(NEXSTAR) — This year marks 50 years since the fall of Saigon. For many who fought in Vietnam, the years since have been spent coping with physical pain and PTSD. Their common bond helps get them through. That was clear when a group of Vietnam Marines were asked about their experiences on the battlefield:
Bob Allsup: “My toughest day in Vietnam was my first firefight. We were a small unit. Really thought we were going to be captured. Fortunately, we got a reactionary platoon from 3-7 to come in and save our butts. I mean, I was really scared.”
Don Bates: “First day I was there, I got broken real quick with rocket fire. Sent down south to Da Nang. Our tanks were rocketed. I learned it wasn’t a game anymore.”
Grady Birdsong: “A dud round hit right in front of me about 15 feet, and the second round hit my gunny dead on. Twenty-five, 30 WIAs and six KIAs in a matter of minutes.”
John Decker: “Battalion-size sweep, and we run into three NVA regiments, and we lost about—well, there was only 12 of us left in the platoon.”
Michael Frazier: “Firefight lasted from about two in the afternoon into the night, and I got medevaced the next morning after I was wounded. My medevac trip back was about 10 days to get to a hospital.”
Grady Birdsong: “There was a lot of people against the war.”
John Decker: “There were people standing around, they were throwing things at the buses and things like that. I have no idea what was going on.”
Grady Birdsong: “When I first went to work, people would get upset over the simplest things. After what we had gone through, living like a bunch of animals.”
Multiple veterans: “Couldn’t relate to them. They taught us how to kill.”
Don Bates: I wish they’d teach us how to live in the community back when we came back. Afterward? No type of training coming back.”
Don Bates: “You ask whether it seemed like I’m still there, it was like I hear gunshot, firecrackers, and I’m halfway to the ground already, still. I have a nephew that came back from Afghanistan. He was messed up. And I’ve talked to him. We’ve had a lot in common.”
Bob Allsup: “That’s where you have to relate with your community, your other Marines, and get on with life and figure it out. You have to admit, okay, I’ve got things I didn’t know about—weaknesses—and have to accept that and move on and get counseling.”
Grady Birdsong: “We’ve been meeting here by picking up guys, word of mouth. You got somebody you can talk to, that you can share experiences with.”
Multiple veterans: “Yeah, it’s a community. Yeah, it’s a community. Community.”
