Vietnam Voices: 'The whole city was alive and then ... nobody on the streets'

Vietnam War veteran Wayne Bucher talks about his experiences. Bucher was in the U.S. Navy from 1964 to 1968. He was born and raised in Winchester, Va.

[@smallkrmit5717]

Thank you for your service sir

[@networth8754]

Sometimes we forget about the critical role that military support personnel played in the war effort. Thank you Wayne!

[@jamesmckay9966]

Excellent comment about Robert McNamara who was hated by the troops in Vietnam. He was the ultimate Bean Counter. He counted Human Bodies not Dollars.. The Ultimate Animal.

[@BST-lm4po]

U.S. Govt officials have been screwing the U.S. fighting soldiers for years. U.S. government officials wouldn't give George Custer's men repeating rifles,.... because they didn't want them wasting ammo!

[@user-qm2dr5cx8r]

Thank you all.all my heroes.

[@fredroehl956]

Thank you sir for your service and I sincerely hope that you are doing well and may God bless you and your family

[@haleallison7340]

I really enjoyed this interview. What a cool guy and interesting story. Thanks to you sir and all you Vietnam vets.!

[@nikreikalas6886]

One of the better interviews thank you SIR.

[@gregorymonacelli2257]

It was good to hear you laugh Sir!

[@wingwalker27]

Mr. Bucher seems like a genuinely nice guy. A guy to have a beer with. Thanks for uou service and for sharing your story.

[@timothymcdonald6913]

I truly admire these guys. They did their due to/for their country. My most sincere apologies that Our Country (The United States of America) chose to basically let our guys die for nothing while actually trading on the patriotic belief of most of these 58,000 + that are on the Wall in DC. I say Shame on our country!

[@markgassert6261]

Wayne: Thank you for sharing your story. Most important of all, Thank You for Your Service. Lived in Winchester, VA after college and then volunteered US Army. You are definitely articulate and tell a great story with a sound sense of humor. May God continue to bless you and your family! Respectfully, Mark

[@scottswin4236]

Great interview! Nice guy! Thanks for your service!

[@soul76can]

Great story teller! Thank you for your service!

[@chillybinbob]

at 1:55 "Leaving is hard". That made me remember leaving my first submarine the 658 and the second and last, the 625. I was surprised both times that I actually had to make an effort to keep tears from falling. It wasn't the duty, it wasn't the submarine, it was the people.

[@travisalltop9134]

I remember when we decommissioned the USS Sirago SS-485 in June 1972. It was the same for me when I left the boat for the last time., it was the people.

[@scottyh1509]

Good perspective from a logistics/support person. The armed forces won't work without them.

[@jimmyandkathyharrell]

Thank you Wayne! Every unit needs/has a Bucher to complete the mission

[@pamnichols7877]

❤❤❤❤❤ God bless you Sir.

[@gullybull5568]

NAVY ! thankyou sir.

[@rubycollins3492]

Thank you Wayne for your service Love your laugh

[@SnapCracklePapa]

This guy could turn a one-liner into a novel

[@keithehredt753]

Thank you for sharing your experiences. It's a tribute to all the fallen heros.

[@markgreen8752]

Thank you Mr. Bucher

[@kenc3288]

Interesting man. Enjoyed his story.

[@williswerckle1856]

What a great guy, and Thank You, Sir!

[@JB-be7yr]

Colt model 1911 not 1910. I love your tribute to Vietnam vets. I think I've watched them all, some more than once. I loved Wayne's story.

[@dannylintern2893]

Thank you

[@swartznoone]

Tk you for your service

[@andrewhill4986]

Dyslexia sucks. Thank you for your service.

[@billkaldem5099]

Yes it does

[@jasonpeters9390]

This is a great interview well worth the listen from a completed different perspective

[@JoeKyser]

My grandfather was a Lt Commander in the Navy. I was a dependant of his and went where he went. We went from Honolulu to Philadelphia and after 32 years he retired. He passed away a few years ago and was able to get buried in a veterans cemetery and is at rest where he belongs. Anyway my point is he talked about the Navy a lot but I never heard him talk about Vietnam but a couple times when I was a kid and pressed him about. He also never flew in a plane again after the Navy.

[@peterlyons8793]

What was his name, ranks, hometown and years of service?

[@JoeKyser]

@@peterlyons8793 Howard E Galen Eastport Maine Lt Commander of the USS Saratoga 32 years of service retiring from the ship in Philadelphia in 1985 when it was in dry dock. Hes now laid to rest at Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Williamstown NJ. I have an uncle as that earned the distinguished service cross and is the most decorated soldier from the state of Maine. He too was from Eastport. My grandmothers brother, Thomas Bouchard. Look up his story, hes a real hero

[@JoeKyser]

@@peterlyons8793 My whole family was military at one time bro. There wasn't much opportunity in Maine back then and probably still isn't much going on in Macias County

[@peterlyons8793]

Thank you for sharing your family's honorable and significant service to our beloved country.

