Return to Vietnam, 45 Years Later: The Complete Documentary Series

[@almcallister6490]

Any one who watches this should adhere to Richards words about going back..i have been back three times and the good lord willing will go back every year for as long as i live

[@rorytennes8576]

Thank you. !

[@KeithWilliamMacHendry]

Guid lad clan MacAllister. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇸🙏🏻

[@Pellkot]

Im 28 and i live here now. I would love to meet you and hear your story over some beers.

[@almcallister6490]

@@Pellkot Where is here?

[@jayyoung5423]

As a younger veteran I appreciate this story so much for man...words cannot express the respect I have for my older veterans....good stuff my man, peace to you.

[@anotherway007]

“Military men are just dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.” ― Henry Kissinger

[@po350]

how can a communist country be this free? Vietnam allows you to do this it really shows their commitment to peace, freedom, and a big heart of forgiveness. got to be honest, went to war with the Vietnamese was a mistake made by the American.

[@oakspines7171]

Don't mix up up lawlessness with freedom.

[@robertisham5279]

It really was a mistake Vietnam is only communist in name only.

[@richardbroner9852]

Vietnamese people are far more friendlier and open than Chinese. Love from England.

[@phangirlable]

And also almost inhumanely forgiving.

[@KeithWilliamMacHendry]

Absolutely Superbious listening to Richard, what a legend. Respect from a Scot. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇸🙏🏻

[@magnaviator]

It takes a poet to describe these feelings and memories. Amazing interview.

[@kdc6884]

Great documentary. Very informative. People complaining in the comments section obviously didn’t see the video entirely.

[@ronnieterry9275]

I enjoyed the video great video. I too was in South Vietnam 1968 1969 I left by way of Cam Ran Bay. I came to South Vietnam thru Danang flew to Quang Tri was stationed there for a short time then was stationed at Con Thein for a time after that stationed remained of my time at Quang Tri. I have thought about going back to South Vietnam but never have. I was drafted into the army stayed two years and left military service.

[@Elmaestrodemusica]

To be able to go back. Grandpa (who lived to 92) never got back to Belgium where he fought and liberated it during WWII - it would have been wonderful if he did ....

[@U50USA]

Respect for calling my old home town Sai Gon . I really don’t care about what is HCM city . Thank you for your service ❤️

[@kdc6884]

Great documentary. So informative.

[@LeMinh-cp9fx]

Very nice and emotional ,I myself thanks you and all who were in VN .

[@michaeldineenSG2018]

This was awesome. Another great one is "They were young and brave" by ABC News about the veterans of the first big battle of the war between the Americans and North Vietnamese who fought against each other in the Ia Drang Valley. They all go back to LZ X-ray and Albany together and walk the battlefield together and are interviewed. Hal Moore and Joe Galloway wrote the best seller We Were Soldiers Once...and Young that inspired this. A must see.

[@rubycollins3492]

Thanks for sharing Thank you for your service

[@donnieraby5322]

Thank you for your service....Welcome home!

[@pfrstreetgang7511]

Vietnam is now a pretty damn country. It's great to see how modern it is while creating some really amazing historical sites.

[@hoangnguyen3424]

Great document film

[@dubrout]

Thank you for sharing Richard. David, Saigon.

[@RobertsBulgaria]

Excellent production - RESPECT.

[@Nhatanh0475]

38:00 Some time there are more to it. And now I can understand both side of the war.

[@glennsarpy1738]

thank you hero ! great video ! i read both books published by mac v sogs john tilt stryker meyer you guys were a rare breed ! i couldnt imagine doing the things you guys did at 2o years old ! god bless you all !

[@KyleDrummond-bd4rl]

I agree I don't like the name Ho Chi Minh, to me it is still Saigon, my oldest brother was in the Navy and was over there from "67" - "69"

[@galesams4205]

I have no desire to return to Vietnam I served my 1 year in a armor tanks around ba matuitt, lz x-ray, lz Albany, lz action, lz schruller, 4th inf. div. 1st plt. 10 us armor. centrail highlands.

[@danielcunningham5940]

I was in Viet Nam 1969-70 and visited again in 2019, while living in Thailand then, and again in the spring of 2020, on the way back from Thailand, going back to the World to have heart surgery at a VA hospital. In 2019 I was taken by a guide through the tunnels in the "Marble Mountain" as we called it, where the V.C. used to hide from the American bombers. I was told about the museum of American Atrocities in Saigon but declined to go there. I talked to people there in 2019 who said they did not believe the trash that the communists jammed into their brains in the reeducation camps. Yet Americans still believe the we were in the wrong there and they we lost the war - though in truth we won every battle. Now I am on the edge of suicide - to become just another statistic that the Crisis Intervention people can wring their hands about but not do anything about. And the VA continues to abuse us, disrespect us, mis-diagnose us, prescribe drugs that might help but certainly will cause more harm, but they won't do what they are paid to do, which is take care of the veterans' health and get the troubled, homeless veterans off the street.

