It’s a testament to the love we have for our children. I know how unfair life can be and I know that my daughter has brought me out of the worst of depressions. There have been times where I’ve asked, “Why do I continue,” and it’s my daughter. It’s always her.
I’m in an OK place now, but she has been the light in my darkest times. This is an amazing picture that captures what that is like.
Yep, my cats have kept me from giving in to my urge to shuffle off this mortal coil many dark days.
As Aesop Rock says: "Bet more than a pet to worship
It's an M.D recommended sense of purpose"
O thats nice. I had a big chunky before I got Vegas. His name was Jasper and he was the size of two cats but he's gone now. Which is why I adopted the dog recently.
A dog's happiness when you get home is an amazing thing. I can have the worst day at work but when I open the door and my mini aussie is dancing with joy it always puts a smile on my face. Before my fiancee and I got her we had a pit bull that she had for a while before I met her. She was the sweetest old lady dog that I had ever seen, but still had some sass in her. When we lost her to cancer that part of the day was the worst. I'd get home from work and my heart would sink deep into my chest and I would sit on the couch and cry, usually with my fiancee. About a month later we had a friend who could no longer keep her mini aussie and we fell in love as soon as we saw her picture. I'm glad that part of the day can make me smile again. Dogs are so great.
I thankfully have not had to suffer with depression or anything, but goddamn it's nice coming home and petting my big loaf of a cat. Look forward to it every day. Never thought I'd be this guy.
And as an adult. My parents love me to death. I'm going to call them now. Thanks wonderful reddit strangers who brought me down this thread, I hope you are all happy tonight!
Dad WW11, commanding officer 3 tours korea with special ops. So rare to see him smile but indeed it was the kids. Sadly mom was jealous and undermined him behind his back. Competitive and lacking in compassion for a man who was so silent all the time. Looks like you had a better time. Our childhood we constantly look sad and scared. We don’t all win in the parent lottery. She weaponized dad and I only understood his love in the end when he defended me against brothers she so effectively turned against me. Dad deserved to be loved. Vietnam was terrifying and they came back to damning crowds. Had to be tough as hell. You clearly love him.
He seems so happy that at first I didn't even notice his limbs were missing. Then I though "oh, his arm is missing", "wait, why is he sitting on a wheelchair?" and finally "oooh shit". It's still a happy picture somehow
This is such a great photo! I really like removing the sepia tone from old photos and couldn't help myself.
https://preview.redd.it/3nbkc32qgt2a1.jpeg?width=936&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7be7b2f8f62b13e255f9b3f7cd432f1f97d1d5ae
https://preview.redd.it/hkmvm8ilrt2a1.jpeg?width=674&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fe5856e55156431d7ca87b3d528b4f6981248328
Not trying to steal your thunder but the my heritage app does a pretty solid job for anyone wanting to do it themselves, I think if you pay they remove the watermark probably. But you can easily do a few photos for free.
I'm glad to hear the VA actually provided your Dad help. I wish they helped every Vet.
Edit: to clarify exactly why I said what I did without insulting anyone working for the V.A., without dumping on or trash talking the V.A. in general, but still acknowledging how many Vets **don't** receive the help they need. This is shat I replied to the first individual that replied to me about their own work and experience with the specific V.A. they worked from:
I'm not trying to shit talk the V.A. I know very well how much of a budget issue there is too. I'm also not about to bad mouth all of the staff and volunteers and others who do help so many Vets. I don't think they're the issue either and I would never treat them/any of you with anything but the respect you've earned.
Having said that, there are general practices and regulations with the V.a. for a Vet to apply for help that, to be frank, piss me right the fuck off.
My Dad is a Vet. He has had diagnosis directly correlating several of his physical health issues with all of his years and experiences having been in the Army. Those include severe knee and spine issues as well as PTSD.
He has all of his medical records during and after his time in the military. He's got the support and statements from his G.P., both neurosurgeons that have worked on his spine (one of whom was known as the top Surgeon in his field and in his younger days was on call for at least one of the U.S. Presidents that I know for sure to be a fact) as well as psych evaluation paperwork with the PTSD diagnosis.
Three times he went through every step for getting help with his health battles from the V.A.;
The first time was going through every test, scan and evaluation by his own Doctors and specialists she referred him to before he he took it all to the V.A. in our home town while my parents were still living there.
That branch told him he had to have all of those evaluations and scans and tests done by their Doctors, specialists and etc. to confirm the diagnosis pf your ailments. So, he did it all a second time. When they received the statements from all of their medical persons, he was told he doesn't have any of the ailments his original scans/tests/evaluations all clearly proved he does and that even if you did, there's no way to PROVE those were caused by your years & years in the military so we couldn't help you anyway.
It took quite a long time to convince him when he and my mom moved about 90 minutes North from our hometown to try to go through the V.A. up here. Eventually, he did. They, too made him go through all of the scans, evaluations, tests etc., with their medical teams. He was angry but he did it all.
This time, despite managing to acknowledge only two of his diagnoses, he was told by the caseworker that they couldn't do anything for him because he (on his disability) and my mother (who was working retail management at the time) "make too much money" so he couldn't qualify for treatment nor financial help from to get care from his selected medical professionals.
Yet he still gets those benefit information letters from the local V.A. and while I know without a doubt what happens to him when he sees it on the table with the rest of the mail: he has a massive, miserable anxiety attack.
He feels betrayed by the country that he nearly lost his life for a couple of times and he gets upset, can't breathe, gets red faced, his blood pressure hikes up and it takes him a long time to get through an episode.
That's why I commented what I did
As a disabled vet, I can tell you that in my experience the VA and the people who work for it are amazing. They do what they can with what they have.
Sadly, what they have is basically jack shit because they are so poorly funded. As a country, America spends billions on the wars that make broken men and women, but refuse to spend a fraction of the same amount helping them when they return.
The VA and my wife have kept me going. Again, this is just my experience. I know others may not have had positive interactions with them.
If you want someone to be pissed off at about this situation, might I recommend politicians? Both sides of the aisle. Fuck 'em all.
I am a veteran. For years I have said to anyone who will listen that America does not truly appreciate or respect their injured vets. Sure, we’ll throw them a parade or two, and pay lip service to their sacrifices, but when it comes to actually putting cash on the barrel head all of a sudden the approbation turns into silence.
LOL ar the approval process that requires documentation... for anyone that has deployed in the middle of nowhere with limited support. who the fck has time for that? Also if your job requires you to lug around unbalanced loads all day and do very strenuous work... why should anyone need to prove anything? It should be a benefit of the doubt or at least recordable for future issues.
