The word, “VIETNAM” on his baseball cap was the first thing I noticed about him eight months ago. Still, I was only interested in the names of his two corgis.
Their names are Lucy (right, in above photo) and Bernie, and Lucy is two years old, and although Bernie is much larger than Lucy, he is just under a year old. Most every morning — and for most of the morning — Lucy, Bernie and their caregiver hold court in the center of town. I pass them at least twice a week, mostly to give Lucy and Bernie the dog biscuits they know I always carry. Their caregiver and I exchange small talk, and then I continue my daily walk. Last week, I finally asked what his name was, and if he had indeed fought in Vietnam.
“Yes, I fought in Vietnam,” replied Steve. “I had no choice. I had dropped out of community college. I was an E-5. I was drafted. My family was poor. So I had to go. Yes, I fought the war over there.”
Initially, Steve “was like Radar O’Reilly — a clerk.” But during the Tet Offensive — a coordinated series of North Vietnamese attacks on more than 100 cities and outposts in South Vietnam — Steve was given a choice: “Do you want to fly or do you want to join the infantry?” Steve chose flying. During Tet, Steve and his “brothers” would wait for the air raid siren, “load our helicopters with ammunition, and fly around for three hours, usually between 1 and 4 in the morning. One helicopter would fly low to attract fire and, man, we attracted a lot of fire. You could see the tracers coming right at you. They called them ‘blackout missions.'”
“What do you mean, ‘they,'” I asked. “Who are ‘they’?”
“The ones that didn’t fly — you know, the generals.”
“How do you feel about someone like me who protested the Vietnam War?” I asked.
“At the time I didn’t like it. A lot of kids — poor kids were dying. Meanwhile President Johnson is lying to us and McNamara is lying to us. Then they’re trying to figure out the shape of the peace table — a square or a circle. I didn’t care if it was a damn parallelogram — kids were dying, and we needed to get out of there.”
“The Fourth of July is next week. How do you feel about America today?”
“I’d just as soon have the war over there than here,” said Steve. “Back then we were fighting to keep communism out of the United States. It’s hard to comprehend what’s going on today. The new President and North Korea — it’s pretty scary. You don’t know what this guy is going to do now that he’s got nuke power aimed at California.”
“I’m sorry that it took me so long to ask you your name and why you wore that cap,” I said. “I still march in protests, and I have vets like you to thank for that freedom.”
“Honest, I don’t know if I would have gone over there if I had a choice,” said Steve. “I still don’t know.”
Bernie and Lucy jump up and paw my legs for biscuits. “Hey, Steve — why corgis?”
“If they’re good enough for the Queen, they’re good enough for me,” said Steve. “Just look at them. They’re always happy. They keep me happy.”
Spark and Spitfire [SSPF] SHOUT-OUTS: Happy Birthday today to SSPF subscriber, Paul! And much SSPF gratitude to his (and subscriber Beth’s) son, Andy, still actively serving in the military, and Andy’s twin brother, Peter, who served in the military during the second Iraq War.
The next time (perhaps this morning) I see Steve, Lucy and Bernie, I plan to share this post via iPhone.
Have a fun and peaceful Fourth!
One more thing: “SSPF” (see note added at end of post) is pronounced: SSSPIFFF — spiff, as in, “The design of this blog is SO spiff” or “Perhaps Sharon will spiff herself up and shower today.”
You’ve made a nice connection, all because of your dog treats.
After watching the PBS Vietnam War documentary, Steve’s story has more of an impact for me. I also understand why he chose the corgis. How can you not smile with those dogs around?
Thanks to Pete and Andy. And Happy Birthday to my friend, Paul!
Steve was sitting at his usual spot this morning without Lucy and Bernie — “Too damn hot!” said Steve. I pulled up this post on my iPhone, and Steve is going to check it out once he gets home. He seemed very pleased that the first image a reader sees when this post opens is his cap.
The Tet Offensive began on January 30, 1968 and ended September 23, 1968 — 50 years ago. Steve was 22 years old, fighting the war. I was 15 years old, protesting it.
So simple. Two corgis and their owner. And so complex! You capture in this post so beautifully the interwoven complexity of our personal histories and our national history. And you’ve made such an important connection–for you and for us, your readers–with a person whose history is so different from yours and most of ours. Humbling.
