Vietnam Veteran News with Mack Payne

Speaking as a Vietnam Veteran, I will retain a lasting interest in the place where many others and I shared experiences of varying degrees of intensity. Vietnam is an interesting, exotic and beautiful place. Many of us Vietnam Veterans lamented the fact such a cruel war had come to such a beautiful place that was populated by such a beautiful people. It was a war in which many different people and nations participated in one way or another.

South Korea was one of those nations that participated in the conflict. It sent 100,000 soldiers to fight in the mission to save South Vietnam as a separate nation state and a bulwark against the growth of communism in Southeast Asia. On more than one occasion the South Koreans were charged with crimes against the South Vietnamese civilians. As a result, there was much enmity on the part of Vietnamese citizens toward South Korea.

But times have changed and angry passions have simmered down. Today South Korea is the biggest foreign investor in the growing Vietnamese economy and the Vietnamese people are loving it. The new reality is described in a story found in The Nikkei Asian Review titled: Vietnam looks past war to new future with South Korea submitted by Atsushi Tomiyama, a Nikkei staff writer.

The Vietnamese still remember the atrocities committed by the South Koreans but there seems to be a willingness on their part to let it go. The possibility of a booming and prosperous economic relationship with South Korea helps ease some of the painful memories. In addition to economic aspects many private South Korean organizations are helping Vietnamese survivors of the atrocities.

Trade between the two nations reached $36.5 billion in 2015, up 73-fold from 1992. Over 40,000 Vietnamese are now in South Korea as migrant workers, making South Korea Vietnam's most important economic partner. South Korea invested $6.98 billion in Vietnam, more than any other country for the second year in a row. Samsung Electronics currently operates two factories to make mobile phones and other products. The company now accounts for nearly 20% of Vietnam's exports. LG group, a conglomerate, produces televisions and refrigerators in the country.

The times are a-changing.

In the previous episode of this podcast the unpleasant subject of the POW/MIA situation was featured. It was interesting to note some writers believe the attitude toward POWs changed during the Vietnam War. Historically this nation did not make a big deal about prisoners of war. That was a shame because in the Revolutionary War more Americans died while in captivity by the British than died on the battlefield in combat. When the war was over the prisoners were released, they were thanked, given a pension, sent home and forgotten. That attitude toward those unfortunate enough to be captured by the enemy in subsequent wars continued throughout our history until the Vietnam War.

There was so much opposition to the war many believed it caused a change in the way the country looked at its POWs held by the North Vietnamese. For the first time they began to be looked at as heroes. It is the opinion of this writer they should always have been considered as such. Think about the Americans who suffered as POWs by the Japanese during the Bataan Death March or those captured by Joachim Peiper the Waffen-SS commander during the Battle of the Bulge. All those POWs were heroes regardless of the war in which they served.

There is an organization in this country that is doing a wonderful job advocating for the benefit of American POWs and MIAs. It is known as the Honor-Release-Return advocacy group. One of the things they do is sponsor the Ride Home Event. For the past fourteen years it has taken place in Americus, Georgia where a group of interested individuals go on a motorcycle ride to the National Prisoner of War Museum in Andersonville, Georgia.

This year's Ride Home Event was reported on by the WALB News in a story titled: 'Ride Home' event recognizes POW MIA day that was submitted by Amanda Hoskins, Reporter and by a mention on Talk 92.1 radio in Americus, Georgia. John Butts, Ride Home Board of Directors member said "this is one of the better, largest turnouts that I have seen.”

CLICK HERE for more information about the Honor-Release-Return advocacy group.

POWs and MIAs are one of the most sensitive aspects of the Vietnam War. A story from time.com titled: What You Need to Know About the History of America’s Prisoners of War submitted by Ashley Ross addresses the subject of POWs and MIAs as related to the Vietnam War. According to Dr. Robert Doyle, a professor of history at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and author of multiple books about POWs, including The Enemy in Our Hands: Americaʼs Treatment of Prisoners of War from the Revolution to the War on Terror Vietnam changed how Americans view POWs. As Doyle explains it, the lack of unanimous support for the war meant that POWs—in contrast to soldiers who were fighting—were broadly accepted as heroes.

