Vietnam Vet Wounded 3 Times in Combat | Marine Interview

[@travispeoples]

He was my Battalion Commander 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines 1996-1997. Everyone respected him... He's tough as nails and a true leader. It was an honor serving with you sir! Semper Fi

[@moridanim]

He was my first battalion commander when I served in 2/3 in 1997. He was a beast even then. We were really proud to have a Vietnam vet as our CO.

[@travispeoples]

Same here... 2/3 Motor-T I was his driver in Korea.

[@mysticmama740]

Regarding hearing the nva dying after the grenade...Thank you for being brave enough to share and talk about your experiences. It helps others to understand. Thank u for your service. My Dad had similar experiences in Nam and suffered severe ptsd after. Did they even call it ptsd back then? I dont know, but he couldnt get on top of it, he was a severe alcoholic and took his own life when he was in his late 30s. his body came home but he sucuumbed to his moral injury a short time later. My Mom had entries/pages in her diary that just said "last night; Vietnam" Even she ddnt have words for it. War is hell.

[@Fred-oh9vl]

I am the son of a Vietnam Marine, and from the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you! I consider you, my stepfather, and every other veteran true American Heros.

[@DreamersDisease88]

Well he does not consider you a stepson

[@Fred-oh9vl]

Can you please explain your comment? @DreamersDisease88

[@JohnMurphy-mx7pd]

#MaiLaiMassacre #Calley

[@Fred-oh9vl]

? ​@@JohnMurphy-mx7pd

[@thecorkgrahamchannel]

I’ve had the honor of COL Bates’ friendship since he was a Captain at the Bay Area reserve unit I tagged along with right after I was released from Vietnam in May, 1984. When I came out with my whistleblower memoir in 2016 about Discovery Channel and the reality TV industry, I had to include a quote from him when I told him about the craziness, and he said, “Geezus-Watch your six. They might try to take you out!” So glad you’ve made this talk, John-Your amazing story has always needed a telling… S/F! 🦅🌎⚓️🇺🇸

[@philbrown9764]

From one Marine Nam Vet to another…WELCOME HOME Brother. I was at Chu Lai 68-69 1st MAW.

[@Fred-oh9vl]

My stepfather was vmfa(aw)-533 in Chu Lai 68-69. We lived on the Cherry Point, NC base while he trained to service the A6 Intruder. Unfor he passed in 2003. As the son of a Vietnam Veteran, it's extremely painful to hear Mr. Bates describe how you guys were treated when you returned. I considered my stepfather, and every other veteran American Heros. Thank you very much for the sacrifices you made for our country. Welcome home to you sir!

[@majorronaldmandell7835]

Yeah. I also have to say that being a Marine in ‘Nam WAS a hell of an adventure - the ultimate adventure. I’m 75 now, and nothing since has come close to it.

[@richp1114]

Welcome home Sir. “I will go, I will serve.” Powerfully selfless statement. Thank you for that and for sharing your experience.

[@neilc-jones251]

Small world John! Met this hero on Vietnam Battlefield Tour in 2023. Hope you’re doing ok mate 🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@pistos777]

Thank you for doing your part for our country in Vietnam. I'm sorry for the trauma you experienced and the lasting effects of the same. I'm sorry we didn't do a better job of avoiding hostilities with our fellow human beings. God bless you.

[@raybeavers3123]

Thank You for your Amazing Service and Sacrifices to our Great Country. YOU ARE TRULY A REAL HERO! 🤗🤗👏👍💐🌹🙏🙏

[@michaelangileo2760]

God bless you and thank you for your service. My mom's cousin was Semper Fi, Korean War, Bronze Star, 2 Purple Hearts,

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Thank you Sir for your Service. Semper Fi from an old Marine Sergeant. I served in the Marine Corps 1973-1977.

[@joeylyons4549]

I get the feeling you may not want to mess with this man.

[@roberthubbard5008]

Not even a little

[@dan.s2128]

No doubt.

[@Poguemac]

I’m glad you made it home, Bates. I was there the same time with Hq 11th Marines. Semper Fi! MrMai

[@jkmorrison1013]

Thank you for your service, brave Marine.

