Vietnam veterans reunite with fellow POWs 50 years after coming home

Vietnam Prisoners of War gathered at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library 50 years after the president first honored the servicemen at the White House. The bond between the veterans remains strong and they credit each other for surviving months and years of torture and making it back home together. Carter Evans reports.
#news #vietnam #veterans
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[@GordyThomas]

In 1973, I had returned from Vietnam and I was a nursing student at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado. Some of these men were the very first patients I worked with at the hospital.

[@decafmocha211]

God Bless each of these soldiers...thank you for your service

[@ahjaanhugh]

I'm a 74 year old Canadian. In secondary school, I took heat for defending the Americans who answered the call of service and went to Vietnam. My dad and his two brothers all volunteered for WW II service. Uncle Storie never came home KIA 14 April 1945 during the liberation of the Netherlands. My sister once brought a draft dodger home for dinner. Dad was not polite when he asked him to get the h_ll out of the house.

[@tailwind12]

thank you for sharing. i live in portugal now. retired US citizen. i go to an ex pat meeting once a month. a 78yoa canadian i talk to all the time said in the late 60s he would allow draft dodgers in the US to use his birth certificate to get into canada. "different" times.

[@luhvnor_zzz]

@@tailwind12I really appreciate you guys.

[@georgesabol459]

Dear sir's, I understand why you don't want to be called heroes. But in a world today when dirt bag performers can be hailed by some for being heroes, you truly are. You are magnanimous gentlemen who answered the call to duty. Thank you all for your service.

[@red_fa5331]

This video should have a million views. All of these men deserve the upmost respect.

[@daynaal-shammary5141]

I am glad they are finding peace and getting their dues. Thank you for your service.

[@ilfd921]

My friend was a young Marine in Vietnam. A tough one, he was chosen to lead the troops on the ground In VIC formation; the leader is the first man the enemy sees with the troops on the left and right behind him. There was a bomb that blew and impaired his hearing, and he was sent home to heal, but he wanted to return early to protect and save his men, and he did-a true hero. Later in life, he built businesses and was discussed in Forbes magazine. He also finances the movies in Hollywood. These are the types of mentors to learn from. May the universe find you and send you the warmest wishes, D!

[@johnlewis195]

a month before i was born...As a Fellow Retired Veteran.. I salute all the POW who made it and didnt ....RIP

[@northamericanintercontinen3207]

God bless each and everyone of them

[@muffs55mercury61]

Many Vietnam veterans were still in and were called to serve in Desert Storm in 1991. That was their victory since it was not achieved in Vietnam. The US gov't would not let it happen. Bless these great soldiers.

[@jackiedecoma4637]

Thank you for your service gentlemen.

[@H0RR0R_HANG0VERZ]

Grateful!! Grateful!! Grateful!! 🥹💟

[@jennifercoleman6218]

So thankful these men made it through alive

[@dave75244]

Look up "courage" in the dictionary and you'll see a photo of each and every one of these guys. My heartfelt thanks to each of these gentlemen and all others who served in Vietnam.

[@drewpall2598]

This song is from SSgt Barry Sadler Ballad Of The Green Beret album 1966 "Badge Of Courage" SSgt Barry Sadler What is a badge of courage? What makes men fight and die? What is the badge of courage? For which brave men try? It's a simple little thing we wear. But a thing not just anyone can share. You must study and learn and work and earn. The right to the badge of courage. What is the badge of courage? It's sweat and blood and tears. What is the badge of courage? It's the work of many years. It's a thousand purple hearts. For which our blood is shed. Our toll is written in histories scroll. In bright bright lines of red . And it is the medal of honor. What is the badge of courage? Well if you don't know now I can't tell you.

[@timothyperry3850]

Thank you my late father was the bravest man I ever knew

[@christophertmunro4503]

GOD BLESS ALL THESE AMERICANS FOR THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICES MADE FOR A GRATEFUL NATION.

[@laurabustinza9526]

Thank you for your service 🙏❤

[@DevilDogDen1775]

I belong to the American Legion Post 2. Almost every member is a Vietnam Veteran, a Korean War Veteran, and even a WW2 veteran. I find myself in very fine company indeed.... I myself am a Veteran who completed 8 deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan ( Marine Infantry).

[@joememphis1571]

My uncle who turns 80 years old in December was in the 25th Infantry Division during Vietnam. He fought in the Tet Offensive. He retired in 1989 as a Command Sergeant Major after 23 years of service. He was awarded a Bronze Star with a “V” device (for Valor), a Silver Star, two Purple Hearts, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and he even spent two decades working with FedEx, retiring as VP of Public Relations for the company.

[@lindagardenlady]

A life full of service and certainly an inspiration to us ALL... ❤❤

[@joememphis1571]

@@jamiediamond420 🤡 🤡

[@pattiday-malina7550]

Thank you. God bless you and yours indeed.

[@katespear1233]

Thank you for your wonderful service❤

[@cuthrell]

Heroic

[@jeanetteschock4744]

God bless them ❤

[@maryannkochanski5777]

All veterans deserve our country’s best. Best hospitals, best service, the best our country has to offer, because of their love of country and honor to our flag. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@chocolatechips1776]

We cannot fathom what they went through! I’m so sad for all the pain they endured and that they didn’t even want to be called heroes… Just heartbreaking!

[@4catsnow]

Yeah, that's the question..A country that touts itself as being just chock full of smart people, nobody back then could see 10 years of government subsidized lunacy,, on an industrial level..Then get up and leave, and the NVA go thru the ARVN like crap thru a goose.. Not too smart, huh?