Official recognition of POWs and MIAs began in 1979 when President Jimmy Carter proclaimed POW/MIA Recognition Day. Following this every president since then has continued the practice by signing an annual proclamation for the commemoration. In 1997 President Bill Clinton made it official when he signed into law the National POW/MIA Recognition Day. The law requires that POW/MIA Flags be flown on the third Friday in September of each year as well as on Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day. Furthermore the law specifies the POW/MIA Flags be flown on those days at the following locations: the White House, all post offices, major military installations, national cemeteries, VA medical facilities, the World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the official offices of the secretaries of state, defense and veterans affairs and the director of the selective service system.

So apparently Vietnam Veterans have participated in a war that changed attitudes toward POWs and MIAs. Something else to add to the history books.

You are encouraged to take a look at Dr. Robert Doyle's eye opening book The Enemy in Our Hands: Americaʼs Treatment of Prisoners of War from the Revolution to the War on Terror.

In this episode we will take a look at a Vietnam Veteran who loved the army so much he regretted that he had to retire after only twenty years. Rex Miller was a major with a reserve commission meaning he was limited to twenty years service.  He has a interesting story that was featured in a story in the Redstone Rocket titled: Retired major learned Army was his best option that was submitted Skip Vaughn Rocket editor.

People join the Army for numerous reasons. We all have heard of cases where a young man gets in trouble with the authorities and the judge says you can go to jail or you can join the Army. In other cases economic opportunities are the reason and that is the case with Rex Miller. He was the first of eight children. His parents Dig and Polly Mills were barely scraping by in Grants, New Mexico on Dig's income as a carpenter. Rex dropped out of school in the ninth grade to help the family after his father was injured on the job.

When he turned seventeen he joined the Army and spent three years as an infantryman. When he ETSed he returned home to New Mexico and his father did him a favor by getting him a job as a construction laborer. After nine months of working outdoors in the cold New Mexico winter he came to the realization the Army was not so bad and reenlisted.

On his second Army tour he was assigned to Military Intelligence. Along the way he passed his GED, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Athens State College in 1977 at Redstone and became an officer.

He spent a year with the Americal Division in Chu Lai from November 1967 to November 1968 where he served as an RTO (radio telephone operator) in a LRRP (long range reconnaissance patrol) unit. He finished up his career at the Redstone Arsenal.

Check out this for getting conversations started at your next VVA meeting:

A popular topic frequently mentioned on this podcast is the changing attitude of Americans toward the Vietnam Veterans. It's common knowledge the brave veterans were abused and scorned when they returned home from service in the Vietnam War. Their primary transgression in the minds of the war protestors was the fact they heeded the call of their country. The protestors should have spit on the politicians rather than the brave veterans.

With the assistance of the DoD's 50 Year Commemoration of the Vietnam War program, events across the nation are popping up to demonstrate belated gratitude and appreciation to the Vietnam Veterans. Just in the previous episode of this podcast an event being held to honor Vietnam Veterans in Lake Havasu was featured.

In this episode another symbol of the national appreciation and recognition of Vietnam Veterans is highlighted. A story in The Ripon Advance titled: Heck convenes hearing on Amodei memorial request for Vietnam War helicopter pilots tells about U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) and his efforts to establish a memorial for Vietnam War helicopter pilots.

The article stated: "U.S. Rep. Joseph Heck (R-NV) convened a hearing on Thursday that explored a measure led by U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) to establish a memorial for Vietnam War helicopter pilots" and: "Heck, the chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, heard testimony about Amodei’s Vietnam Helicopter Crew Memorial Act, H.R. 4298, during the hearing."

The one hitch in Congressman Amodei's proposal may be in the fact he is suggesting the memorial be placed in the Arlington National Cemetery. There is a precedent for placing memorials in the cemetery. Four memorials have been approved for placement there in the last 27 years. But despite this there is reluctance on the part of many lawmakers to opening the door to memorials other than burials being placed in the cemetery. It might lead to a disturbing trend.

