All through the decades, topics about the Vietnam War promoted the negative, touting atrocities on citizens such as burning down villages, and the killings at My Lai; returning soldiers were depicted as trained killers like Rambo and Braddock – many of them also suffering mental issues from the war (ticking time bombs). This stigma followed us over the years and painted everyone with the same brush, and because of this, it was difficult for many of us to get jobs and start families. The word, “Vietnam” was taboo, so veterans kept it to themselves and buried those experiences deep down and moved on with their lives.
Today, I want to turn things around and talk about those “GOOD” things that came from the war. Researching this topic was difficult as very little could be found on the internet – information was sparse, and I think it was because of the number of vets who kept quiet upon their return, and these topics were forgotten over time. So, many of the examples in this post are from my personal experiences and past discussions with other veterans during group rap sessions, veteran outings, and chapter meetings where trust was paramount.
Three and a half million soldiers passed through Vietnam during the war years between 1955 – 1975 and held many occupational specialties; it was mostly the engineers and Seabees who destroyed and rebuilt things throughout the country. Much of it was in support the war, but they also helped the local populace.
On a more personal note, I remember many good times during the course of my tour:
Anything you want to add that I might have overlooked or about something you want to expand upon? Have at it in the comment section below.
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CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website 
I liked your article!! Would definitely like to see more positive articles like this!!!
I was a Navy Airman stationed at Tan Son Nhut in 1966 and lived at the International Hotel in Saigon and lived with the 615th & 716th MP Battalions. Tough times for sure…but saw more positive things than negative.
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John, thanks for the mostly positive blog, you did a great jog as always. But the most interesting part of it are the comments. Don’t know if I was a REMF or not. I was a helicopter pilot in the Delta. I will admit that I lived fairly comfortably during both tours. C-rations was my main source of nourishment. I flew over a thousand hours doing insertions, extractions and resupply. I was new wounded but I was shot down 3 times. I lost count of the total number of hits the aircraft took. You be the judge, REMF or not, I was a soldier – I went where I was told to go – I did what I was told to do. I’m proud of my two tours in Nam and I defer to no one.
It appears that a lot of the folks who commented on this piece are carrying a heavy load of bitterness. Guys, it’s time to get over it. The politicians that sent us to Vietnam are all dead. The memories of Vietnam are never going away. It’s time to make peace with yourself and your fellow veterans. God bless all of us. Welcome Home.
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I read your, input. You were like some others. Including myself.
We both made it outta there, unscathed. Why we even went there, is still
unknown to me. God Bless America.
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Some say, it’s time to get, over it. And yet you, write about it. HUH ?
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It is just something, some folks like to read.
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I now live in a place, the warmth / weather is almost like it was, in Viet nam.
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All this is good for, passing the, time. And possibly, learn something.
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I said a few because, we had a few bldgs. And each HOOCH was, full of Soldiers. And it took 1Maid for each HOOCH.
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Then we has 1one man. All he did was, burn toilets.
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In the summer of 1968, prior to my tour in Nam. I had, ESCORT Duty. All soldiers should know, what that duty consisted of. That was, a sad time. I went-flew first, to Sanfrancisco. Then flew to a small community, west of CHICAGO. Within 3hours, the man at the Funeral Home did all the talking to the, family. I never said, a word.
On Tue, Nov 12, 2019 at 4:23 PM CherriesWriter – Vietnam War website wrote:
> * Artie Cotner commented: “Then we has 1one man. All he did was, burn > toilets.”
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I FAILED TO ENTER, THE FACT. I WAS GONE FROM THAT PLACE, IN 3 HOURS.
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Now I see, I need to make a correction. It is, we HAD, not has. I man who burned the
toilets, each day.
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Starting off, in the Nam. I was based in Long Bhin just north of Saigon. after 6 months in. We 2 Companies merge. 543d & 572d that was known as Gypsy Bandits, Took all Trucks & Equipment to Port Of Saigon. Next day, we all boarded, C-147zz and flew North. Re-set up, in a complete open area. 1 Ammo Dump was, appx: 1/4mile north of us. I forget the date it occurred. Somehow some 1 or more managed to enter the Ammo Dump. Then, somehow the explosions began, in the Dump. I have or, had no idea of the Quantity of munitions, in the Dump. However, after it began to blow. The sky was lit up to include, our location. There was bright light, like daylight. Until, the sun rose the following morning. No doubt we all were, on High Alert. All we did was man our weapons and stayed where we, were. As the Sun rose, we were still manning our weapons. No doubt, we were all on High Alert all of the coming day. Without any, sleep.