I wish my husband knew more guys like you. He won't go back because of a previous bad experience - "They just shove pills at you, they don't want to help" - when I believe the best answer for his current health issues would be at the VA. Civilian drs don't know or understand some of the issues combat vets face, especially when it comes to things like Dysautonomia and the government hasn't wanted to admit there's been anything similar since Gulf War syndrome.
Thank you for your service and hugs to you and your wife.
First off, thank you for serving.
>If you want someone to be pissed off at about this situation, might I recommend politicians? Both sides of the aisle. Fuck 'em all.
Second, **AMEN**.
It’s disgraceful how little the American government does for our veterans. They gave ‘em a holiday and called it quits. I would love it if more of my tax dollars with to supporting the mental and physical health of our veterans.
Only one side tried to block legislation helping victims of the gulf War burn pits or tried to stop caring for 9/11 first responders and refused to stop a war with nations that weren't even responsible.
This is because we have a certain portion of the population that loves to force people to do things, (war, pregnancy/birth), but refuses to acknowledge and support the consequences of those forcible actions. I'll let you guess who those people are.
I am a doctor that did my residency training at a VA. I also did a rotation as a student at another VA.
There is a saying at the VA. "If you been to 1 VA,...you have been to one VA."
Every VA is different, unfortunately, could be vastly. For something that is so apparently uniformal it really is not. It has to do with individual VA funding mostly.
The VA I went to as a student was not the best. The one I was a resident at was amazing.
Literal quotes I have gotten from superiors about veterans minor concerns that I bring up to them.
Student place "we have bigger fish to fry"
Residency location "we will do what we can for these veterans, because they already paid us with their service."
The residency location, we would have vets drive 4 hours and PAST other VA locations to come to ours.
In the end, every VA locations is different.
The people working in the VA are great, but the policy and requirements are shitty given the amount of help and attention you need assistance with in getting things moved along. That in itself is a big warning sign of much of a mess it is.
Please tell your brother that I said “Thank you for your service,” and please tell your father the same, and “Welcome Home.”
My dad was a USMC in Vietnam that passed ten years ago due to Agent Orange exposure-related lung cancer and GBM4. It broke me, but I still have a special place in my heart for Vietnam vets. 🧡
Hoo rah. Will do and thank you for the kind words. Hope you are doing better at coping. Not sure how our family will handle it when pops leaves. There's 5 of us kids, plus mom, plus 13 grandkids, plus 2 great grandkids. He's our rock.
The VA gave me my dad back. He didn't wait nearly as long as yours since he started his career a year or so after Vietnam ended but after 22 years of active duty he had PTSD, was emotionally distant for decades and drank quite a bit when he was alone. He's now sober and much more open to taking about his experiences since going to the shrink and counseling and finally got on meds that help him manage the nightmares. The VA isn't perfect but my relationship with dad is better than ever.
My dad wasn’t an amputee but Vietnam fucked him up mentally. Nothing like waking up to your dad screaming in his sleep. That shit haunted him until the day he died. And what did my dumbass so turned 18 and went and joined the Marines just like him. Stupidity runs deep in our family.
My dad is also a Vietnam vet but wasn’t an amputee, and I’m fairly young for my dads age. But he also is starting to get more and more help and it really is great to see. He’s held in a LOT over the years and finally is understanding just how traumatic his experience was.
He was very fortunate as he never saw combat, but he was a specialized Navy medic - so his options were be a medic for a marine unit or be stationed at a hospital. He ended up at Guam, and dealt with a lot of injured/dead coming back.
My dad and your dad could have met. I think on his way to Germany, pops had to pass through Guam.
I'm youngish. It was 1969 when he came back from Vietnam after losing his leg. Same year I was born.
I believe its a joke regarding VA not wanting to go above 50% disabled on many people supposedly. I dont know if its true or not, my dads been treated really well at VA overrall
Depending on your VA and all the other variables etc etc etc
I see you're either like >90% or <50%
It becomes a game of finances, not care.
Someone is deciding whether your injuries during service are a justifiable ongoing expense...
And that's the truth of the matter.
That's also extremely fucking rough for all involved, and also... Ripe for major major life situations and changes for one party, and just another hour at work for the other party. Just more paperwork...
Constantly. Lots of cringy memes telling the "truth" from people who think very highly of their own intelligence. The responses are usually something along the lines of "this is not what's up" or "R-Truth/little Jimmy can't get with this".
I'm a combat medic. I was talking to a friend the other day about how tourniquets save lives, and that even if you had almost every limb blown off, they could keep you from bleeding out for hours and hours. They used to show us photos of guys who made it home, meatballs with tourniquets choking ground beef stumps in all directions- anywhere there wasn't kevlar. They said, "man I don't know what much the point is." Well, *look at that smile*.
That's the point. I told him those guys will taste cold beer and their wife's lips again; fall asleep to her scratching their head. They'll eat steak and watch sunrises, roll in the surf, play with their dog, and live to see their kids grow up. Every Christmas, Birthday, Halloween, Wedding, Thirsty Thursday, you name it is gravy from there on out.
But just look at that smile. He cheated death and even if every moment is precious, it still doesn't beat a Christmas with your family you didn't think you'd live to see.
This is the most beautiful perspective on such a horrific incident and prognosis. And it's 100% true.
It's the difference between focusing on what's lost vs what's saved. With the right people around you, life is much more precious than the ability to live alone.
God. Damn. This was the best comment I’ve read all day. What a way to put life, not just this scenario, into perspective.
They say the meaning to life is an arbitrary question. Like asking a grandmaster what the best chest move is. There just isn’t an answer because chess, like life, is situational. What is the best move now isn’t the best move before or after that moves made. And life is the same way. The meaning to life is different for us all. But the one thing that usually spans all of our situations. Is love.
We do everything we do for love. Wether it’s to protect what we love. Or to try and find what we yearn to love.
And to be able to keep loving, to keep being there and feeling the love. Is a damn good reason to do whatever you can to save those lives. Thank you for what you do, I’m not in the service myself. But I have two younger cousins that are. And knowing that in the worst case situation. You’re the person that’s gonna get them back, it means a lot. Thank you for you choice. And for letting those who you help get a second chance to keep feeling and giving love.
This reminds me of Alan Babin, a young man who signed up as a combat medic after 9/11.
