David Kies Interview | Echoes of the Vietnam War: Episode 29

Echoes of the Vietnam War Podcast | Full Interviews from Episode 29: "Nobody's Perfect"
Listen to the full episode: www.vvmf.org/echoes/EP29/
In wartime, casualty and injury records are often created (or not created) in moments of absolute, unimaginable chaos. Sometimes the dots just don’t get connected. David Kies is the living embodiment of that phenomenon. He is alive... and his name is on The Wall. In this episode, he tells us what it’s like to do a rubbing of your own name at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
About Echoes of the Vietnam War Podcast
Even after 50 years, the impact of the Vietnam War echoes across generations. Hear stories of service and sacrifice from people who are affected - veterans, their families, and others who add perspective to those experiences. Brought to you by the nonprofit that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, “The Wall,” in Washington, D.C.
Listen and Subscribe to the Echoes Podcast: www.vvmf.org/echoes​
Learn more about VVMF at: www.vvmf.org

[@pigpen5145]

What grabbed me about this particular interview is that my last name is Kies. I live in West Michigan, graduated in 1978, so just missed Vietnam. Proud of all who served and grateful as well. They are all heroes, in my opinion.

[@garypiont6114]

Great vid , thanks. On the fta note in 1967 the army also buried the wrong gi , his folks found out when they kept getting mail. It was a mess when they flew the guy home and had to dig up the other guy. Very sad. Sad that Dave went thru the wall

[@joycecogdill9797]

Wow!!!! Hadn't heard this!!! How sad, both families!!

[@stevenkarras3490]

great interview like many of your others. Thanks for doing this important series

[@irenedemarco1354]

What an amazing man... to have suffered such severe injuries was horrendous... Finding out the men were bring fed speed to keep them alert, they would have needed a bit of marijuana to bring em down again.... and drugs were an issue? Wonder why ?... It seems like many of the infantry lost 1st marriages yet, after what they've seen and experienced, going home would have been a strain...the changes in each man, a strain.... Despite what David endured, hes a good man with a sense of fairness and fun, plus he keeps in touch with so many of his fellow Vets...that has to be awesome...and supportive. The injuries in Vietnam, did help set up medical assistance for those who went to Afghanistan and Iraq...so lessons learnt....and a legacy. Thank You For Your Sacrifice, Thank You For Your Service... 💞✌️🙏

[@velmaholland5673]

I think speed necessary in lots of wars. Falling asleep often not an option. Or anything that had to be lit at night, I imagine. Awesome response to trauma of double amputation. My uncle said no serious injuries from World War II, Italy, and Patton’s army and battle of the bulge, etc. left him with tremendous emotional scars, which he coped with by reading and raising his family out in the middle of nowhere in Florida.

[@chadkesterson1173]

You have a good voice.

[@teresalundy532]

Thank you for your service freedom isn't free your interview proves that❤

[@robertisham5279]

Another fool who drank the koolaid about Vietnam. They didn't fight for our freedom. As for these videos. All they need to say is veterans were chumps and pawns of their US Government and the military/industrial complex like this guy. They didn't belong in Vietnam. It wasn't their fight. It was an Asian civil war for independence after decades of colonialism. Their time in Vietnam did absolutely nothing for American safety, security and freedom. They are not heroes or someone's victim. They are simply survivors of an American tragedy that they allowed themselves to participate in. Enough of this endless Hollywood BS of these veterans who need so much attention.

[@fxdpntc]

Mary Jane Croft. I remember her character on Lucy. She was the neighbor in Connecticut?

[@bennieparker4143]

Sad ,real hero

[@robertisham5279]

No he's not. An American "hero" ? Why? Because he foolishly allowed himself to participate in an illegal war that the US had no guts to declare? He was an invader and aggressor in someone else's country that did nothing to Americans or the US. His time did nothing for American security, safety and freedom. All he did was join the other 2.7 million "sheep" that kept an American disaster going for almost 10 years. The Vietnam war did nothing but hurt the US in many ways...let alone the Vietnamese people

[@velmaholland5673]

Subarus are very popular in Western Carolina.

[@Yourmomanddadrbrotherandsister]

Interviewer you have to be a little more enthusiastic. You sound like you don’t even want to do this. Cmon man wake up

[@Ken_oh545]

Maybe others are on the wall still knocking around

[@Charles-oo8bq]

Funeral home and grass cutting is better than being a farmer?