"Jarhead" Vietnam Veteran on Bus

A scene towards the end of the film in "Jarhead" where Swoff and his men are on a bus going through a parade Stateside, and a Vietnam vet gets aboard. In my opinion, it's a very strong scene. *Disclaimer: I do not own this movie nor any of its rights.

[@jakemaya5562]

This scenes really hits hard, that vet is trying to experience the welcome home he was never given.

[@screenwriter44]

During the Gulf War, late at night some young 18 year old trooper looked at our sergeant major and said, “we’re going to win this one for you guys sergeant major.” The sergeant major has served 5 tours with the 173rd Airborne in Nam. He was so moved he exited misty eyed.

[@NicholasEllis-rs3nx]

That’s actually Deep man. Thank you the Food for Thought is Appreciated. If any veterans are reading this please know we love you and God Loves All. Always Faithful

[@danno698299]

He wanted to sit on the bus and maybe feel what it was like to be welcomed home. The Vietnam War was so terrible on so many different levels. :(

[@HacksignKT]

Danny B Americans had no business there.

[@danno698299]

HacksignKT So true.

[@strangetamer1505]

They were just doing the job they were told to do, regardless if we had no business being there, it's still a shame how they were treated.

[@danno698299]

Yeah and they could have handled it themselves. We didn't get involved because of that, either...it was a shot at the Russians.

[@DoonsburyA-TRAC-op1wc]

You are wrong 1 million Cambodians died after America pulled out

[@franksejas5894]

Speaking as a veteran, he wanted the feeling of being back in the brotherhood one more time. Noticed he asked to sit down so that he can feel he was back in.

[@majorevangelism]

+Frank Sejas Seemed he was more shocked and scared then nostalgic. Being back around Marines probably brought up a bunch of repressed feelings which triggered his PTSD.

[@franksejas5894]

+majorevangelism true I think it was a mix of both

[@JuanAppleseed-ge6tb]

@@majorevangelism it was nostalgia, and happiness. He was not shocked or scared lol Veterans feel the safest when they are surrounded by other veterans, wtf are you talking about

[@warsson1]

I take this scene as the Vietnam vet trying to feel welcomed, because the reaction of those marines coming home and the reaction of marines from vietnam were much different. I cant imagine how it must of been to see and do horrible things only to come home and have most people hate you for it. When for most it was forced on them anyway. The second half of the scene where he sits down emphasizes the realization on both sides of what they have done. And how no matter the war and intensity of combat, they are one in the same.

[@harryvh3356]

Belgian Army infantry & US Army Armor Crewman veteran here. You hit the nail on the head. I noticed that too right away. Looking at the other comments on here with a bunch of "likes" , it rly shows people have no clue. Not that I blame them for it. You gotta experience it ti understand.

[@brianfollendorf168]

The silence of the guys coming home knowing there's a strong possibility that this guy will be them in about 15 years. Shout-out to all the Vietnam vets who welcomed me home even at 3AM so we wouldn't experience what they did.

[@doom8274]

and it's true. decades after 9/11, me and countless others are fucked up, wondering, what was it for? why did I do it? was it worth it? why are all these people thanking me? All I want is to be around my friends again. But it'll never happen. I pray we never enter another retarded conflict in my lifetime. I hope my son, is never asked or convinced to do what we did. But it'll happen. And who am I then? This guy, hopping on the bus, wishing it was his buddies on it. I was in the same battallion, same platoon, as swafford. 2/7 SSP(they called it STA back then). History repeats itself.

[@conrradotorres4653]

Unlike present conflicts. A Vietnam veteran most likely came home on an empty bus. His buddies from boot to basics never came home. No heroes welcome, nothing... Times have changed, but those that experienced loss in combat are stuck in a cycle of hell. The title veteran gets passed around by anyone who serves, but it should be earned by the few who have actually experienced, witnessed, and survived combat.

[@JuanAppleseed-ge6tb]

I've always said there are specifically two types of veterans. #1. Veterans #2. Combat veterans. I respect veterans, but I thank combat veterans. Signing on the dotted line is one thing, but actually putting your life actively in harm's way for your country is a completely different animal.

[@tayrussell2921]

on the usmc subred the other day there was a MP going suicidal, was sad to see but at the same time I was disgusted.

[@CutHardstylez]

i think the reason why the guy is much more emotional than the other marines as seen in the video is because the vietnam war was a lot more serious than the gulf war, and the fighting was much much more intense, it's kinda sad to watch this

[@tagdog300]

Also the American populace acting fucking disgraceful to the vets when they came home, they were spit on.

[@galept]

They had the welcome home he never did and for a brief moment he was able to share in this experience with them.

[@justaguy7240]

Golf war wasn't even a week.