[@marialongoria8774]

"Didn't we learn anything from Vietnam"

[@lindagardenlady]

Truer words were never spoken...😢

[@Beantastrophe]

That's funny coming from someone banned from learning how Chinese rounded up Vietnamese to fight for China against Vietnam

[@kathrynrede5750]

Col Austin is a family friend. He's an amazing man!

[@btipton6899]

Love you guys. You are my heroes. ❤🦅🇺🇸

[@lloydwalters4252]

God bless each and everyone of them, they deserve the utmost respect!

[@crb7628]

Great story

[@erikpeterson25]

Did their job 👍

[@lyndonwillms9668]

I flew B-52s with Mike Martini who was shot down in Dec 1972. My kid's Christian School Principle was Willis Forby who was shot down in 1965. Most will not talk about the treatment other that it was rough.

[@Adair9800]

True, It’s not something they will bring up naturally (I’ve flown with a few former POWs).

[@billcarpenter5145]

I was best man for The late Ltc Dave Ford , he was a super warrior shot down in November Of 1967 , he had 3 silver stars , a bunch of air medals DFC etc.he was living in Nixa MO, with hi S wonder wife Janise , at the time of his death He was a resident of Ohio when I met Him . I'm a.Viet Nam veteran , of the 101st Airborne Division 1966 67 If not for the pilots and all the tac.air I would not be here God bless all you brave warriors

[@drewpall2598]

@Bill Carpenter... Thank you for your service and sacrifice during the Vietnam conflict and welcome home Sir. I dedicate these two songs by SSgt Barry Sadler from his 1966 record album Ballads of the Green Berets to you and all the men and women who served during the Vietnam conflict. "I'm a Lucky One" SSgt Barry Sadler I'm going home, my tour is done I'm going home, I'm a lucky one But I left friends behind me Who won't come home no more Yes many friends remain forever On that bloody shore But at night when I sleep, I know my dreams will be About my friends I left across the sea I'll here verbal young men harn, laugh again out loud We'll all be together in a happy crowd But then I hear the sound of bullets whining overhead Feel the crash of morters and all my friends are dead My friends they fought and gave their all My friends they died for freedoms call As my dream was ending, they'll come and say goodbye Though I'm sound asleep a tear I'll cry And they say something which fills my heart with pain Tell them about us Sadler, don't let us die in vain I'm going home, my tour is done I'm going home, I'm a lucky one. "Salute To The Nurses" SSgt Barry Sadler After the battle after the fight many owe their lives to the ladies and men in white And all of the men in this war torn land salute the nurses of Vietnam They know the awful toll of war each day they know more than any the price we pay A soldier his hands too burned to write a nurse takes down his words through the lonely night They have gone to the front where men fought in the night from Pleiku to Qui Nhon where war these men fight Many a wounded soldier pain is eased for a while by opening his eyes to see a nurses smile To each of the wounded on the operating shelf these nurses give a part of themselves I know every soldier to the last man will sometimes say a prayer for the nurses of Vietnam After the battle after the fight many owe their lives to the ladies and men in white And all of the men in this war torn land salute the nurses of Vietnam.

[@shirleysmith3954]

🇺🇸

[@naseemabdul3475]

Can someone tell me what was the war about ??

[@unknownrider3071]

To get the full story of the Vietnam prisoners of war get a copy the 1976 book "P.O.W." by John G. Hubbell. The horrors they experienced were unimaginable.

[@AgentLaflare21]

Welcome home

[@graemebrass2968]

3 min 21 sec. The answer is simply NO!

[@philiplee8330]

Jane Fonda gave this a thumbs down.

[@edbudzynski729]

Thank you all POWs. You are what makes America great. Sad that former president trump mocks heros like John McCain.

[@markkaminski2416]

It's shameful! Shows his true character. Unless you've served and sacrificed one cannot question another.

[@robertisham5279]

McCain's not a hero.

[@jillmortlock8439]

Remember when that republican president said he didn't like the military who "let" themselves get captured? I'll remind you it was bone spures, trumpy.

[@kevinjenner9502]

Basically a declaration of war based on LBJ’s lie. The non existent attack of 8/4/64 in the Gulf of Tonkin.

[@lovesallanimals9948]

Wish someone would capture trump desantis Greene etc

[@DinoMan_6]

Time to go play the Black Ops 1 campaign again...

[@oyaami1874]

How many ex soldiers are living on the street

[@terryslota2224]

the POW's are true American hero's, except for songbird traitor mccain, may he rot in hell 3rd Batt. 7th Marines ChuLai,RVN 10/65-11/66

[@arktos298]

ironic

[@timwright6816]

Not heroes, right trump?

[@noelphillip5012]

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump criticized Sen. John McCain’s military record at a conservative forum Saturday, saying the party’s 2008 nominee and former prisoner of war was a “war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”

[@kevinjenner9502]

A declaration of war based on LBJ’s lie. The non existent attack of 8/4/64 in the Gulf of Tonkin.

[@kevinjenner9502]

…as our most senior War Criminal, Henry Kissinger, turns 100.

[@robertisham5279]

Yeah they're not heroes.

[@oyaami1874]

I wonder what black soldiers came home to

[@anthonyr5869]

Trump says they are losers

[@robertisham5279]

That's what they are.

[@ipfreely8920]

It’s got to be bitter sweet knowing how socialist our country is now. It’s almost like the containment strategy did not work.

[@kevinjenner9502]

Vietnam is a successful communist country.