[@tonydiridoni5829]

Welcome home Sir

[@wedarobinson7595]

Thankyou for your service & may god bless you

[@williamburruel4378]

What Marine! God Bless You!

[@robertberryhill4033]

Welcome home brother

[@garrywilliams4449]

Thank you for your service, sir. Welcome home, glad you made it back.

[@garypiont6114]

I was with g/29 search lights, we lost 2 guys in the coal mine hill. Thanks for the vid.

[@chadkesterson1173]

Thank you!

[@Marleena133]

Thank you

[@erichhitchcock3368]

About 3 weeks ago (well, about end of Sept., early Oct. 2024), I busted out of the hospital after an operation. The poor male nurse was a bit freaked out by it all. I just could not handle being in there any more; so I pulled the tube out of my nose that went down into my stomach, pulled the IV's out, and got the F outta Dodge. I recovered just fine. Hearing about his bail out of the hospital really made it an encouraging thought for me.

[@garypiont6114]

@@erichhitchcock3368 what a man. Thankyou

[@buschovski1]

Shit i thought people only did in movies.

[@forlornhope1521]

Hospitals will keep you in a bed for an ingrown toenail until ur insurance runs out. After that it's out the door

[@rce59]

Great narration. Thanks for your service.

[@LightWarriors4Life]

Thank you for your service and my the Light of God bless you always, brother 🙏🏼🇺🇸😊

[@ronaldclark8187]

Thanks! Good story.

[@briansteinmacher5811]

Thank you sir!

[@scottheritage4545]

What a brave man. Massive respect, dude.xxx

[@joeykerr1384]

Thanks for your service. One tough cookie

[@francisterlep4647]

Right on brother thanks

[@41546able]

My first tour was with E Co 2/5. I sailed from California to Okinawa and train two months there in jungle warfare and we got back on ship and landed in Vietnam on April 13, 1966 in Chu Lai. About a week later I was transferred to M CO 3/1 and served with them until February 14, 1967. My 2 tour was with C CO 1/27 from February 1968 to end of July 1968.

[@bennybongosbigolebonanza894]

This dude definitely built different.

[@DavidHamros]

WELCOME HOME SIR.

[@williamglaser6577]

Thank you for your service Mr. Bates !

[@a-bar-b5196]

I know that airport feeling from 1972. Welcome home sir! 🇺🇸

[@DonDewar-q3j]

Hands down the best video interview with a Vietnam vet that I’ve seen. And the fact that this man returned to the Corps after both Nam and college says a lot about him. A true American hero…

[@Bmwhacker-fl4qj]

A True American ❤ My Great Grandfather fought against slavery. My Grandfather fought in WW1. My Father fought in WW2. I wanted so badly to become a soldier...but friends who were drafted, and were returning from Vietnam, told me to avoid it at all costs. Those conversations changed my eagerness...the war was winding down when I turned 18 in 1973.

[@JDog-lz2wh]

Very traumatizing what these guys went thru

[@hpblack1953]

USMC G/2/5 was my Dad's outfit during WW II. Purple Heart and Bronze Star with 'V' device. Semper Fi.

[@ejsocci2630]

Welcome home, thank you so much for your service.👊🏻🇺🇸

[@majorronaldmandell7835]

That’s a little strange. I was a Marine, and like all of us stopped in Okinawa on the way to ‘Nam where we also staged our Sea Bags in warehouses there. 13 months later, those of us who made it returned to Okinawa on our way back home, where we reacquired our Sea Bags. However both our bags and their contents were in pristine condition. No complaints. I also thought it made perfect sense to leave our dress uniforms, and others things which we would have no use for, and no place to store in ‘Nam in Okinawa.

[@otadashi1570]

Wow. So, your grenade eventually killed the NVA guy, wounded you and two other guys in your platoon. That must have been really close.

[@dan.s2128]

This man just said "i might slide out of here and die anyway" What a tough son.

[@gracelandone]

It’s one thing to come back to an ungrateful nation. It’s another to live with the kind of experiences these men, young at the time, have lived with for the rest of their lives.