[@PSMWRX143]

Please take care of your self, and thank you for your sacrifice.

[@kdc6884]

Hope you’re doing alright. Thanks for your service 🙏

[@mitchlrp]

I wouldn't go back there if you gave me 100,000 dollars. Lost to many Brothers and the whole dam country smelled like decaying flesh.

[@MinhNguyen-ff6xf]

Sir, it’s not the 1968 anymore. It’s 2020 now.

[@hinhhochi3902]

One hell of a shoe commercial.

[@PacoOtis]

Pitiful, you do NOT do something as insulting a Country by raising your flag in it! It appears a sensitive adult did NOT review this video prior to release! Best of luck, but what an awful act and what a terrible format! I flew Hueys in 69 and know very well what we did there!

[@bleysmcnutt5500]

It appears a sensitive adult has left a comment. I suppose it shows the division the war caused among everyone. Let people heal in the ways they find applicable. You might find ways to heal yourself within them.

[@00ninja00]

This is soooo cool!! I’m so happy you got to go back and see. My father was born in Laos and served for the CIA’s secret army in laos. He left in the 80s and never returned, never got to see Laos or Vietnam again. He lived rest of his life in California, and He passed in 2010. I wish he would’ve got to go back and see Laos and Vietnam. I think he would’ve loved to see what the countries are like now. I’m an American, born and raised and from one of those groups of “montagnards”, the Hmongs. Edit: holly crap!! This amazing documentary is an advertisement for a boot?!?!!! Hahaha !!!!!

[@sutannguyen8599]

@00ninja00,, About over 100.000 H'mong Peoples Lived in States Minnesota All most There got good Jobs in Minnesota..l like H'mong New Year so much fun in New Year day..

[@tjbbmr]

Visited Vietnam in early January 2020. I stayed at the Caravelle in Saigon! Vietnamese from the South still call it Saigon. They prefer by far Saigon over Ho Chi Mihn City. I’m an Air Force veteran joining in 1976. I served with many Vietnam vets. Felt really bad for them. Those were the days before it was called PTSD. They deserved far better.

[@bamboo9666]

Mostly people call it Saigon because it shorter..

[@castorsquinas9354]

where saigon I can't find it on the Google map it's like it's gone like it's wipe from history

[@trauddien2250]

@@bamboo9666nah Saigon is always Saigon regardless

[@MD72538]

it’s just an linguistic phenomenon. People prefer Saigon is mostly because it’s shorter. You surely are oversea vietnamese.

[@anotherway007]

“Military men are just dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.” ― Henry Kissinger

[@funkykunx2544]

The fact that my grandpa might have fought this man as a North Vietnamese soldier is crazy.

[@Nhatanh0475]

Well in war, you don't know who is who until the war over.

[@MinhNguyen-ff6xf]

Welcome back to Nam, Charlie! Let your nightmares end here where everything began.

[@TildeSymbol]

@@vodanh94 Have no love for the gov but your comment is quite funny. 1. There are criticisms being displayed to the government by domestic journal sites. The extremists are the ones who get into trouble. Try making a site about overthrowing the "democracy" in the US and arranging protests or riot and see how fast the FBI would come for your ass. 2. And other countries' governers live in a studio apartment while their children have to compete fairly with other kids for a chance at scholarship? What a dumb take, corruptions are everywhere even the most dignified country (Japan) there still are bad seeds. Dude, move on. The south Vietnam is long dead. I am not happy with the communist party but all of the whinings about how the north "stole" Vietnam is getting pretty old.

[@granit8902]

​South vietnam will never come back, its leaders abandoned it, economically unstable, no freedom of speech either. wtf u expect from south vietnam?

[@silentclown4307]

Charlie is Vietcong ! Learn the definition please !

[@longdangphi7765]

@@vodanh94 những người cộng sản trước hết là những người theo chủ nghĩa dân tộc, đầu tiên là họ đánh đổ chế độ thực dân của người Pháp, và khi Pháp đã chấp nhận từ bỏ cuộc chơi, người Mỹ lại nhẩy vào, mục đích chia cắt đất nước Việt nam. nước Việt nam là một, dân tộc VN là một. thật nực cười khi bạn nói rằng Miền Nam bị đánh cắp. đánh cắp bởi ai? ngoại bang ư? chắc chắn là không rồi. Bạn muốn Miền nam giống như nam Triều tiên và bắc Triều tiên ư? đó là vì bạn không có lòng yêu một nước Việt nam thống nhất. bạn không có lòng tự hào dân tộc, bạn chỉ muốn mảnh đất của riêng bạn mà do người Mỹ chỉ đạo. nhưng những người yêu nước như Hồ Chí Minh, Võ NGuyên giáp... và những người yêu nước không nghĩ vậy.