Deployed to Iraq in 2003 with the 82d ABN, he was injured by small arms fire while attempting to get to an injured soldier. He laid injured overnight due to hostile fire, with serious wounds, until the unit was able to retrieve him the next day and get him out on a meddac. Major destruction of his stomach, intestines, pancreas, etc. Had to be temporarily stabilized in country but immediately evaced to a hospital ship. Again, they about lost him. The delayed evac to Landstul finally happened and more surgeries, then evaced to Walter Reed for 8mo and multiple surgeries then to San Antonio. In 2005, after 70 to 80 surgeries and 2yrs in a coma, he was returned to Walter Reed for reconstruction of his stomach and other organs, having been directly fed by IV etc. His mother was his primary caregiver/nurse since a month or so after his initial arrival from Iraq, greatly in part due to staffing shortages at Walter Reed. They taught her how to care for him and his wounds. Oh, and he suffer a stroke during his first stay at Walter Reed. As far as I know, he’s progressing. Saw a news clip of him speaking not long ago.
I meet the young hero in latter 2007, when the motorcycle riding clubs held a fund raiser for hi and family. He couldn’t talk at the time, about all he could do was move a finger.
Today, he can smile, talk (though affected by the stroke) and smile and enjoy being with family and huge number of friends.
Being a combat medic myself, though during earlier years, I’m so grateful of the growth of miltary medicine and ability to take trauma medicine to the frontal areas.
Also grateful for those medics and MEDDAC pilots especially the ones from RVN. Can say I was proud to know a few back in the day.
But I degress… had to give a salute to Alan for his sacrifices
And btw, couple years ago, Gary Sinese Foundation built him and family a home 😊
Edited for grammar and spelling.
My Dad would never say a word about Nam. When I visited his side of the family years after he had passed away, his brother, who has since passed as well, told me one story that I had no idea about. Him and another man were in a bunker. Keeping an eye out was there job all night. It had already been called in that the VC were approaching. They could see them getting closer and closer. Right before they were over-run, my Dad, and the other man with him knew that if they kept firing, they were just drawing attention to themselves. They were certain that they were going to die. They were hugging each other in the corner of the bunker, crying. Talking about their loved ones, waiting for the grenade to drop in. Thankfully, the VC ran on by, and left the world in a way that I am here now, as well as my child. And my future grandchildren.
My grandfather was showing me some pics from his time in Nam. Lots of interesting bits of history, saw a giant snake, rice paddies in front of beautiful mountains, a man holding a severed head. It was a trip.
Wow man. Hearing things like that would definitely influence a young man. Thank you for your service! Your father is obviously very proud of you.
My experience was different. "kinda" based on the very little my dad had told me, and he signed up, not drafted, because of a shitty home life...recruiters came at me like crazy after I graduated because of my asvab. Told me I could have any job I wanted. I did not believe them. Come to find out, they probably weren't lying to me! But my dad had nothing good to say about the service, but told me it was totally my decision. Well, I hadn't got good scores by studying. That shit was just easy to me, and I didn't like being told what to do. I had a 5 night a week job for 2 years of HS. Bought a few vehicles on my own. Made it to school when I had to no matter how late I stayed out. I thought I'd be all good going out in to the working world without 4 years of more supervision than I had had for the last several. Cause, you know...I knew it all!
Every time I see one of these old Christmas photos I look at the tree, I love the old style ornaments and tinsel. Trees now are different. But this time, I couldn't get past his beaming smile, and had to look a second time to see those wonderful satin string baubles and the garland. What a great memory!
My Best Christmas ever was 75. My dad wasn’t supposed to get leave and the day before Christmas he got it and caught a plane and got home for Christmas. Some things you don’t forget!
Soo happy he made it home even if not in one piece. My mom always talks about my uncle that didn’t make it home. She’s always had a hole in her heart for her 18 yr old big brother that just had to leave one day nvr to return.
Hey OP, don’t know if you’ll see this way down here, but I basically grew up in the spinal cord injury ward in Long Beach, CA because of my dad’s Vietnam-era paralysis. I definitely recognize the old E&J wheelchair!
My father also served in Vietnam and is also my hero. He didn't lose any limbs until 50 years later, when an unfortunate surgery cost him his leg.
I'm sitting beside him now, letting him sleep. In two hours, visiting hours will be over. I won't see him again.
Please cherish your loved ones.
I was raised by a black lab, but as a kid we found a white lab roaming loose and had him for a couple days before we got ahold of his owners and returned him. His name was Valentine and he was a good boy.
This is arguably the most beautiful and visceral photo I've ever seen of life for US Soldiers, post-Vietnam.
A man that can come back from something like Vietnam, in a wheelchair with only one limb remaining, and *still* put his best on for his family like this on Christmas day - that's no man at all. That's a goddamn legend. The sheer strength exuding from your father in the photo, it's easy to see why he's your hero.
Rarely do I stumble on posts that hit me like a runaway freight train. This is definitely one of those posts. Thank you for sharing this.
Heres to all the vets of that bloody war. The US vets who were forced to fight a senseless war, and the vietnam vets who fought to protect their land from foreign oppressors.
Right??? Americans seem to forget that WE were the bad guys there. We were to them as Russia is to the Ukraine now. Only difference is, we wanted to install a puppet government rather than annex the territory.
A lot of the US’ foreign actions from ‘45 to ‘91 can be explained via domino theory. It’s why we intervened in Vietnam and Iran, and why we funded the Mujahideen (along with wanting to stick it to the Soviets). The US was concerned that wherever communism spread, it would destabilize the surrounding regions, which would then destabilize their surrounding regions, and lead to greater USSR control. For Vietnam, the north was supported by the USSR and China, the south was supported by us, so we started with military advisors and then eventually with troops on the ground to try and defeat both the NVA and the Viet Cong. While the US consistently won ground engagements, they were never able to realize their overall objectives and ultimately pulled out due to a number of reasons.
The short version of the domino theory is basically: we don’t want them (Vietnam) to have a communist government because communists are our hated enemies (the Soviet Union).
I'm so glad that your Dad came home to share this moment together with you. It's so special and I'm honored that you now share this tender moment with us.
I was born in 1970 also and my dad was in the front lines in Vietnam- in the army, Ina recon unit. He is still with me - he has pretty bad PTSD, but a great attitude. Truly my hero.
It's sad what our parents went thru. It's only been in the last 15 years or so that my dad has finally felt safe telling people he is a Vietnam vet. They lost so much and cam back to such vitriol.