It does seem like a better location for a memorial to Vietnam War helicopter pilots would be in the vicinity of the Memorial Wall across the river in DC.

Another indication the times are changing for Vietnam Veterans is happening in Lake Havasu, Arizona this coming Saturday. An event is planned to honor area Vietnam Veterans. It is described in a story found in The Havasu News titled: City, Vet Center set to honor Vietnam veterans submitted by David Louis.

Lake Havasu City officials along with their Vet Center is teaming up with the DoD's United States Of America Vietnam War Commemoration program to hold an event on Saturday, September 17, 2016 planned to begin at 1 p.m., Saturday at the Aquatic Center, 100 Park Ave. All U.S. veterans who served on active duty in the armed forces from Nov. 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975 are eligible to be honored and presented with a lapel pin as a memento of the nation’s gratitude.

Events like this is a refreshing change from the welcome home many Vietnam Veterans received with they came home from the war. Rather than being thanked for serving in a challenging war against a determined enemy in the rice paddies, jungles and mountains of Vietnam they were abused with scorn and derision. They were mischaracterized as monster baby killers.

Finally the country is beginning to see the error of their ways. Across the nation citizens are coming forward and offering the belated gratitude and recognition that should have been delivered 50 years. Vietnam Veterans are beginning to be seen as the true heroes they actually are in reality.

The of Lake Havasu City Mayor Mark Nexsen had it right when he said: “In my view, it’s the Vietnam veterans that have reminded us that we should all respect the job our military does.  I feel that it’s important to show an appreciation of protecting our nation, making sure our freedoms continue to exist and … to say thank you, We must never forget it is the military that is protecting America from its enemies.”

All Vietnam Veterans in the area are encouraged to attend this event.

For more information or to RSVP call 928-505-0394 or 928-499-7453.

One of the most difficult burdens to bear that was engendered by the Vietnam War was that of families who lost loved ones in that conflict. Even worse were the families who received the dreaded message their son was MIA. In an effort to remind others of the hardships that befell MIA families a story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch titled: As search for his remains winds down, local Marine killed in Vietnam is recalled fondly submitted by Louis Llovio is featured in this podcast episode.

In it Llovio tells the story of Tony Pepper. He lived in Richmond, Virginia back in the 60s. Unfortunately he had a troubled relationship with his father that some believe ultimately led to his untimely demise at the Battle of Khe Sanh. Tony was described as a sensitive and smart young man who was inspired by his 11th grade English teacher to express a desire to attend the College of William & Mary. But it was to no avail because his father would not support the idea.

He resolved to get away from the toxic atmosphere around his father so young Tony joined the Marines and two years later he was killed in Vietnam. At first he was reported as Missing in Action. This made the family's anguish even worse because he disappeared so there were no remains for the family to honor. For evermore the family will suffer. The parents divorced and went to their graves with doubts and heartaches.

Tony's sister wrote a book about her brother titled: “Missing on Hill 700: How Losing a Brother in Vietnam Created a Family in America” and is scheduled to be released next month. She also told about the girl, Laura Broaddus, Tony met at Thomas Dale High School in Chesterfield County who remembers his to the very day with much love.

Tony Pepper's story is poignant and will warm your heart.

The sounds of a UH1-B Huey were heard at a happening at the Aviation Heritage Park in Bowling Green on Saturday, September 10, 2016. The event was described in a story from WBKO of Bowling Green, Kentucky titled: Huey brings sights, sounds of Vietnam War to Bowling Green and was submitted by Whitney Davis. Davis tells about the event that was sponsored by the Aviation Heritage Park. The primary purpose was to contribute to the raising of $60,000 for the addition of a Vietnam Era UH1-D Huey to the collection of historic aircraft to the park.

The UH1-B at the event was supplied by The MARPAT Huey team from West Virginia and was flown by Vietnam Vet Robert Curtis. It was made available for tours and rides from 10 AM – 4 pm. The aircraft was a UH-1B Iroquois that saw duty as an Army gunship during the war in Viet Nam. After decommissioning, the aircraft was discovered by Hollywood, appearing in several feature television shows and movies like China Beach, The Rock and Die Hard.