[@SoapinTrucker]

@@longdangphi7765 GOOGLE TRANSLATION: The communists were first nationalists, first they overthrew the French colonial regime, and when France accepted to give up the game, the Americans jumped in again, aiming to divide Vietnam country. Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one. it's ridiculous when you say that the South is stolen. Stolen by whom? foreign country? definitely not. You want the South to be like South Korea and North Korea? it's because you don't have love for a united Vietnam. you don't have national pride, you just want your own land run by the Americans. but patriots like Ho Chi Minh, Vo Nguyen Giap... and patriots don't think so.

[@pablopeter4821]

Richard you did a great job by doing this documentary and expressing your ideas and feelings. Thanks for your service. Greetings from Mexico City

[@po350]

a lot of good people died for a war that is not supposed to be...

[@topgeardel]

“I always wanted to wave the American flag in north Vietnam. I didn’t think it would take me 50 years, but we did it for everyone who fought, and for everyone who didn’t come back"...That is extremely arrogant, ignorant and disrespectful for this guy to display the American flag in N. Vietnam without their flag as well. They are the ones that are graciously hosting you....and defeated you.

[@TheBundleofkent]

I understand you being upset. Technically the Americans withdrew from the war and let the North conquer the South. The NVA won their objective but didn’t defeat the Americans if you see what I mean. It’s academic now anyway it was a pointless war

[@topgeardel]

@@TheBundleofkent I still need to interject on what you said. I'm a Vietnam/Draft resistor so I very much lived through that war....without the "benefits" of being there personally. There's another bottom line you're not including. The US had almost 10 years to defeat the Viet Cong and the NVA. S. Vietnam is the size of North Dakota. On top of having air and naval superiority, the US also had air mobility. HUGE strategic advantages. But not only that, they had the very capable S. Koreans fighting, along with the Philippines, Thailand, New Zealand and Australia supporting the US in the war. So it's extremely hard for me to buy the often told story that the US was never "really" defeated in Vietnam. An Air Force F-4 Phantom pilot with 180 missions in Indochina told me on one of these videos "Who said we were supposed to win" ? He knew he was playing someone's game and the objective was not to win. So I agree with you "technically" that the country fell after the US left. But that is certainly not the whole real story.

[@B126USMC]

I was in "Nam in the Marines all of '69. I'm seeing things on this video I never knew was going on . I was in terrain that was sandy , or low vegetation/rice paddy/swampy , or jungle. I never had in country R&R. One out of country R&R. One time they got my platoon in a rear area for one night . We set up security , I remember , in our AO, where a Army Huey had set down on the waters edge of the South China Sea. My squad was sent out to set up a perimeter so the Army could retrieve the Chopper. When we found the Huey, we looked it over. No shrapnel holes, no bullet holes. No crew . We figured it was mechanical. Also figured that other Army Hueys must of picked up the crew when they set the bird down. After a short time , the sky filled with about a dozen Army Huey helicopters. Several landed. Several Army officers de-boarded those birds .All spit & polish & all starched up . Checked pout their Huey. We told them we didn't see anything wrong with it . No signs of taking any hits. They didn't talk about the Huey. They wanted to know why we looked so rough ? When was the last time we had shaved ? Why did we look so "rag-tag" ? Did we get any hot meals ? Did we ever get any beer ? I couldn't believe the questions. Thought our corpsman was in charge as his face was covered in full beard . Rest of us had peach fuzz on our faces. "Doc" said no , he was the corpsman. One of them kept talking to me ; and I kept back--stepping , trying to keep my distance. This Army officer says, " Son , I'm trying to talk to you and you keep moving backwards away from me". I said "yes sir ...... in case you didn't know it , there's a war going on , and if a sniper takes aim on your insignia that has the sun reflecting off of them ; and the sniper is a lousy shot , I don't want his miss hitting me". This Army officer stopped in his tracks , turned around ,and said to the rest of the officers, " Lets's get out of here." After they were gone , a "Crane" helicopter came and hooked up the Huey. First & last time that I ever saw such a weird looking chopper .... And one other thing ... This former Green Beret ; talking about the most comfortable pair of boots(shoes ? ) he's ever worn in his life ? C'mon ! Those jungle boots they issued us WAS the most COMFORTABLE pair of "anything" I ever wore on my feet . Period! And I think a lot of other guys would agree with me . However ... no disrespect to you Green Beret . And thanks for sharing your story . OooooRah!

[@richardnixon4345]

marty ivanoff fake Valor You peeled potatoes behind the lines

[@Fred5612]

Wait what happened to the chopper crew? Did you ever find out?

[@rorytennes8576]

Thank you!