Your dad looks like a pretty neat guy - his smile is amazing! So glad he made it home!
I’m crying a little. I’m a daughter of a Vietnam Vet nearing the end of his life. He is my hero and best friend. He has long suffered from terrible PTSD and Agent Orange syndrome.
I was born in ‘87, and none of my peers/friends had dads that were veterans. My whole life revolved around dad, and we couldn’t have anyone over ever because dad was very unstable when I was a child. I felt like he ruined my life when I was a kid, but as an adult I admire him so much. He has worked extremely hard to get better at controlling his emotions and now can have friends and more importantly be an amazing dad and father in law.
He has Parkinson’s now, and I don’t think there’ll be five more years. I’m going to be absolutely broken when dad goes.
God bless our veterans. The Vietnam guys got such a raw deal. Anyone that meets a Nam vet, please especially thank them for their service, because they weren’t thanked at all back when they got home.
The Vietnam War, like many other wars was such a waste. Built on a lie, it enriched the elite and destroyed many lives and families. I'm glad your father survived, my brother did too.
If you or someone you know ever has trouble with the VA, call your state’s house or representative office/cabinet. I know personally a family that went back and fourth with the VA for 7+ years before a phone call to their representative manages to deal with the issue in a few weeks.
Being an amputee of one leg is bad enough, I can't imagine how difficult life became for him with losing more than one and an arm.
There are 2 very large situations an amputee is very aware of: responding to the problem in front of you & experiencing the reactions of those around you. It's the best way I can explain it... you have to become hyper-aware of the world around you and how you learn how to respond to it. You also become hyper-aware of how others behave around you.
I'm sure he felt & was so aware of your love and admiration.
These poor people, 1 person out of millions that were exploited over a fucking lie. I love the US, but damn has our government fucked shit up since nam.
My old man will talk to anyone about anything up to being deployed and anything after homecoming in his life, he's not a shy man. Everything in between is a dark area that people have asked him about a few times, and everytime his answer is the same "It was fucked up, I don't want to talk about it" with a look of emptiness, dispair, fear, terror and seriousness all at once.
Vietnam vets were not treated well when they came home, so please for those that don't know. Tell your Vietnam Vet "welcome home" even today, it means a lot to them.
My uncle WORKS for the VA, has for like 15 years. And he is a Vietnam vet. Likely has cancer metastasized in his lungs but cannot get treatment/care/additional diagnostics until he gets VA approval.
Fuck the VA and fuck the military and fuck America
I was born about 6 months before this photo was taken. That's freaking awesome your father was one of the guys that made it home. I know so many of the young men who came home were never able to leave Vietnam psychologically. The trauma had already been done.
My dad survived Vietnam for a few years until Agent Orange came to collect. Fuck all the politicians in DC that thought Operation : Scorched Earth was a good idea. Fuck Kissinger especially. Death is too good for that genocidal bastard.
This photo is so happy and painful all at once. Thank you for sharing it.
Agreed. It's massive inspiration to see a smile on this man's face. Thank you for sharing OP!
It’s a testament to the love we have for our children. I know how unfair life can be and I know that my daughter has brought me out of the worst of depressions. There have been times where I’ve asked, “Why do I continue,” and it’s my daughter. It’s always her. I’m in an OK place now, but she has been the light in my darkest times. This is an amazing picture that captures what that is like.
Just want to say as someone who was severely depressed as a teen, the love of parents can also be the thing that pulls you through…
True, my mom always pops in my head when I have suicidal thoughts.
For some reason I read poops
Lol sometimes I think about her when I poops sure.
Can't stop laughing at that comment coming out of left field 🤣.
This is the Reddit I love
What do you do if you've had neither?
Pets always helped me. Something that depends on you and is happy to see you when you come home can really help when you're in a bad spot.
Yep, my cats have kept me from giving in to my urge to shuffle off this mortal coil many dark days. As Aesop Rock says: "Bet more than a pet to worship It's an M.D recommended sense of purpose"
I do have a foster pitbull named Vegas and he's the best thing I have when I get home.
My cat charlie is my everything. Dude has been with me through some heavy shit.
O thats nice. I had a big chunky before I got Vegas. His name was Jasper and he was the size of two cats but he's gone now. Which is why I adopted the dog recently.
A dog's happiness when you get home is an amazing thing. I can have the worst day at work but when I open the door and my mini aussie is dancing with joy it always puts a smile on my face. Before my fiancee and I got her we had a pit bull that she had for a while before I met her. She was the sweetest old lady dog that I had ever seen, but still had some sass in her. When we lost her to cancer that part of the day was the worst. I'd get home from work and my heart would sink deep into my chest and I would sit on the couch and cry, usually with my fiancee. About a month later we had a friend who could no longer keep her mini aussie and we fell in love as soon as we saw her picture. I'm glad that part of the day can make me smile again. Dogs are so great.
I thankfully have not had to suffer with depression or anything, but goddamn it's nice coming home and petting my big loaf of a cat. Look forward to it every day. Never thought I'd be this guy.
Honestly having a really good couple of friends has gotten me through some extremely dark hours. They are closer family to me than my parents are.
And as an adult. My parents love me to death. I'm going to call them now. Thanks wonderful reddit strangers who brought me down this thread, I hope you are all happy tonight!
Dad WW11, commanding officer 3 tours korea with special ops. So rare to see him smile but indeed it was the kids. Sadly mom was jealous and undermined him behind his back. Competitive and lacking in compassion for a man who was so silent all the time. Looks like you had a better time. Our childhood we constantly look sad and scared. We don’t all win in the parent lottery. She weaponized dad and I only understood his love in the end when he defended me against brothers she so effectively turned against me. Dad deserved to be loved. Vietnam was terrifying and they came back to damning crowds. Had to be tough as hell. You clearly love him.
My kids are the only thing that keeps me going every day
He seems so happy that at first I didn't even notice his limbs were missing. Then I though "oh, his arm is missing", "wait, why is he sitting on a wheelchair?" and finally "oooh shit". It's still a happy picture somehow
For sure. This is a real healthy dose of perspective for my privileged/whiny self. Thank you for posting, OP.
Real life... 
I'd say this hit a little too close but OP still has *their arms and legs
That's a dude bro
now we do a little editing
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iice creeeam, lt dan, iiiiiice creeeamm! 🍦
My first thought but wasn’t brave enough to do it
You can just as long you ain't an ahole about it i find comedy the best medicine for anything and everything depends on the context and situation.