[@Fred-oh9vl]

Right, and some, like my stepfather, received minimal care from the VA when they needed it. I know that has improved a lot, but I'll never understand why these heroes do not receive the best care our country has to offer.

[@roberthenderson2321]

Semper Fi, Marine. Respect. I was there in Danang but no action, Thank the Lord.

[@stephaniecasey22]

I recently met Col. Bates. He is a class act!

[@bigslime2235]

No you didn’t stop lying

[@died4us590]

G-d bless you Mr.

[@John-dw5pn]

People are now recognizing who the true heroes were. Viet Nam vets!!!!

[@JanetGibbons-dl3yy]

Average combat days 200+ WWII Average combat days 25

[@dan.s2128]

Every servicemen and woman is a hero. There is a special affinity with me for the vietnam men because they had to bear a lot of the burden in silence after returning stateside. This was one of the last generations of manly men in my opinion. I admire them all very much.

[@spisskyhrad55]

NEVER FORGET, NEVER FORGIVE, HOLD THE LINE >> MY GENERATION BETRAYED >>

[@jimmygraham5707]

I am glad that warrior made it back across the Pacific..However ,over 58,000 brave warriors were returned wrapped in the flag of our nation and as one medic ,witnessed the brave warriors who walked,flew or sailed together as that team of warriors ,from all fifty states and territories ..It is like a PTSD thing to hear the mind numbing news ,that any fired or former President would think so low of all the millions of Americans, who rotated from that war zone to be insulted and disrespected is cringe worthy…Not only were tens of thousands KIA but hundreds of thousands were WIA like me but survived hell on earth..I am another witness..Be with God..Warriors…Doc..🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@johnperri8103]

Semper Fidelis 🙏 🇺🇸🫡

[@charlessteadman2518]

They definitely don't make 'em like they used to.

[@joeuser633]

Thank god, anybody who wants to go to war “for the adventure” is an idiot.

[@octane9110]

No they still do its just the way they are raised that changes them

[@BiffTannen1983]

​@@octane9110 hence the term, "They don't make 'em like they used to."

[@octane9110]

@BiffTannen1983 oh thank you for letting me know I would have never known what that meant 🤦

[@ericpanissidi6761]

Semper fi

[@philipheilman5413]

I was in Fox 2/5 at the coal mine same time as you. Wounded on 4 July

[@moshegirl]

Semper Fi dude. B 1/5 Operation Hue City….

[@StoryBeam-YT]

I'm thinking how to turn some of the stories like this into the fictinal ones on my channel. Lol😝

[@ronnyherndon3128]

Semper Fi Marine Semper Fi

[@JohnMurphy-cc5cw]

" I LOVE THE CORPS "

[@BIG_MOPPER]

Did he say that doctors and other military personnel were being hung for lack of accountability?

[@boondocker7964]

Went back to RVN? You couldn't pay me to go back there, we shouldn't have been there in the first place, and neither should the French have been there. RVN '66-'67 1st Mar Div 0311. really enjoyed Union 1 and Union 2 down in Que Son valley, nice friendly natives, had lots of fond memories about that place.

[@bxrvxjsc1119]

You are right. I was there for 19 months. I Corps, marine corps. I visited Vietnam several years ago. Great trip. The people are friendly and welcoming. Good therapy. But that war was a horrible mistake as are most wars.

[@boondocker7964]

@@bxrvxjsc1119 What outfit?

[@bxrvxjsc1119]

​@boondocker7964 1/3 delta Co. Also 1st Amtrac Battalion before that. 1967 - 1969.

[@johnperri8103]

🙏🇺🇸🫡

[@DelanoBettencourt]

So you all want to be a hero ~Really Big Talk😢

[@boondocker7964]

And "YOU" are a "HERO"? Tell us about being a "HERO", or are you a keyboard commando?

[@arthurjacobs4974]

👍👍👍👍👍👍🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@arthurjacobs4974]

⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@garyluck8502]

This the man that needs to be in White House instead of bone spurs!!!!!

[@JDog-lz2wh]

Thank you

[@buschovski1]

Thank you