The traveling Vietnam Wall

I had an oppertunity to visit the traveling Vietnam War Memorial Wall today. It was quite moving,many Vets there. I made it a point to seek the panel on the wall containing the names of those who died at the battle of the I Drang valley after reading the Hal Moore / Joe Galloway books on the battle and subsiquent trip (some fourty years later) to that place. I would encourage anyone who has not visited the traveling wall to do so. And I also recommend We were soldiers once,and young as well as We are soldiers still. Both are a fitting tribute to those on both sides who fought and died in that far away place in an increasingly far away time.

That wall came to my hometown last summer. it was very cool.

mdrim13

I have seen the Wall and seen some of the men I served with on it. I have read the book and seen the movie We were soldiers once and young. I have never heard of the book We are soldiers still. Another Veteran friend of mine told me today he has 6 months to a year to live he has heavy metal poisoning he has lost 77 pounds in the last few months. If he keeps loseing weight like he has been doing he wont make it 6 months before it kills him. Thanks for the post

http://www.weweresoldiers.net/wass.htm This is the link to the webpage for the book. It is the follow up book to We Were Soldiers Once. Very well written and informitive with the prospective of retrospect.
Thank you for your service and please extend my thanks to your ailing friend as well. Is your friends ailment related to his service in Vietnam? As I was walking past the wall last week I thought about all the guys who succomed from agent orange etc.... who have no memorial.

Thanks, to be honest I never asked him where he got the almost 7 pounds of metal in him but I do remember him telling me he had that much. It is the metal that was used to put him back together that has done this to him. Most all of us were exposed to Agent Orange as well as other things. Speaking of Agent Orange I have to tell you this story, i'll shorten it way up and leave out lots of parts so as not to waste space and your valuable time. Back in the 70's I got a letter from the VA to come into the VA hospital to be tested for Agent Orange. I go in and they draw some blood, they tell me to just wait in the room after 5 or 10 min. this doctor comes in and flat out tells me that I was never near anywhere where they sprayed AO and the test proved it. I actually broke down laughing got up and just left laughing my @ss off. I helped mount up the spray rig on the helo and mix the stuff so it could be sprayed, one of the officers used to have pictures posted on a web page of my company. My second born child is in the AO registery.........and according to them I wasn't exposed to the stuff, what a load of horse apples. The day they flat out lied to me was the day I lost all faith in my government, they are all liars in every thing and every way and never to be trusted again.

You have a great day Sir.

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Originally Posted by FTIII

i'll shorten it way up and leave out lots of parts so as not to waste space and your valuable time

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My time is not at all valuable and you certainly did not waste it.
Friend of mines brother in law was just diagnosed with Mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure during his Navy service. I have heard lots of negitive VA stories over the years. I lose a little faith im our government every day. I do have faith in my fellow citizens who are pulling the wagon and not riding in it. But most of all I have faith in those fine folks like youself who answered the call of duty to protect the of freedom we still enjoy.

I have seen the traveling wall twice. Found the panels of the guys I served with. Brings back a lot of memories, good and bad. I want to go see the National one in DC. And all the other military sites there.

The VA waiting until I had had colon and prostate cancer sugeries before calling me in for AO screening. That was 2003. I did get a rating.

I have a claim in to increase it after heart bypass, two shoulder surgies, breathing issues, and the VA telling me I have PTSD. It has been over 14 months and no word from them. Frustrating to say the least. The only redeeming part is they will give you compensation back to the date you filed if they approve it.

Oh well, it is what it is.

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Originally Posted by JimF4M1s

I have a claim in to increase it after heart bypass, two shoulder surgies, breathing issues, and the VA telling me I have PTSD. It has been over 14 months and no word from them. Frustrating to say the least. The only redeeming part is they will give you compensation back to the date you filed if they approve it.

Oh well, it is what it is.

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Thank you for your service and I wish You the very best!

I visited the traveling wall over 20 years a go. My kids say it's the only time they have ever seen me cry. All of us have to many friends on that wall.

About the VA. A friend of mine, 3 tour vet, went to the VA hospital in Cleveland and a Med Tech changed his medication. It was the wrong medication and he had a heck of time for while. He started drinking again and ended up with 2 DUI's. Now's he's on the right meds again and his PTDS was re-evaluated and he got a huge bump.