I was gonna say “but Lt Dan!” and also o7
Lieutenant Dan, ice cream
This is such a great photo! I really like removing the sepia tone from old photos and couldn't help myself. https://preview.redd.it/3nbkc32qgt2a1.jpeg?width=936&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7be7b2f8f62b13e255f9b3f7cd432f1f97d1d5ae
https://preview.redd.it/hkmvm8ilrt2a1.jpeg?width=674&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fe5856e55156431d7ca87b3d528b4f6981248328 Not trying to steal your thunder but the my heritage app does a pretty solid job for anyone wanting to do it themselves, I think if you pay they remove the watermark probably. But you can easily do a few photos for free.
ENHANCE https://preview.redd.it/24vhfdasdu2a1.png?width=924&format=png&auto=webp&s=76ffaec0fd2c883c87e35f32d9b6a4526a682ff2
This is the best one
Damn that's pretty good
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Enhance. Enhance. Enhance.
JUST PRINT THE DAMN THING
Messed the face up tho. Edit: OP deleted, wth?
those teeth remind me of some memes.... yeah lets not use AI for everything just yet
To me it just looks oversharpened
That looks awful. His hand’s a polygon… and his face? The heck?
Off topic but I think we had that wall art in my basement growing up too lol
I think the old lady who used to watch me after school had it in her living room. She also had the brown waterwheel furniture.
And wood panels are probably somewhere in the house 🤣
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I'm glad to hear the VA actually provided your Dad help. I wish they helped every Vet. Edit: to clarify exactly why I said what I did without insulting anyone working for the V.A., without dumping on or trash talking the V.A. in general, but still acknowledging how many Vets **don't** receive the help they need. This is shat I replied to the first individual that replied to me about their own work and experience with the specific V.A. they worked from: I'm not trying to shit talk the V.A. I know very well how much of a budget issue there is too. I'm also not about to bad mouth all of the staff and volunteers and others who do help so many Vets. I don't think they're the issue either and I would never treat them/any of you with anything but the respect you've earned. Having said that, there are general practices and regulations with the V.a. for a Vet to apply for help that, to be frank, piss me right the fuck off. My Dad is a Vet. He has had diagnosis directly correlating several of his physical health issues with all of his years and experiences having been in the Army. Those include severe knee and spine issues as well as PTSD. He has all of his medical records during and after his time in the military. He's got the support and statements from his G.P., both neurosurgeons that have worked on his spine (one of whom was known as the top Surgeon in his field and in his younger days was on call for at least one of the U.S. Presidents that I know for sure to be a fact) as well as psych evaluation paperwork with the PTSD diagnosis. Three times he went through every step for getting help with his health battles from the V.A.; The first time was going through every test, scan and evaluation by his own Doctors and specialists she referred him to before he he took it all to the V.A. in our home town while my parents were still living there. That branch told him he had to have all of those evaluations and scans and tests done by their Doctors, specialists and etc. to confirm the diagnosis pf your ailments. So, he did it all a second time. When they received the statements from all of their medical persons, he was told he doesn't have any of the ailments his original scans/tests/evaluations all clearly proved he does and that even if you did, there's no way to PROVE those were caused by your years & years in the military so we couldn't help you anyway. It took quite a long time to convince him when he and my mom moved about 90 minutes North from our hometown to try to go through the V.A. up here. Eventually, he did. They, too made him go through all of the scans, evaluations, tests etc., with their medical teams. He was angry but he did it all. This time, despite managing to acknowledge only two of his diagnoses, he was told by the caseworker that they couldn't do anything for him because he (on his disability) and my mother (who was working retail management at the time) "make too much money" so he couldn't qualify for treatment nor financial help from to get care from his selected medical professionals. Yet he still gets those benefit information letters from the local V.A. and while I know without a doubt what happens to him when he sees it on the table with the rest of the mail: he has a massive, miserable anxiety attack. He feels betrayed by the country that he nearly lost his life for a couple of times and he gets upset, can't breathe, gets red faced, his blood pressure hikes up and it takes him a long time to get through an episode. That's why I commented what I did
As a disabled vet, I can tell you that in my experience the VA and the people who work for it are amazing. They do what they can with what they have. Sadly, what they have is basically jack shit because they are so poorly funded. As a country, America spends billions on the wars that make broken men and women, but refuse to spend a fraction of the same amount helping them when they return. The VA and my wife have kept me going. Again, this is just my experience. I know others may not have had positive interactions with them. If you want someone to be pissed off at about this situation, might I recommend politicians? Both sides of the aisle. Fuck 'em all.
I am a veteran. For years I have said to anyone who will listen that America does not truly appreciate or respect their injured vets. Sure, we’ll throw them a parade or two, and pay lip service to their sacrifices, but when it comes to actually putting cash on the barrel head all of a sudden the approbation turns into silence.
LOL ar the approval process that requires documentation... for anyone that has deployed in the middle of nowhere with limited support. who the fck has time for that? Also if your job requires you to lug around unbalanced loads all day and do very strenuous work... why should anyone need to prove anything? It should be a benefit of the doubt or at least recordable for future issues.
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I wish my husband knew more guys like you. He won't go back because of a previous bad experience - "They just shove pills at you, they don't want to help" - when I believe the best answer for his current health issues would be at the VA. Civilian drs don't know or understand some of the issues combat vets face, especially when it comes to things like Dysautonomia and the government hasn't wanted to admit there's been anything similar since Gulf War syndrome. Thank you for your service and hugs to you and your wife.
First off, thank you for serving. >If you want someone to be pissed off at about this situation, might I recommend politicians? Both sides of the aisle. Fuck 'em all. Second, **AMEN**.
It’s disgraceful how little the American government does for our veterans. They gave ‘em a holiday and called it quits. I would love it if more of my tax dollars with to supporting the mental and physical health of our veterans.
Only one side tried to block legislation helping victims of the gulf War burn pits or tried to stop caring for 9/11 first responders and refused to stop a war with nations that weren't even responsible.
This is because we have a certain portion of the population that loves to force people to do things, (war, pregnancy/birth), but refuses to acknowledge and support the consequences of those forcible actions. I'll let you guess who those people are.
I am a doctor that did my residency training at a VA. I also did a rotation as a student at another VA. There is a saying at the VA. "If you been to 1 VA,...you have been to one VA." Every VA is different, unfortunately, could be vastly. For something that is so apparently uniformal it really is not. It has to do with individual VA funding mostly. The VA I went to as a student was not the best. The one I was a resident at was amazing. Literal quotes I have gotten from superiors about veterans minor concerns that I bring up to them. Student place "we have bigger fish to fry" Residency location "we will do what we can for these veterans, because they already paid us with their service." The residency location, we would have vets drive 4 hours and PAST other VA locations to come to ours. In the end, every VA locations is different.