[@anotherway007]

“Military men are just dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.” ― Henry Kissinger

[@jafo766]

These folks turned out to be a lot TOUGHER than 1st thought....YOU need to accept that YOU are in HO CHI MINH CITY and you may want to leave that FLAG you brought in your $uit case....THEY EARNED IT !

[@locustreign]

Imagine being 18 years old and being drafted to fight in a war you don't believe in, or volunteering to fight for your country. And coming home to be spit on and called a drug addict. After spending years just trying to survive in a jungle, when you are just fighting for your life and the life of the men next to you, in terrible conditions. The amount of respect theses men deserve is unfathomable. Thank you for your service.

[@ExitStrategyNow]

Very well explained, yes 👌🏼

[@deidradahl2802]

What really haunts these vets is the fact that it was all for nothing, the USA was the aggressor against a people who wanted self determination, if some of the people wanted a government of democracy ,let them fight and die for it WW1 and WW2 were just wars, but not this one, thousands of men women and children ,were killed by the USA army, which lost thousands of their men needlessly, today Vietnam is still a peaceful and prosperous COMMUNIST country, so this USA servicemen's sacrifice was all for nothing, and they know it

[@FLYEAL]

He volunteered btw

[@magnaviator]

Nobody spit on anybody, that's just urban myth

[@locustreign]

@@magnaviator LOL okay bud. I personally know vets who were spit on. Maybe not troll the memory of men who gave everything so you can make shitty youtube videos that average under 100 views.

[@Sokx41]

I was trained as a Vietnamese translator/interpreter in a 47-week course at Monterey Language School in 1964 and spent 30 months in country at Tan Son Nhut AFB and Phu Bai, translating North VN telegrams and Viet-Cong tactical messages that we had to decrypt from 4-digit blocks of code that had been received at our "Radio Research Unit" stations. I was fortunate that I was never in direct combat but my base at Camp Davis at TSN was rocketed with one Sgt killed while I was sleeping (the sound woke me up). I used my language training to focus my undergraduate and graduate school education to the Ph.D. Candidacy level in geography on the history and cultures of Central Vietnam. I had just two very memorable interactions with the guys that did fight: one with a someone who spent weeks at a time deep in the forests of Laos and perhaps North Vietnam and other just seeing someone just back from the front in Saigon. Later my buddy at the Corps of Engineers where I did environmental assessment as a career had had spent his time in Vietnam wiggling down through V-C tunnels to set explosives--certainly a harrowing experience. He became an archaeologist.

[@stephenpoole5331]

Wow, that's interesting. Did the language school train you really well for what you actually did in Vietnam?

[@wasclit11]

I was 20, married with two boys when I volunteered to be a Huey door gunner with the 20th SOS MACV/ SOG. We were Air Force flying UH-1N Twin Engine Huey. Basically we were the taxi service in and out of Cambodia and Laos where we weren't suppose to be. The Slicks carried the Special Forces Team and were armed with M-60s 550 rpm, rounds per minute, the gunbirds protected the slicks and softened the LZ - they had GAU-2/B mini-guns - 2000 & 4000 rpm. Both choppers carried 2.75 FFAR rockets. I got paid an extra $4 a day for that job. Good thing was beer was only 10 cents a can.

[@wxx3]

A great story and well done. I live in HCMC for a couple of years. Since I was living in Tan Phu, an area about 7 miles from downtown and the center of SaiGon, it was easy for me to say I lived in HCMC. Had I lived in the area of old SaiGon, I would have had no problem saying that, as most of the locals still do and the as the train station is still named. At 06:00 he talks about “bar girls” and other women. It’s EXACTLY like this still today. The vast majority of Vietnamese are conservative (as my wife says, “traditional”) far more conservative than western cultures. At 08:00 he talks about Viet Cong running over the roofs. This is a prefect example of little we Americans understood the war and the different motives of all the parties involved. A wonderful book about the life of a Vietnamese girl living in the Mekong Delta in the early ‘60’s is: by Bac Eaton. Not only did this help me understand the War and why people in HCMC LOVE Americans, it helped me understand the cultural background of my soon to be wife and family. His explanation 40:00 to 43:00 about how American Special Forces work with the locals is one of the best explanations I’ve ever heard of the how and why of U.S. Special Forces (now Special Operations).

[@MD72538]

love americans? you crazy?

[@melanielester2106]

Thoroughly enjoyed this insight into the Vietnam War and Richard's own personal experiences, he seems like a really nice guy. I love how they marked each place with a beer !