We were all, very lucky. No enemy or whatever, even tried to enter our location. Someone said, the assume the Sappers had done the act of setting off the fires etc. The whomever had, done what they intended to, do. The next 3/4 days, we slept in the open. Then our Tents ETC, we retrieved from the Coast which was fairly near our current location. Finally we Set up Camp, tents and all. Plus al the Trucks, we had received. at the Port. Brought in-land to the spot we, were in and using.
One last, comment. I never heard, ant real reason for, the American Forces entering in to that FIASCO. Those of you who have read, this. Think as you wish. I know we had no business at all, in Viet Nam period.
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Now I have forgotten, what I planned to enter.
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I do not know, about others. That I know of, nobody ever announced, why we were in Viet Nam.
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Artie, We were suppose to make a difference. The ideology and politics aside, we were there to help the South Vietnamese. As a reward for finding “The City” in Cambodia my group was designated “The Pacification Company” and assigned to the village of Dinh Quan located just down the hill from FSB Nancy. We made hooches near the community well. I obtained a 55 gallon drum and an Australian Shower from the FSB. I took it into the village and borrowed a torch to braze the shower head into the bottom of the barrel. We made a stand from railroad ties and the first shower in Dinh Quan was born. We thought that we hired a young hooch maid but, I guess we bought her. She was very young and pretty; always singing – I called her Sunshine . The RFs and PFs were not interested in any sort of ambush or patrols- they had their arrangements with the VC. So, the only good things that I ever did was build a community shower and I protected little Sunshine’s virtue for a few days until I went back in the bush. The villagers liked the shower and probably kept using it after we left. Little “Sunshine”was probably sold to others who were not as kind. Life was cheap and living was hard in those villages.
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We had a few HOOCH Maids. I have a picture I made of, the one we had for, our HOOCH.
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After being upset with your last blog for perpetuating the negatives of Vietnam it is nice to see your reveal of the positives of Vietnam. Thank you, a lot of good men and women lost their lives and to hear only one negative side, is just so unfair to their families so thank you for this piece.
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Nothing positive at all about my experience in the US Army of which 14 months was in combat in Vietnam. I was glad to read that someone found something positive about their experience.
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Also used the GI Bill which nearly got me through a Masters Degree….changed my life and gave me an excellent career path…David Huntington USMC Artillery Forward Observer 66-67
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Brought back many good memories. Christmas 1967 we (1st Log 64th Bn) presented gifts and food to orphaned children in the area around Long Binh. Nam67
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Not like my experience at all. Nothing positive during my 2 years in the Army.
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Very good article.If a person looks, there is a positive side to war. During those years, REMFs had a bad reputation but if a person stops and thinks about it, where would or how would supplies get to the war zones? Medical, food items, just to name a few.
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Apparently I touched a nerve or two with my usage of the acronym REMF There were a lot of years and a lot of units in the war. I was in the bush not at a FSB or in an APC. My unit received one hot meal that I did not eat because I guarded the perimeter. I did get ammo, Cs and LRRPs. I carried my own PRC 77 and 292 in addition to 3-5 days food. Most of my resupply was via kickout. I wore the same uniform until it rotted off me. My Scout had one made for me when he went on R&R. I never knew ice cream existed. Our beer and soda fund stayed in the rear as did the SP packs. I have dealt with gum disease due to my lack of a tooth brush until I finally went on R&R and bought one. I came home with hepatitus due to the unsanitary conditions. I am glad that you folks were treated better and my apologies to the REMFs and the people that loved them. I tolerate them now. It is a step in the right direction. PS Thanks for the Camaro. I can only imagine the BS stories that came home with the SKSs that paid for it
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nothing wrong with “REMFS”.
they brought us our AMMO, C-rats, etc.
took care of us in the various field hospitals.
I wouldn’t have made it without them.
I was in the Armored Cavalry, did time as a inf squad leader, recon man, and dumb assed tanker. Got 3 Purple Hearts.