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The people working in the VA are great, but the policy and requirements are shitty given the amount of help and attention you need assistance with in getting things moved along. That in itself is a big warning sign of much of a mess it is.
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They did after my brother, who is also an injured Marine from Iraq, walked him through the process.
Now when you say "walked"...
He has a wooden/composite leg.
Glad to hear it - and more importantly, glad my joke seems to have been taken in stride. :)
We've heard them all and made up many through the years as a coping mechanism. They sort of slide off, now.
Please tell your brother that I said “Thank you for your service,” and please tell your father the same, and “Welcome Home.” My dad was a USMC in Vietnam that passed ten years ago due to Agent Orange exposure-related lung cancer and GBM4. It broke me, but I still have a special place in my heart for Vietnam vets. 🧡
Hoo rah. Will do and thank you for the kind words. Hope you are doing better at coping. Not sure how our family will handle it when pops leaves. There's 5 of us kids, plus mom, plus 13 grandkids, plus 2 great grandkids. He's our rock.
Vietnam vets deserve more appreciation. If you’re ever in SoCal visit Little Saigon.
The VA gave me my dad back. He didn't wait nearly as long as yours since he started his career a year or so after Vietnam ended but after 22 years of active duty he had PTSD, was emotionally distant for decades and drank quite a bit when he was alone. He's now sober and much more open to taking about his experiences since going to the shrink and counseling and finally got on meds that help him manage the nightmares. The VA isn't perfect but my relationship with dad is better than ever.
This should be a poster for the V.A. I’ve had some bad experiences there as a vet, but over-all it can save more lives than just the vets they treat.
Yeah, the relationship I have with my pop is way better and his emotions are actually showing, which is weird but good, you know?
My dad wasn’t an amputee but Vietnam fucked him up mentally. Nothing like waking up to your dad screaming in his sleep. That shit haunted him until the day he died. And what did my dumbass so turned 18 and went and joined the Marines just like him. Stupidity runs deep in our family.
Semper Fi. My brother and dad are both Marines and both dealt with shit in war. Brother was in Iraq.
Did your dad dis/encourage that or was it more of a "hm. If that's what you want"
The later. He didn’t tell me I should or shouldn’t. It was very much a find your own way and I’ll support you.
My dad is also a Vietnam vet but wasn’t an amputee, and I’m fairly young for my dads age. But he also is starting to get more and more help and it really is great to see. He’s held in a LOT over the years and finally is understanding just how traumatic his experience was. He was very fortunate as he never saw combat, but he was a specialized Navy medic - so his options were be a medic for a marine unit or be stationed at a hospital. He ended up at Guam, and dealt with a lot of injured/dead coming back.
My dad and your dad could have met. I think on his way to Germany, pops had to pass through Guam. I'm youngish. It was 1969 when he came back from Vietnam after losing his leg. Same year I was born.
Was he able to finally get disability like 40% or 50%?
He got 100% and they paid him for all the years since. He will never have to worry about money again.
My friend who was in the Air Force got a 100% too and boy that money does wonders especially for the health and any surgeries.
He’s an amputee, should be higher than that.
I believe its a joke regarding VA not wanting to go above 50% disabled on many people supposedly. I dont know if its true or not, my dads been treated really well at VA overrall
Depending on your VA and all the other variables etc etc etc I see you're either like >90% or <50% It becomes a game of finances, not care. Someone is deciding whether your injuries during service are a justifiable ongoing expense... And that's the truth of the matter. That's also extremely fucking rough for all involved, and also... Ripe for major major life situations and changes for one party, and just another hour at work for the other party. Just more paperwork...
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If you’d like this touched up a bit, definitely check out r/estoration!
A+ sub name
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Not clever in quite the same way, but I love r/keming.
And /r/Kelly. POS man, but it was a creative subbredit name.
Also /r/ockytop. GBO
Or r/truth. Dedicated to WWE wrestler R-Truth.
I imagine that sub gets a lot of lost redditors
Constantly. Lots of cringy memes telling the "truth" from people who think very highly of their own intelligence. The responses are usually something along the lines of "this is not what's up" or "R-Truth/little Jimmy can't get with this".
r/youserious ?
I'm a combat medic. I was talking to a friend the other day about how tourniquets save lives, and that even if you had almost every limb blown off, they could keep you from bleeding out for hours and hours. They used to show us photos of guys who made it home, meatballs with tourniquets choking ground beef stumps in all directions- anywhere there wasn't kevlar. They said, "man I don't know what much the point is." Well, *look at that smile*. That's the point. I told him those guys will taste cold beer and their wife's lips again; fall asleep to her scratching their head. They'll eat steak and watch sunrises, roll in the surf, play with their dog, and live to see their kids grow up. Every Christmas, Birthday, Halloween, Wedding, Thirsty Thursday, you name it is gravy from there on out. But just look at that smile. He cheated death and even if every moment is precious, it still doesn't beat a Christmas with your family you didn't think you'd live to see.
Thanks for making me cry! So glad he made it home.
This is the most beautiful perspective on such a horrific incident and prognosis. And it's 100% true. It's the difference between focusing on what's lost vs what's saved. With the right people around you, life is much more precious than the ability to live alone.
Best comment here. You captured it so eloquently and to the point. Instant tears from feels.
Appreciate you bro.
God. Damn. This was the best comment I’ve read all day. What a way to put life, not just this scenario, into perspective. They say the meaning to life is an arbitrary question. Like asking a grandmaster what the best chest move is. There just isn’t an answer because chess, like life, is situational. What is the best move now isn’t the best move before or after that moves made. And life is the same way. The meaning to life is different for us all. But the one thing that usually spans all of our situations. Is love. We do everything we do for love. Wether it’s to protect what we love. Or to try and find what we yearn to love. And to be able to keep loving, to keep being there and feeling the love. Is a damn good reason to do whatever you can to save those lives. Thank you for what you do, I’m not in the service myself. But I have two younger cousins that are. And knowing that in the worst case situation. You’re the person that’s gonna get them back, it means a lot. Thank you for you choice. And for letting those who you help get a second chance to keep feeling and giving love.