[@danielcabot5806]

Richard, TY for this. My 69-70 tour was in II Corps, half of it within 20 miles of Da Lat. Did a road run there 2 or 3 times and couldn't agree more with your impressions of it. I was also tasked on a Bien Hoa/Long Binh run to pick up radio equipment, which 'of course' took several days, including Saigon. A cabbie insisted "GI likey Caravelle" and in short order I was seated solo in the top bar. It was early afternoon and a city-wide alert ensued. My recollection is of only a patron or two in civvies - and I the only greenie there. Since the alert precluded movement, I wound up imbibing with three non-Tu Do lovelies, only to awake alone hungover in some budget hotel elsewhere. But your account of VC scampering across rooftops conjured another memory. At Don Duong, in the Da Lat AO, I snuck an arguably ill-advised overnight with a local girl. At some point I was roused by a half dozen males in black dress who engaged in brief talk with my 'girlfriend'. Somewhat nerviously, she conveyed sufficiently by gesture (seriously) for me to deem one of them as her friend, or perhaps brother...relievedly so as all of them carried AK's with nary a carbine in sight.

[@ronnieterry9275]

You mentioned tigers. I fired two shots at a tiger one night while on guard duty. I don't know if I hit the tiger it ran off. I think the tiger was trying to slip up to my location. Soldiers were attacked by tigers in I corp.

[@rochamsocham1321]

Thank you for all that you and your brothers did, my grandfather fought alongside you guys. He told me stories as a young kid I didn’t care much. Now I find myself lost, don’t really know my roots any further than Vietnam. My people are what they call “ Jarai” from Pleiku are by ia hreng River.

[@Djur2844]

Every year, "US War Veterans" come home from various wars and every day 12 of them commit suicide when they come "home" ... You can not say that about Europeans, Russians, Iranians or even Chinese! ... How come? Why not stay at home instead of solving problems abroad. All countries in the world have the right to take care of their own problems. No country has ever attacked either Europe or the United States as far as I understand! We do not want more refugees into Europe - We have already brought in about 1.5 million of them already because of all the wars started that we are forced to take care of.

[@FLYEAL]

Rice had an interesting story. Just him and a camera would have been way better. No corny music. Kind of over produced /edited in general. And obviously sponsored by a gear/lifestyle? co. What r they?..with boots made in Vietnam lol. And apparently Tiger beer threw them a bone.

[@oakspines7171]

You look like Bill, another Viet vet I know, now living in Vietnam, married to the Vietnamese wife, and has been living there for a while, probably for the rest of his life.

[@TaiTran-iw5je]

what a emotional video, hope the best for you and family

[@tuyetvo4353]

Biên Hòa Sài Gòn always in our heart ❤️ Always for VNCH (Việt Nam Cộng Hòa).

[@xseabee]

Great Video, thank you. I was there in 1966-69, Navy Seabees... Why am I unable to share this video?

[@HillTrekkerSarge]

I liked this video very much. Welcome home master sergeant.

[@nonono1200]

vietnam montagnard 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@tienfranklin8550]

I am looking for my American Dad he was in Vietnam during 69-71 , if you know anything please let me know thank you.

[@tienfranklin8550]

He was in Saigon and Pleku ( Buon Me Thuot ) back and forth

[@Kingite1]

This was heart felt & moving. Thank you for sharing with us your journey returning back to Vietnam. God Bless You from us here in New Zealand 😊🇳🇿

[@xdgs567z]

Thanks Richard for sharing your good memories/stories....and to share your trip experience back to Vietnam so that other veterans will see how it has helped you bring closure and hopefully will encourage them to do the same 👍

[@asherbenavraham492]

Quiero preguntar: Es verdad que después de la guerra, el Vietcong tenía prisioneros de guerra en campos de concentración ?

[@eklypised]

Idk about concentration camps but it was more than likely prisoners left behind after the war

[@peternguyen9424]

Years of hell, moments of heaven, all are just memories...

[@stephenblake2196]

Nice plug on the boots???

[@dwrs92026]

Richard, we're way past the vietcongs running in the roof, now we're more interested in what happened to you with that classy vietnamese girl.🤣🤣

[@ClassicCityMinistry]

my jrotc teacher was special forces in vietnam..1sgt lytle

[@tuyetvo4353]

1979 - 2008 - 2014 Came back to visit my family in Biên Hòa I am lost in my home town.

[@caravaggiosaccomplice5103]

God bless the gracious and gentle people of Vietnam. They should never forgive us nor we ourselves.

[@aaronpotts5042]

Two (2) US soldiers where officially killed by tigers in Vietnam.

[@to-tt7fc]

The tigers or Tigres are almost extinct in Vietnam now. The Vietnamese nowadays go to Africa and import the carcasses illegally selling them on black markets for medicinal purpose.

[@sevenfivemedia2022]

I was Vegas yesterday (29OCT2023) and saw a guy with a "GoRuck" patch on his back pack. I am leaving for Vietnam this Thursday (2NOV2023), to film a group of ten veterans returning for the first time in 50 years. I can't wait to tell the story.

[@stephenmcgraw8871]

I wonder if it still smells the same in Saigon area now.........

[@tommierios6518]

Thank you sir, for sharing your story. Peace to those that served. Vietnam is an awesome place.