For several years, the AHP has sought a Huey to add to their collection of aircraft so as to symbolize the courage of all Vietnam Veterans. Recently the park has received official word from the National Museum of the Air Force that its request has been confirmed. The process to retrieve, demilitarize and release the helicopter can be a tedious process. There is no definite arrival time set for the Huey. The park must first raise the required amount for preparations before it can be released to them.

If you are interested in helping the AHP preserve a piece of history from the Vietnam War you can make a donation to the project to help make it happen.

On behalf of the Aviation Heritage Park we ask that you make a donation to this project.

CLICK HERE to make a donation.

The US Air Force C7-A Caribou cargo aircraft is finally getting the recognition and notice it deserves. It played a vital role in the Vietnam war and that role was recently acknowledged at a ceremony in the Pentagon. The event was noted in a U.S. Air Force News article titled: Caribou Vietnam vets honored at Pentagon submitted by Tech. Sgt. Natalie Stanley, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs.

Lt. Gen. Stayce D. Harris officiated the ceremony. She is the assistant vice chief of staff of the Air Force. She unveiled a scale model C-7A Caribou during a ceremony acknowledging the service of Vietnam War Caribou crewmembers and support personnel at the Pentagon Sept. 9. The ceremony is part of the Defense Department’s United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration’s Vietnam War 50th anniversary tribute.

A great deal of gratitude is due to retired Master Sgt. John Schuepbach for taking the beginning steps that led to the recognition. It all started when he was touring the Pentagon's Vietnam War-era section a few years ago and noticed there was no mention of the C7-A. Being a former Caribou administrative specialist and current Caribou Association member he decided to take action. He decided to craft by hand a model of the trusty C7-A and donate it for addition to the Vietnam War-era section in the large building. Next thing you know more than 30 Vietnam veterans from the Caribou Association and others were in attendance at the ceremony on September 9, 2016 that was more than an unveiling of a model aircraft, it was a long-awaited thank you from a grateful nation.

During the Vietnam war Caribou aircraft delivered more than 2.75 billion pounds of cargo and transported roughly 4 million people in a 12-month period and conducted around-the-clock takeoffs and landings every 38 seconds.

CLICK HERE for the Caribou Association website to discover more about this amazing workhorse aircraft the crewmembers who flew them in combat.

Most all Vietnam Veterans have an enduring interest in the country of Vietnam due to the intense experiences many went through during their time in country. Good or bad most veterans remember the country. With that interest in mind a story from Today Online will be featured in this podcast episode. The story is titled: Overseas-trained techies spark start-up boom in Vietnam. The story is about the tech book going on in Vietnam today. The Vietnamese economy is one of the fastest growing in the world today. The growth is not totally based on export goods such as coffee, tea and clothing. Thanks to returning Silicon Valley trained Vietnamese techies Saigon is becoming the "Silicon Valley" of Southeast Asia.

The economic miracle happening in Vietnam despite its Communist government is in stark contrast to another Communist nation in East Asia. Communist North Korea is an economic miracle of drastic failures. The population is on the brink of starvation and suffers under a tyrannical leader who seems intent upon spending the country's treasuries on nuclear weapons and rockets. Vietnam is creating wealth and prosperity for its citizens and neighbors while North Korea is creating poverty for its citizens and concern for its neighbors.

Getting back to the miracle story of Vietnam, the children of refugees fleeing the country after the Communists took over and started "re-educating the conquered southern Vietnamese are making a difference. Many were educated in our Silicon Valley and discovered their IP skills could find a welcome home back in the old country.

It doesn't take a brainiac to see opportunities in a market of 90 million people where 45 million are Internet users, 30 million are Smartphone users and Internet usage is 10 times what it was a decade ago. They are coming back to help create a vast new software, IT services and hardware industry. It will be a far cry from what most Vietnam Veterans remember about that beautiful country.