[@Gordon1990]

My relatives that fought in Nam even tho they were engineers and mechanics they said they had buddies over there come home to be called a baby raper or something worse and be spat on just because they fought

[@Melior_Traiano]

@@Gordon1990 That is absolutely disgraceful.

[@ChiefJusticeMcGruder]

The Vietnam vet didn’t receive a warm welcome, but saw probably more combat than the entire bus together… fuckin‘ ironic

[@douglasjohnson8820]

He felt a rush that he never experienced when he came back from Nam and probably not until he heard the crowds cheer with approval and young warriors being honored for their devotion, honor, and courage.

[@Ackademicks]

Very touching scene with the veteran, I'm proud to be a veteran, and I understand. He knows his job is still not done! Until we ALL come home. We got to take care of them when they return, and the years after that. You can tell he was a good NCO, like the SSG on that bus.

[@retrokid5670]

It is sad how nam vets were treated

[@Dannymiles1987]

Tear came to my eye. marines pay a price. This guy paid a lot.

[@galept]

Not just Marines.

[@CrniWuk]

War. War never changes ...

[@jgg204]

"You did it clean. You made us proud. Semper Fi. Semper F'ing Fi. Welcome home Marine. Welcome Home. Welcome Home Son. Welcome Home Staff Sergeant "

[@mikooou]

I disagree with most interpretations of this scene. I think Swafford was hoping for a smooth transition back into civilian life after the Marines but feels pity for this confused and distraught senior Marine, yet sees him as kind of a warning sign and unavoidable prophecy in a way. Note the discomfort of all the Marines on the bus. Hence the quotes at the end - ".....he will always remain...a jarhead." and "We are still...in the desert." - The desert in this movie being a catalyst for a type of insanity.

[@drunkenmmamaster419]

Always tell a Vietnam vet welcome home

[@JRose713]

VERY POWERFUL SCENE. OUR VIETNAM VETS NEVER GOT THE CREDIT THEY DESERVED. THEY WEREN'T GIVEN A WELCOME HOME PARADE, A LOT WERE SHUNNED BY SOCIETY AND CALLED BABY KILLERS. I SALUTE ALL MY VIETNAM VETS AND VETS OVERALL.

[@drijamusa9891]

Soul crushing, gut wrenching. These man was America's best, being a stoned hippie & running away was easy, doing what your country asked in a poorly run war was the hard path, God Bless the men this character represents.🙏

[@Chanel52387]

This scene is intense. Cried a little.

[@ThailandXpress]

This scene is perfectly done and represents the awful “welcome” our men got on their return from Vietnam. Conveniently most of those protestors must have forgot how many of them were drafted.

[@marcowulliampopirers2216]

Most of those "protestors" were rich spoiled kids who would never get drafted anyway and just wanted an excuse to smoke weed and have sex,ofcourse they had no empathy for these vets

[@chizorama]

It's enough to make a grown man cry...

[@CPT_Frostie]

This Vietnam vet made sure these Marines got the welcome home his generation never got , he got emotional because he never got a parade , celebration just hate and anger

[@grayju79]

This scene had meaning

[@doddsn07]

Heartbreaking. He wanted so bad to show love and give the welcome home he didn’t get

[@samo8817]

This is no laughing matter, this is very real, this is meant to show you what war actually does to a person, much love to our all veterans.

[@jamesbyerly766]

Most important scene of the movie. God bless every veteran. And remember that not all got the love and fair treatment when they returned.

[@daxisperry7644]

My heart goes out to the Vietnam vets. They came home being called Baby Killer after being sent to a godforsaken jungle they didn’t even volunteer to be in. Poor Bastards.

[@pegcity4eva]

It's crazy to think Vietnam was only 18 years seperated from Desert Storm.

[@MoonDevoured]

indeed. reason why I felt the need to share the scene

[@Some1inFNQ]

Giving the welcome home he never got opened up an old wound. Wouldn't be the first man to fight on wounded. Semper Fi. Lest we forget. US GB CN AU NZ

[@manuelbrown8733]

This is an incredibly poignant scene. This is one of those moments that stay with you forever not because its tragic or dramatic but because it shaves pretty close to Reality.

[@Bruno-ft2sv]

This shit breaks my heart. For real.

[@MockerK]

best part of the movie

[@fizkallnyeilsem]

At first time i saw this scene, i didnt know who was the strange dude, when i read the comments i instantly felt sad n ngl shed a tear, i cant imagine the thousands who felt underappreciated, n disrespected after that shishow that some of them didnt ask for. So many broken people returned home unappreciated. This maybe just a movie, but if i imagine how its mustve felt to those who dealt irl, hits a painful spot on my chest. Just unacceptably sad.