[@jasondizon9482]

to all the US servicemen in vietnam, thank you for your service. it’s written in the history.

[@jackiehilton9670]

Er5Slide clips to delete themPin copied text snippets to stop them expiring after 1 hourSlide clips to delete themPin copied text snippets to stop them expiring after 1 hourSlide clips to delete themPin copied text snippets to stop them expiring after 1 hourSlide clips to delete themPin copied text snippets to stop them expiring after 1 hourSlide clips to delete themPin copied text snippets to stop them expiring after 1 hourPin copied text snippets to stop them expiring after 1 hourSlide clips to delete themPin copied text snippets to stop them expiring after 1 hourSlide clips to delete themPin copied text snippets to stop them expiring after 1 hourPin copied text snippets to stop them expiring after 1 hourSlide clips to delete themPin copied text snippets to stop them expiring after 1 hourPin copied text snippets to stop them expiring after 1 hourrr rr

[@therose9]

Why ? To a war that nothing to do with. ..was it a good deed...

[@phangirlable]

What service? That did no service to anyone. The Vietnamese soldiers did a service by defending their country.

[@chadgaming8071]

@@phangirlable usa and south vietnam defended south vietnam north vietnam was the aggressor by launching a full scale invasion usa got involved years later and left before the war was lost

[@robertisham5279]

@@chadgaming8071 North Vietnam wasn't the aggressor we were. They just wanted to reunite with South Vietnam when we barged into their country and meddled in their election and split it in half when we didn't like the results and installed a puppet regime basically making South Vietnam a pseudo colony. If a foreign power came and split the United States in half and installed a puppet regime in one half all without the consent of the American people and the other half send troops to the other half in order to reunite with it and there were already plenty of people in that half that were also fighting to reunite the two halves is that really an invasion? Why do you think the Viet Cong was formed because they consisted of South Vietnamese that wanted to reunite with North Vietnam that we split them in half. If someone split the U.S. in half and one half wants to reunite with the other half with people in the other half who are a part of some insurgency that wants to reunite. Is that an invasion? No it's not. Only the puppet government didn't want to reunite and only they asked for help. But they didn't actually ask for it. And no they didn't want to spread communism they just wanted to rid their country of foreign powers. That was what the war was really about. They just wanted to reunite their country which we divided in half and installed a puppet regime and interfered in their election which we had no right to do. Do you realize that South Vietnam was never supposed to be a country on its own? Do you realize that the original Saigon regime was entirely made up of Catholics who had been collaborating with the French/Western occupiers? That most peasants were sharecroppers and that the "communists" offered them land ownership? That as proven later they were far more nationalistic than "communistic" were you there ? I spent 18 months in S&E Asia 69/70 ( non uniformed except as CASI) Everybody is Rambo now but let's not forget Less than 2% supported the war enough to sign on for a 2tour 1000 fraggings 30% heroin use in some units MyLai 500 killed mostly women/kids HUGE cover up/lies by the US Army. The Vietnam war became "ridiculous" in 1945 when Truman refused to recognize Vietnam's independence and, instead, ordered the US Merchant Marine to transport French troops to Saigon for the French re-enslavement of Vietnam. It became "ridiculous" again in 1956 when Eisenhower obstructed the election in Vietnam that would have made the Viet Minh the sole government of that country. It again became "ridiculous" in 1964 when LBJ and his crew told the lie that the Viet attack on the Maddox was "unprovoked" which it most certainly was not. What followed was a tragedy that killed about 3 million people for no other reason than to serve the political purposes of the chief executive of the USA.--"RIDICULOUS!" You got that one right! The French were the ones who started the war by trying to continue their occupation when they should've left Vietnam then we Americans prolonged it. The so called communists simply wanted to be left alone. So yes we were the aggressors, the South Vietnamese were traitors and the Vietcong were South Vietnamese were actually defending their country and the NVA were the North Vietnamese were defending their country. The war wasn't about communism, it was about thousands of years of fighting against foreign occupiers.

[@mariosacripante5271]

Tis a very well enlightening, uplifting and well edited be-humbling video, compared to other returnee videos. Thank you for sharing Your service and Your memories and bearing Your Soul and soles. I think I'll buy a pair as they look great for hiking. Yes, Marty Ivanoff, jungle boots are nice as I owned a pair when I was stationed in Okinawa and hiked in the jungles....

[@melvz2089]

God Bless America 🇺🇲 From 🇵🇭

[@makowshark]

I wish I was rich so I could donate as much as possible to organizations that provide this experience to our veterans.

[@jonfranklin4583]

Thank you for this extremely well done documentary. I was fortunate to have been able to take my best friend back in 2001. He is a 3rd recon Marine, I say is because a Marine, no matter how long they served, is always and forever a Marine. This documentary brought back so many vivid memories for me as my friends guide, the emotion of Richard at different times in his journey back triggered my memories of my buddy staring off into the distance, perhaps remembering long ago battles or the joy of a peaceful moment in the chaos of war. Thank you again for documenting this poignant and beautiful trip.