[@JoeKyser]

@@peterlyons8793 thanks for listening. They sacrificed so much. It certainly isn't a life of glamor

[@ryanj6862]

59:00 min mark... Great advice about keeping track of your good friends in the military.

[@GdHr-oz5ph]

We owe these guys so much. ♥️♥️♥️

[@GdHr-oz5ph]

@@adambane1719 Mentally challenged to the extreme?

[@funkynassau..4881]

Thank you for serving...

[@larrylarry5300]

Thank you.

[@elwyrick]

I enjoy listening you these. They are my contemporaries. I appreciate that they did what they thought was right. It would be good for him to also acknowledge, as other interviewees have, that some of us studied the history of Vietnam and saw that we would not allow elections to be held that we had agreed to via treaty because we didn't like who would surely win - Ho Chi Minh. He was the leader I'll the Vietnamese fight for independence.We were not fighting for self-determination. We had stopped it. Be proud of your service, but yet try to understand those who fervently believed they were fighting for their country by dissenting. I would never have written this had he not made the comments he did.

[@johndavis2399]

I'm on your side Ed. I doubt any factual arguments will sway those whose "coming of age" was formed in Vietnam. Which is reasonable(?) behavior for those who dutifully respected their government's "orders." It may be of interest to compare the 1960's response to the (then) government's orders for the draft .....to how the body politic has responded to current (Feb 2022) pronouncements concerning "masking," (Warning: I don't have one on right now.) The yes/no right/wrong schism has returned....but reversing which political tribes choose to follow the "leaders." Also of interest is the often repeated line "We were just doing our jobs." I am glad that all these noble men have found different occupations. R/ John Davis

[@colemcclain7319]

Thank you for your service

[@charlieporch3181]

Awesome . 🤛🏻🤛🏻🇱🇷

[@jeffkerr4249]

THANK YOU WAYNE !

[@kikinit999]

Thank you for this and your service, Im ex Navy my self.

[@kennethprice5628]

I was a West coast sailor , two WESTPACS, Phillipines...

[@GCdialinh]

Thank you all !!! ... and all the people of the United States helped the South Vietnam Liberal Democrat against the invasion of the communists-VIETNAM from Hanoi. And right now our Vietnamese, Vietnamese living abroad and Vietnamese within Vietnam are continuing their struggle against the ruling Communist Party in Vietnam.

[@gregorymonacelli2257]

Great story teller

[@Kirkwoodclay]

Good for this guy. You don’t buy things from the enemy.

[@michaelhaiden6718]

Closed captioning is free I get complaints about set up too loud

[@billguthrie6078]

please add the close caption

[@josephlochte3581]

For the record, Maya Lin, who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, is Chinese, not Vietnamese.

[@ilovenyiloveny1140]

For the record, Maya Lin is an American (born in Ohio) of Chinese descent.

[@hesedken]

Kennedy and Kissenger did America no favors. Thanks for your service.

[@hesedken]

@Proud Straight White Christian Conservative sites.google.com/site/hesedken/history/protocol_no_1.26_equality_democracy.html

[@robertfelts8773]

I'm from Loudoun county. We are country neighbors

[@randythistle3707]

Cooks are very important.

[@yuvegotmale]

Spent a year at NavSupAct Da Nang 69- 70

[@ryanj6862]

I missed what he was talking about 47:30 min?

[@randyreddig5239]

Yeah we stopped in Hawaii & unlike Wayne I did get lie'd in Hawaii.... As far as a little black book to keep track of your buddies, when I got home a buddy who was supposed to get out a few months after me, I stopped at his folks house to see him & learned that he was killed... I didn't try to track anyone down after that...

[@justsayingtoday]

So sad to hear some of this story, and so much personal sacrifice, and in the end politicians give it all away. On that side I would say that a Military needs to be righteous, and that Politicians should not be involved in making military decisions.

[@johndavis2399]

Roger that....a government which provided vets with veto power over getting into war...would be righteous. /John

[@bneyens]

30:32 - Jesus Christ, enough of the loud “OK! OK! OK!”. Really makes listening hard after a few of these videos. YEP! YEP! OK! OK!

[@lindajones8895]

I was stationed at NATTC Memphis 86-87. At ATC A school. I eventually went to NAS Miramar and became a Personnelman. After a time with squadron Vc-13. Loved your story. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸⚓️⚓️⚓️ I would have loved to have more of my shipmates info to call and chat with. I miss some of them so much.

[@moggridge1]

I've watched a number of these very interesting interviews and a common theme I've noticed is the lack of basic equipment for those at the sharp end. In this case Mr. Bucher mentions the lack of safety harnesses when climbing boat masts. Other examples were lack of 30 round magazines, lack of medicine, inadequate rations. It's war of course and maybe that is the lot of the soldier, but it seems odd considering the approx $1trillion in today's money that the US spent on this war.

[@richardlong8014]

I think I'm falling asleep. Listening to him is hard on my eyeballs.

[@garycooper4526]

not enough audio volume.

[@Besyl]

No one ever thanks Master Lube ...