[@User5_]

watch?v=PtWHgkNH5yU

[@EagleEye88]

Vietnam was a war that killed 58,000 troops. On the other hand, the stats show that over 200,000 Vietnamese died as well

[@Babyface6200]

2 million Viets

[@Beatsfool]

***** it was a civil war. they killed a lot of each other for defecting to the south and aiding the US + the US bombing of N. Vietnman also killed millions even though the media ignores or lies about how much the bombings killed even though they will readily admit that it was the heaviest bombing of any war.

[@Futureairmanjames1888]

This scene almost made me.want to cry semper fi

[@zakobrien8764]

In a really good movie, this was the best scene. Many things said.

[@canam2436]

I’ll never understand, no matter how much I read up on it, how come those men weren’t greeted with honour

[@AMC2283]

if you've never read the book it's one of the best ever

[@coomr419]

Keep running

[@westadams2305]

his shoulder patch is 3rd mardiv, not sure what unit though

[@SpeakMusic25]

Because vietnam vets didn’t get that welcome home !

[@JRose713]

Poor guy

[@dumpsterchild5734]

Well yes I guess you can say the Vietnam veterans were treated like criminals I'm very upsetting

[@GreekScarfaceTv]

No one will ever understand the hell they went through in nam

[@Adrian-ul3wr]

Anyone know the ending scene?!?

[@MoonDevoured]

yeah I'm like halfway through. it's fucking great

[@wojakthecrusader1410]

Nam vet and ww2 pacific vet are treated like shit. Only those who fought in the west are the one who praised. It makes me angry how american mistreated their own vet.

[@dmoon7348]

Great scene Hits like a fist 👊

[@michaelsouslin891]

All those ppl who protested the war by actually spitting on returning veterans, a lot of whom were drafted like my dad and uncles, will nvr deserve to be forgiven for what they did.

[@liamkeane9159]

Yeah but in 08 wen the boys were coming back they pissed on

[@worldofdoom995]

After the economy crashed Iraq and Afghanistan got brushed away from the zeitgeist by both sides of the aisle.

[@romancandle416]

Anyone who says one word of disrespect to this man will have to answer to me.

[@beingsshepherd]

Bit quiet.

[@xandercruz900]

Shit. Dont need the tears. But damn, there they are.

[@FA45ACP]

😭

[@16nwb1]

Ok, I'm goanna be straight up honest here. I'm not American, I'm British and the Vietnam war was years before my I was born, so I am intrigued to know and understand the meaning of this scene. If anyone could explain for me, I would very much appreciate.

[@StylesV13]

There were no marching bands and home comings for soldiers who fought in Vietnam. The men came home with no fanfare whatsoever. As America turned against the War, the soldiers who fought in it were treated very badly at home. Spat upon and called names such as "baby killer." The ending to Jarhead shows a United States Marine who fought in Vietnam. Who went through hell there and at home. Who actually fought in combat, wanting to know what it feels like to be appreciated. The men on that bus came home to marching bands and such, are treated as heroes and they know they didn't do anything, didn't see any real combat. They feel bad that the Vietnam Vet is their brother in arms, he is a Marine, but he was treated like crap while they are treated as heroes.

[@JR-sn1pi]

The American troops had fought a long hard battle in Vietnam and on a military level these Men were winning the war but politically America was losing. Few Americans supported the war and so American troops suffered unjust consequences when they returned home and they were not seen as heroes back then like they serenate troops with heroism today. By 1973 American troops had made great progress in the war militarily speaking after repelling north vietnam time and time again and so America gave south vietnam most of the duties of fighting the rest of the war. Even though American troops had fought long and hard and seemed to be winning militarily speaking even then at a great cost, many servicemen had sacrificed their lives for a war that they knew was fruitless, even so they did their duty. From 1973-1975 however the political shame finally made America cut off all types of supply and help to the south, as America completely left the South to fight for itself, South Vietnam crumbled and the North invaded the south and won the war in 1975. American troops felt their long hard work to accomplish what they did from 64-73 was for nothing when America retreated. Because of this American troops felt betrayed by their own country they fought for, in combination of that and the wrong image that American back home had of them. All this can be summed up on this scene of the Vietnam vet on the bus. Its really sad. Vietnam servicemen are true heroes, many of them didnt even ask to go, they were drafted. Hope I helped my friend.

[@doom8274]

@@JR-sn1pi history repeats itself. Look at afghanistan. The difference is now people thank us after we come home. For what? Losing? "Defending freedom"? is that what I was doing over there? Atleast I get a $5 discount on oil changes or whatever the fuck. War is a racket.

[@jrunberg]

Semper Fucking Fi!!!!!