[@charly19]

You have my respect, I'm french

[@mikemmm48]

Going back for the first time in 50 years. I arrive back in country on my 72 birthday.

[@bamboo9666]

Have you arrived the country yet

[@mikemmm48]

@@bamboo9666 I arrived Feb 28 and departed March 28 I have been home over a month.

[@johnnovegas8602]

As a Brit who grew up watching the war on tv as a kid, have been to Vietnam 5 times to try & learn about it...so humbled to have met returning vets who gladly gave me their time to talk about their experiences...welcome home.

[@jimmcgettigan4826]

I served in the USAF in Phan Rang and Ton Son Nut, Saigon during 1969/70. I have to admit that “flying the US flag”, on a hill in North Vietnam in respect for our fallen leaves me somewhat conflicted. Did you bring the flag home with you or leave it there? There is no doubt that that our military put in a tremendous effort but were let down by our political leaders who finally just walked away.

[@JP-qn5wy]

It's spelled "Ban Me Thuot". When it shockingly fell to the NVA in March 1975, it was the beginning of the end.

[@Atitlan1222]

First, thank you for your service and I'm sorry for all the friends of yours that did not return. It must weigh on you daily. I was curious why you wanted to plant the flag in north vietnam? It seems that my be an insult in a way to the Vietnamese. I'd see it like the MExicans planting their flag on the Alamo or the Brits ceremonially planting their flag at Yorktown to commemorate their dead. Both of those would not go down well with me. Again, thank you for your service.

[@markross2124]

I never thought I'd see the day that Vietnam veterans would be returning to Vietnam and socializing and bonding with their former enemies and personally I think it is wonderful. I guess the old axiom 'time heals all wounds' is true. Something else the sticker on the back of my cell phone says made in the republic of Vietnam.

[@kdc6884]

The USA troops trained and fought with the South Vietnamese. Not everyone was an enemy. It was just a dumb war that made no sense

[@blockraven22]

I'd never been particularly interested in the Vietnam War until I watched Ken Burns's documentary on it. So fascinating.

[@bleysmcnutt5500]

Read or listen (I personally recommend the latter) to Dispatches by Michael Herr, never has a better book been written on the culture of the war. It is my favorite literature of all time.

[@buckappel6835]

Echo Btry 2nd Bn 11th Marines 155mm howitzer. 67/68. An HOA, Phi Bai, Phi Loc. WIA last day in VN

[@jaywashington9003]

OORAH MARINE! Thank You for your service!

[@502contenido]

Hoy Vietnam es un pais pacifico que repunta en Asia, una economía abierta con propiedad privada, seguro muchas cosas por arreglar a lo interno, pero con un floreciente futuro. A casi 50 años del conflicto interno que lo llegó a enfrentar es admirable su progreso.

[@asherbenavraham492]

Qué sucedió con los perritos exploradores que el ejército abandonó allá después de la guerra ?

[@sutannguyen8599]

@502contenido Excellent for Comments about Vietnam 🇻🇳 today There are looked so good..I did came back Vietnam last year on October 2022 I love that..

[@loveaodai100]

Fascinating video about a man who had his share of difficult moments but what is obvious in his smile and happy demeanor is that he has had a mostly wonderful life!

[@danielnilsson9198]

This video.. can't find words.. Love to all you young Americans and Vietnamese who took part.

[@darkoflight4938]

Just WOW! Wonderful documentary about a equally wonderful journey down the memory lane!

[@FabiokiOjedaBuitrago]

Very good, very personal but very well structured documentary. Congrats. Thank you.

[@andrewwestman2407]

Anyone know the music at 1:20? Sounds like Explosions in the Sky.

[@Runnininwind]

I am a Air Force Doc , Vietnam 67-68. I have returned to Vietnam 3 other times to take the ashes of a friend back to a school for disabled Kidd he helped build. I related to all of your experiences an I was at the Hanoi Hilton during one of my trips and inside there was a shrine for the Americans and the Vietnamese prisoners and I did a ceremony and prayers for them.

[@tuyetvo4353]

Then and now… Memories. .

[@jesseray9944]

its good for them to go back i think they can go back and also be at peace with themselves

[@TukunTube]

Good one sir....I lost it up to Col. Maggie :(

[@cosmic7027]

✔️ a superb documentary; it makes the watcher (1) feel the (his) experience and (2) enjoy the scenery of the country

[@sieuledavis3625]

He is a nice person 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@terrykerr9162]

Im a Vietnam vet. I would never go back. Never.