Gosh, Carol — thank you for posting such a lovely comment. I’ve told you this before, but I’ve yet to meet someone who didn’t have an interesting story. A couple of times, that someone’s story was one I didn’t want to tell, but for the most part, I have wanted to tell them. Come to think of it, I probably could write an interesting story about why I don’t want to tell someone’s story.
Ah, stories . . . they’ll hook you every time.
(I’ve gotten an email notification for every comment today, including mine!)
Thank you for sharing Steve’s important story. Many Vietnam veterans did not talk to anyone about their experience when they returned. They have told me that they did not think anyone wanted to hear it and they didn’t think others would understand. If you haven’t read “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien, read it now. It is a searing and real collection of short stories about his experience in the Vietnam War, though he labels it fiction.
This not listening is still happening. Since Vietnam, there is a tendency to demonize our service members for the war. They volunteered to go, but did not start them and they alone do not have the capacity to end them. How we vote is important to the future of war and peace in the world.
Thank you for the shout-out to my menfolk today. I am blessed to be in a family with some very fine men!
PS: I got the notice of this post in my regular email box. YIPPEE!
As always, a thoughtful and challenging comment from Beth.
I, too, recommend Tim O’Brien’s book as well as Ken Burns’ 10-part American television documentary series about the Vietnam War. Adrienne and I watched this series last Fall, and several of the episodes left us speechless. We had known so little about what really happened behind White House doors and out front on the battle lines. Several battles include detailed scenes documenting and describing the action from multiple perspectives — including the perspective of the North Vietnamese.
Every American should be required to watch it. AND DON’T FORGET TO ALWAYS EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE!
Thanks for the Birthday greetings and acknowledgement of Andy and Pete for their commitment to all of us. Vietnam has a lot of twists. Another really fascinating read is Hue 1968. A friend said it should be required reading for any politician thinking of sending Americans to War.
Enjoy the 4th and folks like Steve who stood up.
What a timely post, Sharie. I admire Steve for all he did for us, and I admire you for being so open and honest with him. I think Bernie and Lucy are lucky to have Steve as a “dad.” And, America is lucky to have had Steve fighting for our freedom. Do you remember what was written on his shirt? I can’t quite make it out. It would be a honor to meet Steve, Bernie and Lucy the next time I go for a walk with you.
Happy Fourth, Merrie Lee! And thank you for your comment.
Steve’s shirt says, “INNOVATION NOT REGULATION.” I should have asked him about that. I’d hate to think that he was a Scott Pruitt supporter, but I shouldn’t be so quick to judge. I do see Steve, Bernie and Lucy every time I walk through town in the morning, so chances are good you might meet them on day.
My ex-husband served in that horrible war, and experienced the worst of what it had to offer. The most difficult thing for him to deal with was not the horrors of the war, but rather how he was treated when he came home. Like Steve, he wears his Vietnam hat all the time. At one point, perhaps 20 years ago, that I learned that more Vietnam Vets had committed suicide than had died during the war. The scars never go away. So glad Steve has his two Corgis to make him happy.
Welcome to Spark and Spitfire, Judy . . . and for adding your unique spark.
I had forgotten that your ex-husband served in Vietnam; and I know that you had to experience the worst of the war, too, by being in relationship with him. You have scars, too, but your wounds have made you kinder and wiser. Thank you.
I was perusing your posts — and I seemed to have missed this peace and love on your Vietnam vet. Have you watched the HONY video series? Absolutely, hands down, Brandon should get an Emmy as well as the Nobel. I am mesmerized by our shared humanity in them. The cinematography is ethereal. Just unreal. This echoes. Good questions. Generates response. Another soul stitched into the letters of that brim. Unraveling its meaning still. Letting people have their voice here is as vital as letting us listen.
AC — head hanging low, I have not watched any of the Humans of New York (HONY) video series, though several of my Facebook friends have posted still images. I just checked and the premiere episode is available on youtube. Guess what I’ll be doing this weekend?
Since talking to Steve, I’ve interviewed two more folks that I regularly see on my walks. Stay tuned for posts about them. “Letting people have their voice here is as vital as letting us listen.” Thank you.