USGN Article - May 2002
Terry & Barbi Franklin
Written by Terry Franklin

"A Tip of the Hat to Vietnam Vets"
 

A few years back I wrote in this column about Memorial Day being the "forgotten day" by many in our nation (www.heartfortheworld.com, articles, May 1999). This year will probably be different. I thank God that recent events have made us remember our military heroes that wear the uniform representing the United States.

This month I'd like to salute those men (and some women) who risked their lives in Vietnam. They have a special cross to bear: they fought in a war that was ill-defined, under-resourced, with decisions made by men in business suits thousand of miles away from the conflict. We didn't "lose" (we backed out) but we certainly didn't win, either. Whereas their fathers had come home to a hero's welcome after World War Two -- they often came back to the protests and jeers of their own people.

In the early 70's I was a year too young to be drafted, but I worked with a number of men who had been to Vietnam. Some were strengthened by the experience…some were scarred for life…All were deeply touched by the encounter.

And everyone was a hero just as much as the veterans of other wars had been.

My hat is also off to the parents of Vietnam Vets. As a parent of teenage boys I can only imagine the anguish those parents must have gone through -- sending their children into harm's way. Some, with prior military experience, could even foresee the quagmire Vietnam was becoming…this made it even worse…

So, give a word of thanks to the 50ish guy you know who fought in the Vietnam War (and thank his parents, too). They were heroes in every sense of the word. (Terry & Barbi Franklin, P.O. Box 17247, Nashville, TN 37217, 615-773-8480, www.heartfortheworld.com , franklins@familyrevival.com)

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