[@SWAPNESH23]

Vietnamese did well to kick out US imperialism

[@freeman-1776]

I am an American, living in Ha Long Bay Vietnam. I teach English here. I absolutely love it here. Just last week I went to Saigon to get Visas' for my Vietnamese fiance and her son. I will be heading back to the US in October. It's all the little details that you have noted in your video that I find the most interesting. The jungle, The smells, The people, The culture. I have experienced all of it minus the combat. I was just a child during the Vietnam war. So my time in Vietnam has been very peaceful. However, this peacefulness is deceiving. Since I've been here, I have broken my right ribs 3 times and my left ribs 2 times. I also broke my right shoulder and hand. All in motorbike accidents. This place can still chew you up and spit you out. But I keep crawling back up on the bike because this place is so awesome. But honestly, I'm ready to go home now. I'm sure I will get home and stay home for several years, but Vietnam is a place that cannot be forgotten. It stays in your memories forever. At some point in the future, I will probably retire here. The people are the friendliest people in the world. The lifestyle is simple and peaceful now. I'll be honest. I watch the news about what's going on in the United States right now. I'm actually very fearful about going back home to my own country. So much violence, political hatred, and now, poverty. My fiance really wants to go there so we are going. The whole six years I have been here in peacetime, I never feared for my life or safety. I haven't seen a robbery or major crime here. Not one. People here put family and friends above all else. So going home is not easy for me but I'm ready for it now. Sir, thank you for this video. For me, Vietnam was peaceful, for you it was dangerous. but it's the same Vietnam. Putting the bad times in that box is the best thing you can do. As a former Police Officer and US Army Firefighter, I also had to find a way to deal with my own PTSD. I've had my share of death back in the states. For me I have a file cabinet in my brain. In the bottom drawer, way in the back, is where I keep the death folder. On rare occasions I pull that file and review it. I ask myself again and again, is there anything I could have done better or differently. Then, I put the file back. The last time I did this, I put the file back and left for Vietnam. How ironic. For me, Vietnam is my place to heal. I'm glad that you have come here for the same reason. The war was 40+ years ago. Vietnam is experiencing a great time of peace and rebuilding after countless wars. It's good to be a part of that. It's good to see that. God Bless you Sir. Thank you for your excellent video. Cheers!

[@Ms2amores]

Richard, Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us.

[@georgianageorgiana2575]

RIP for those who suffered , but why did this war happen ? :(

[@wowbruh2511]

georgiana georgiana American reason : stop communism from taking Vietnam and other asian countries, Vietnamese reason: unite Vietnam into one as an independent nation (Vietnam was under Chinese, French, and Japanese control throughout history. They defeated the French before America, which led to two Vietnam’s, north and south. Then the Vietnam war happened.)

[@124Outdoor]

Although in Vietnam it was know as the American war.

[@robertisham5279]

@@wowbruh2511 Communism was never going to take over. Do you realize that South Vietnam was never supposed to be a country on its own? Do you realize that the original Saigon regime was entirely made up of Catholics who had been collaborating with the French/Western occupiers? That most peasants were sharecroppers and that the "communists" offered them land ownership? That as proven later they were far more nationalistic than "communistic" were you there ? I spent 18 months in S&E Asia 69/70 ( non uniformed except as CASI) Everybody is Rambo now but let's not forget Less than 2% supported the war enough to sign on for a 2tour 1000 fraggings 30% heroin use in some units MyLai 500 killed mostly women/kids HUGE cover up/lies by the US Army. The Vietnam war became "ridiculous" in 1945 when Truman refused to recognize Vietnam's independence and, instead, ordered the US Merchant Marine to transport French troops to Saigon for the French re-enslavement of Vietnam. It became "ridiculous" again in 1956 when Eisenhower obstructed the election in Vietnam that would have made the Viet Minh the sole government of that country. It again became "ridiculous" in 1964 when LBJ and his crew told the lie that the Viet attack on the Maddox was "unprovoked" which it most certainly was not. What followed was a tragedy that killed about 3 million people for no other reason than to serve the political purposes of the chief executive of the USA.--"RIDICULOUS!" You got that one right! The French were the ones who started the war by trying to continue their occupation when they should've left Vietnam then we Americans prolonged it. The so called communists simply wanted to be left alone. So yes we were the aggressors, the South Vietnamese were traitors and the Vietcong were South Vietnamese were actually defending their country and the NVA were the North Vietnamese were defending their country. The war wasn't about communism, it was about thousands of years of fighting against foreign occupiers.

[@joshanderson7358]

Thank you for your service sir. Stay safe.

[@docall18]

He should be ashamed of what that US flag represents.

[@turtle19dad]

From a current veteran. Welcome home. Thank you.

[@jimthesnowboarder12]

awesome thanks for your service . can you write a book about you magvsog missons that would be awesome

[@jeffreylc]

Read Nick Brokhausen’s two books. Outstanding.