[@woodscw50]

mARINE TO MY TEAM THE FATHERS MY FATHER TO MY TEAM LIFE HOME MY BROTHER

[@woodscw50]

walk MY FATHER TO MY TEAM THE TEAM TO FAMILY

[@robertwoodliff2536]

..... "........ we lost a lot of resources........"........

[@johndavis2399]

The reluctance of many vets to a televised interview.......is the fear of macho "shame" if they were to lose it totally.....while recounting tragedies.

[@johndavis2399]

Wayne, I can't say "thank you" for your service....since I was not in Nam, and considered it a huge disaster for most everyone who got sucked into it. Including the soldiers' families........who ultimately pay the price. I do salute your and the rests'' for honoring "Duty." I would prefer the motto of valor be Honor Duty Humanity R/ John

[@markgassert6261]

Regardless of your personal dogma or political infrastructure you missed the point. Thank You for your service is definitely in order.

[@traveltime997]

The audio level on these interviews is horrible.

[@johndavis2399]

Its the tone ,,,,,!

[@jackmehoff2961]

They were just kids.

[@YosemiteArtur]

those mindgames, MK Ultra alike.

[@johndavis2399]

Everything old is new again........US with the VC vis-a-vis the CCP.....eventually.

[@dicklewis58]

They should never interview the Navy, they didnt wade in the rivers of blood that we did

[@billguthrie6078]

you forgot the clothes capton

[@billguthrie6078]

Sorry for my bad spelling I'm using voice type and I did not check it before I post it

[@billguthrie6078]

No problem man not a problem I get bored of my old age to ho ho ho but I'm a Vietnam vet and I enjoy reading other people's experiences take care man

[@johndavis2399]

These are all good points Bills. Clothes do make the man.

[@jaysterb1]

LSTs?

[@racer774]

LST = Landing Ship Tank. They ferried tanks to the shore.

[@Chrisamos412]

Landing ship transport

[@randyreddig5239]

Long Slow Target.... Yes I was stationed on LST-1184

[@gullybull5568]

OCCIFER !!!!! 👍👍👍👍👍👍😂😂😂😂😂

[@Mrnobody0070]

John 3:3

[@Mrnobody0070]

Romans 10:9-10

[@bbfreetube]

That concentration camp training should be done before signing that contract.

[@blackwolfmane4532]

Big bowl of chunky cheese n beef Campbell's soup

[@j33pfyn4tik6]

Police up your ammo and frags. Dont leave nothin for the dinks!

[@gregorymonacelli2257]

No GF’s?

[@dougdownunder5622]

Yammer yammer yammer. Just how long does it take to make a point?

[@user-qm2dr5cx8r]

You're

[@gullybull5568]

sidenote THE MARINES were created to fight ON A SHIP OF WAR. haha.

[@johndavis2399]

tell it like it is bro

[@jimbroganjamesebrogansr169]

This guy was not in Vietnam he might as well as I've been in Okinawa

[@tctarheelfarmin358]

How can you say that? The man was in country and whether you like it or not, his life was at risk each day

[@Erreul]

Damn, imagine being that much of a grunt s***.

[@edekoka6267]

I didn't even know Vietnam attacked America.Same as Iraq's chemical weapons.

[@garypinkney9207]

Their's no action. I'm going to sleep 😴

[@johnswadden4734]

boring

[@johndavis2399]

Buddy-ing up with the guy from the morgue was redemptive

[@holymoly6829]

This guy is a real pain in the arse

[@garypedigogaeu5787]

This poor guy in not a story teller. You can hear the frustration in the interview’s voice. Have a point when you tell a story. It’s so much more interesting to the listener.

[@jimfarris9671]

It's a good story I just do not understand why you have to laugh every little bit about something that's not funny

[@tewluse2812]

These are not good interviewees

[@johndavis2399]

I would say something about the interviewer........but I too appreciate the work he has done

[@oktoberwolfe2726]

This one wasnt...there are way better interviews

[@stevepaige2394]

Sorry, im interested in cafaterria momories , boring

[@chaong3880]

The squealing adapter lovely box because cloakroom unequivocally push among a sweltering chest. creepy, substantial turret

[@algesmith857]

I enjoyed listening to his USN naval experiences up to the point where he showed his biases about seeing Vietnam or buying Vietnamese products back in USA. It's a pity Wayne that you didn't use your overseas experience to broaden your mind. Shame on you Wayne!

[@Chrisamos412]

Alge Smith Shame on him??? Have you walked in his shoes? Who are you to say what he should and shouldn’t do? The effects of war differs from person to person. YOU need to broaden YOUR mind! Pathetic

[@marcconner8382]

He earned that right. It was his generation that paid the price. You should be ashamed for demeaning him.

[@johndavis2399]

The Vietnamese appreciated the TV studio he built. Good job Wayne. And good job of going "over the top" Alge!

[@vaughnbillme7535]

proficiency.and.conduct marks

[@johndavis2399]

very impressive

[@lemuelyoungblood5756]

Thank you