Home, you have this stuff, and people outside is not a clue.For some time I was angry.I felt I had stood and do what my country to ask, but I have abandoned. And it angered me that we had slammed the press, we had denigrated in all areas, we were all bunched, one at a flat rate, all was the baby-killer, and most of us ... We did nothing, as the case may be, if we are made out of our weapons held by them, "he explained.
Although neither of the Soldier was during his chaplain in Vietnam, had been put in place to ensure that their experiences of chaplains, which stated in their chaplain Corps direction.
"(In Vietnamese), I have always been at the Centre of the military," said minister tugging Criner column."Vietnam experience never left me ... there were consistently so much that I yearned to see the chaplain and one did not exist.And that is motivated me and kept me focused on the Soldiers to be present, where Soldiers are.Maximum chaos in the middle of the chaplains have to import the calm.My maximum chaos was 13.December 1970, and was not representative of the presence of God to bring calm. "
Lt. column Foxworth was similar occurrence he was supposed to have had a fight with chaplains in the territory of the crash.
"I have tried to chaplain to come ... and he will not be awarded to the which is one of the main reasons-I am the army guy was unable to obtain the Chapel where to go out because he (required)," he said. "All (Air Force) Chaplain in Vietnam was so, but this was a particular person.
"When I started looking at the Army Chaplain such as air force recruiter saapuisivat I went and asked him that question," Still operate out of base Chapel? "and he said, "Yeah, just like the local municipality."I said, it does not work in Vietnam and may not yet work, and you and I asked around and walked. only a group, which is offered, what I was looking for was the military Ministry.(Army chaplains) to be attached to the units if the unit goes, we go."
When two chaplains are Painful memories of Vietnam, they are not, unfortunately, they served.But regrets the fact that they do.
"When I left, I wanted to leave Vietnam. to take no for me while recording ...which contain contact information for anyone, and I'm sorry, that now "column Criner said."I encourage everyone to get the contact closest friends who they are "walked the halls of the" fight of hell with it because they are older you are going to want to share their story of someone who has been there ... no one understand (a) does not exist., and me forever for us to try to find the life story., the greater the degree of a person can help us with that walked along next to us to find?
"I think that is very true interjected," Lt. column Foxworth. "I keep some of the names, but probably the thing that bugs me now ... of people I was closest to, (I) you can pass without contact with the years. I just kept moving, and part of that chapter was-did you want, you can get behind. but it is unable to retrieve the group behind you can really. "
"We are coming to you, what we do for our Soldiers coming a long way to go home and I am completely grateful," he added.
The duo believe today's Vietnam Veterans Welcome home ceremony, for a long time.
"Local community Fort Knox in my opinion, cannot understand the impact that this ceremony not Vietnam Veterans," said Criner column.
"Their sacrifices in all the challenges that they went through for is not recognized, it is almost like-this was done in secret grief-that prohibit God I never reveal this sorrow, why I 'm. I can be here today, and my buddy, who died next to me may not be here?
"I am sure that the ceremony I can see the boys, who were Dec. 13, was wounded in the face of these and many of them cannot live can be collected more treatment," he continued. "I have been on the wall to Washington, d.c., and I have seen their names and I am sure, that their names will be recalled (today) and I have only one. I'm sure there are many Vietnam Veterans (today) who see their closest friends, which divided their life history with face. "
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