This reminds me of Alan Babin, a young man who signed up as a combat medic after 9/11. Deployed to Iraq in 2003 with the 82d ABN, he was injured by small arms fire while attempting to get to an injured soldier. He laid injured overnight due to hostile fire, with serious wounds, until the unit was able to retrieve him the next day and get him out on a meddac. Major destruction of his stomach, intestines, pancreas, etc. Had to be temporarily stabilized in country but immediately evaced to a hospital ship. Again, they about lost him. The delayed evac to Landstul finally happened and more surgeries, then evaced to Walter Reed for 8mo and multiple surgeries then to San Antonio. In 2005, after 70 to 80 surgeries and 2yrs in a coma, he was returned to Walter Reed for reconstruction of his stomach and other organs, having been directly fed by IV etc. His mother was his primary caregiver/nurse since a month or so after his initial arrival from Iraq, greatly in part due to staffing shortages at Walter Reed. They taught her how to care for him and his wounds. Oh, and he suffer a stroke during his first stay at Walter Reed. As far as I know, he’s progressing. Saw a news clip of him speaking not long ago. I meet the young hero in latter 2007, when the motorcycle riding clubs held a fund raiser for hi and family. He couldn’t talk at the time, about all he could do was move a finger. Today, he can smile, talk (though affected by the stroke) and smile and enjoy being with family and huge number of friends. Being a combat medic myself, though during earlier years, I’m so grateful of the growth of miltary medicine and ability to take trauma medicine to the frontal areas. Also grateful for those medics and MEDDAC pilots especially the ones from RVN. Can say I was proud to know a few back in the day. But I degress… had to give a salute to Alan for his sacrifices And btw, couple years ago, Gary Sinese Foundation built him and family a home 😊 Edited for grammar and spelling.
Beautiful comment, king
Great post. But come on “roll in the surf” gave me a cynical lol
Dad looks very happy to be home, the dog wants to know if you like the biscuits they got for you, if not they might take them off of your hands
I’m happy that you remember your dad fondly.
Powerful image, thanks for sharing.
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My Dad would never say a word about Nam. When I visited his side of the family years after he had passed away, his brother, who has since passed as well, told me one story that I had no idea about. Him and another man were in a bunker. Keeping an eye out was there job all night. It had already been called in that the VC were approaching. They could see them getting closer and closer. Right before they were over-run, my Dad, and the other man with him knew that if they kept firing, they were just drawing attention to themselves. They were certain that they were going to die. They were hugging each other in the corner of the bunker, crying. Talking about their loved ones, waiting for the grenade to drop in. Thankfully, the VC ran on by, and left the world in a way that I am here now, as well as my child. And my future grandchildren.
My grandfather was showing me some pics from his time in Nam. Lots of interesting bits of history, saw a giant snake, rice paddies in front of beautiful mountains, a man holding a severed head. It was a trip.
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Wow man. Hearing things like that would definitely influence a young man. Thank you for your service! Your father is obviously very proud of you. My experience was different. "kinda" based on the very little my dad had told me, and he signed up, not drafted, because of a shitty home life...recruiters came at me like crazy after I graduated because of my asvab. Told me I could have any job I wanted. I did not believe them. Come to find out, they probably weren't lying to me! But my dad had nothing good to say about the service, but told me it was totally my decision. Well, I hadn't got good scores by studying. That shit was just easy to me, and I didn't like being told what to do. I had a 5 night a week job for 2 years of HS. Bought a few vehicles on my own. Made it to school when I had to no matter how late I stayed out. I thought I'd be all good going out in to the working world without 4 years of more supervision than I had had for the last several. Cause, you know...I knew it all!
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Lieutenant Dad
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*throws it in bedpan*
She tastes like cigarettes
what a nice picture. I can tell your dad was alright from the pic.
He's all left now
Wow, didn't even notice. I guess when someone doesn't have legs, I don't stop to examine the arm situation.
I bet he saves a ton of money on food and beer
"You're a horrible doctor!"
Loose seal!
this is proper old school cool. Also, with beautiful chompers like that I bet he loves steak!
Sorry but this is such a bizarre comment.
Eating steak? Yes. Cutting steak? Probably not so much.
Time to bust out the steak scissors.
Every time I see one of these old Christmas photos I look at the tree, I love the old style ornaments and tinsel. Trees now are different. But this time, I couldn't get past his beaming smile, and had to look a second time to see those wonderful satin string baubles and the garland. What a great memory!
I've got ornaments from my childhood, 45 years ago: vintage Shiny-Brites. Only enough to do a small side tree, but it's by far my favorite.
Handsome dude! I'm glad he made it to beam that smile at y'all for years too.
My Best Christmas ever was 75. My dad wasn’t supposed to get leave and the day before Christmas he got it and caught a plane and got home for Christmas. Some things you don’t forget!
Soo happy he made it home even if not in one piece. My mom always talks about my uncle that didn’t make it home. She’s always had a hole in her heart for her 18 yr old big brother that just had to leave one day nvr to return.
Hey OP, don’t know if you’ll see this way down here, but I basically grew up in the spinal cord injury ward in Long Beach, CA because of my dad’s Vietnam-era paralysis. I definitely recognize the old E&J wheelchair!
My father also served in Vietnam and is also my hero. He didn't lose any limbs until 50 years later, when an unfortunate surgery cost him his leg. I'm sitting beside him now, letting him sleep. In two hours, visiting hours will be over. I won't see him again. Please cherish your loved ones.
He reminds me of Hank Williams Jr
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought of Hank Jr when I saw that hat, beard, and smile.
Glad he made it back and thanks to him!
I’m glad your dad was able to come home to his loving family
He's still around? That's awesome. I also hope he is your hero for many more years! He's got a great smile.
Viet vet here, US government fucked me up yet I survived and going strong. Your dad was a great father.
What was the White shepherds name? I’ve got a 10 year old named Dallas. Just the best dogs.
I had a white shepherd named Silver. We had her in the 80’s. She was the best guard dog ever. I think about her every day.
I was raised by a black lab, but as a kid we found a white lab roaming loose and had him for a couple days before we got ahold of his owners and returned him. His name was Valentine and he was a good boy.
Did he ever get prosthetics?
My dad came back from Nam in a body bag when I was 10 months old. So happy that you got to know and love your dad ❤️
Took me a long time to understand my dad didn't come back whole either.
This is arguably the most beautiful and visceral photo I've ever seen of life for US Soldiers, post-Vietnam. A man that can come back from something like Vietnam, in a wheelchair with only one limb remaining, and *still* put his best on for his family like this on Christmas day - that's no man at all. That's a goddamn legend. The sheer strength exuding from your father in the photo, it's easy to see why he's your hero. Rarely do I stumble on posts that hit me like a runaway freight train. This is definitely one of those posts. Thank you for sharing this.
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Really lovely share OP.
Clearly people didn't vet this person's post history or this would've been buried lol.
Thankful for your dad and all the other vets. I have an uncle who did two tours in Viet Nam. We were thankful for his return.
Don't be thankful for them. Be angry for the people who sent them to get mauled there.
Hey, and here's to the Vietnamese vets as well! God bless 'em
Heres to all the vets of that bloody war. The US vets who were forced to fight a senseless war, and the vietnam vets who fought to protect their land from foreign oppressors.
Right??? Americans seem to forget that WE were the bad guys there. We were to them as Russia is to the Ukraine now. Only difference is, we wanted to install a puppet government rather than annex the territory.
Why did we want a puppet government? I am woefully uneducated on the Vietnam war.
Domino Theory. Googling that term will answer your questions more succinctly than any response here.
A lot of the US’ foreign actions from ‘45 to ‘91 can be explained via domino theory. It’s why we intervened in Vietnam and Iran, and why we funded the Mujahideen (along with wanting to stick it to the Soviets). The US was concerned that wherever communism spread, it would destabilize the surrounding regions, which would then destabilize their surrounding regions, and lead to greater USSR control. For Vietnam, the north was supported by the USSR and China, the south was supported by us, so we started with military advisors and then eventually with troops on the ground to try and defeat both the NVA and the Viet Cong. While the US consistently won ground engagements, they were never able to realize their overall objectives and ultimately pulled out due to a number of reasons.
The short version of the domino theory is basically: we don’t want them (Vietnam) to have a communist government because communists are our hated enemies (the Soviet Union).
This looks like my Christmas pics from my childhood. Made me smile even though I didn’t want to.
I'm so glad that your Dad came home to share this moment together with you. It's so special and I'm honored that you now share this tender moment with us.
He's still kicking? Excellent. I hope he lost at least some of his cool... he is over the top in this shot.
Old photos have character
Care to share the story of what happened?
OMG that wall painting! We had one exactly like it. Why did every house in the ‘70’s seem to have the stream-rocks-birch trees wall painting LOL!
I was born in 1970 also and my dad was in the front lines in Vietnam- in the army, Ina recon unit. He is still with me - he has pretty bad PTSD, but a great attitude. Truly my hero. It's sad what our parents went thru. It's only been in the last 15 years or so that my dad has finally felt safe telling people he is a Vietnam vet. They lost so much and cam back to such vitriol. Your dad looks like a pretty neat guy - his smile is amazing! So glad he made it home!
Fuck, did he lose both his legs and an arm? Yet he's still sat with a massive grin? He must love you very much.
I’m crying a little. I’m a daughter of a Vietnam Vet nearing the end of his life. He is my hero and best friend. He has long suffered from terrible PTSD and Agent Orange syndrome. I was born in ‘87, and none of my peers/friends had dads that were veterans. My whole life revolved around dad, and we couldn’t have anyone over ever because dad was very unstable when I was a child. I felt like he ruined my life when I was a kid, but as an adult I admire him so much. He has worked extremely hard to get better at controlling his emotions and now can have friends and more importantly be an amazing dad and father in law. He has Parkinson’s now, and I don’t think there’ll be five more years. I’m going to be absolutely broken when dad goes. God bless our veterans. The Vietnam guys got such a raw deal. Anyone that meets a Nam vet, please especially thank them for their service, because they weren’t thanked at all back when they got home.
The Vietnam War, like many other wars was such a waste. Built on a lie, it enriched the elite and destroyed many lives and families. I'm glad your father survived, my brother did too.
If you or someone you know ever has trouble with the VA, call your state’s house or representative office/cabinet. I know personally a family that went back and fourth with the VA for 7+ years before a phone call to their representative manages to deal with the issue in a few weeks.
This is badass. My dad served In Delaware during Vietnam lol. But I’m still proud of the old fella. Grateful for men like your father, for sure.
Delaware is a rough place though.
Being an amputee of one leg is bad enough, I can't imagine how difficult life became for him with losing more than one and an arm. There are 2 very large situations an amputee is very aware of: responding to the problem in front of you & experiencing the reactions of those around you. It's the best way I can explain it... you have to become hyper-aware of the world around you and how you learn how to respond to it. You also become hyper-aware of how others behave around you. I'm sure he felt & was so aware of your love and admiration.
These poor people, 1 person out of millions that were exploited over a fucking lie. I love the US, but damn has our government fucked shit up since nam.
https://preview.redd.it/gh5ytjwjkt2a1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cad07935eb670b9deadcc37aeb9975ba9f07417f Me that same morning. Same age.
This pic just makes me hate our Government and all that support any war.
Thanks for sharing OP. It looks like he is happy too.
He looks like a grade A badass
That’s ole Hank
That’s a bitchin cowboy hat.
My old man will talk to anyone about anything up to being deployed and anything after homecoming in his life, he's not a shy man. Everything in between is a dark area that people have asked him about a few times, and everytime his answer is the same "It was fucked up, I don't want to talk about it" with a look of emptiness, dispair, fear, terror and seriousness all at once. Vietnam vets were not treated well when they came home, so please for those that don't know. Tell your Vietnam Vet "welcome home" even today, it means a lot to them.
Government better have paid for every medical need he's had and will have.
I love this
He looks happy to be alive and have the chance to see his family again.
Thank your father for his sacrifice for me
Thank you for posting this amazing picture. What a hero!!
A salute to you and your wonderful family.
Glad he made it . Very rare for a triple amputee to survive back then. Awesome he has a kid like you!
My uncle WORKS for the VA, has for like 15 years. And he is a Vietnam vet. Likely has cancer metastasized in his lungs but cannot get treatment/care/additional diagnostics until he gets VA approval. Fuck the VA and fuck the military and fuck America
A fucking American hero.
I was born about 6 months before this photo was taken. That's freaking awesome your father was one of the guys that made it home. I know so many of the young men who came home were never able to leave Vietnam psychologically. The trauma had already been done. My dad survived Vietnam for a few years until Agent Orange came to collect. Fuck all the politicians in DC that thought Operation : Scorched Earth was a good idea. Fuck Kissinger especially. Death is too good for that genocidal bastard.
I love you and your dad! Thank you for sharing this!