I used my Vet’s Rehab (kind of like the GI bill, except they bought us our books too) and got my associates degree which enabled me to make a decent living.
Welcome home to you all, that includes REMFs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Well said!
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I grew up in in Florida. Our home through the week was converted temporary WWII Barracks owned by the Tampa Housing Authority. Our home on the weekend was eighty miles away on an old farm with no indoor plumbing. The farm house had four feet of screen and four feet of wood for sides and a tin roof with a large overhang similar in nature to the hooches that many of you lived in in Vietnam. Neither had conditioned air or heat. The farm had a lot wooded tropical area similar to Southeast Asia. I was used to heat, rain, cold, insects, snakes and just about everything that bothered the troops from other parts of the country. I grew up hunting and shooting. Vietnam was a walk-in-the-park. I was a grunt. My occupational specialty had no civilian equivalent. I was also a former NCO . Unfortunately, what little industry that existed was brought about by firms looking for cheap labor and tax incentives. Employment was not plentiful. Education was important to my parents as my father went to the eighth grade and my mother through the twelfth. I saved all of my Vietnam earnings and expected to resume my studies under the GI Bill. Sadly, when I came home: ” my head just was not in it”
My positive recollections of the Vietnam War:
1. Overgrown Buddhist Temples and underground cities in the jungles of Cambodia that had not been seen by humans in many years.
2. Montagnards and Kit Carson Scouts were good simple people, I miss them
3. My Omega Divers watch with a luminous dial, that I purchased at the Bien Hoa BX when I came in country. It was the only thing that I brought home. I gave it to a friend.
4. Learning what I was capable of doing when necessary. Having good values and morals.
5. The Australians that I met in Surfers Paradise while on R&R ( did not stay in Sydney)
6. Trading my cache of NVA weapons to the REMFs for enough money to purchase my first new car through PACEX just prior to DEROS ( did not bring anything home)
7. Buying my first , fifth and sixth home using the GI Bill ( little down, low interest)
8. Eventually, being the first in my family to graduate from university ( used GI Bill )
9. Receiving medical treatment and compensation and life insurance from the VA
10. Finally joining PTSD groups at the VetCenter and chapter meetings for the VVA and DAV. Discovering that REMFs are people too; more or less.
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Good Article John.
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That last picture brought me to tears. Tom Dyar – Americal Division 1/14 Arty B Battery 1969-70
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Tom, That’s the first time I’ve heard anything about the 14th Artillery Regiment in some 50 plus years. I was Battalion Asst S3 of the 4/14 Arty at Fort Sill, and later moved to the 1/83rd Artillery “B” Btry as XO and later CO in I-Corp Vietnam ’68-’69. I really enjoy pdoggbiker’s posts, they bring back memories, and I’ve even found old comrades in the comments.
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Thanks for the comments, Neal. I knew my posts would do some good for the VN Vet community! / John
On Mon, Oct 14, 2019 at 2:27 PM CherriesWriter – Vietnam War website wrote:
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The GI bill paid all of my costs at The Citadel in Charleston, graduated in1976. My career took off after that.
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Our battalion supported an orphanage for my year. We paid for a new facility north of Bien Hoa paid for with sundry funds that I had some control over before I left. Heard after we left in 75 that the commies tore it down. Why? An 8 story hospital was recently built on our base camp land. It was a ghetto after we left. The Engineers built a fine network of roads and bridges starting in 1965. America should be proud. There is still a great division between the North and South almost 50 years later.
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Great article , thanks for sharing.!
The GI Bill was equal to a full ride scholarship. The State also contributed. No financial worries. Out of Vietnam in October 1969 at the University Jan 1970, graduated June 1973 Bachelor of Science.
A new lease on life!
Ronald Beck
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I remember the hate filled 5 o’clock news. If we, the US, was so bad why then did so many Vietnamese people want to come to the US when they became refugees?
Go to google and search, Vietnam, pictures, soldiers and there a lot of pictures of the US soldiers helping the Vietnamese.
Baby killers NO,. kindness, helpful YES
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Good Post
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We had a Vietnamese machinist on our approved vendors list. I had him make a prototype part for me. When I picked up the item, I noticed some RVN citations on his wall. We talked a little about the cross of gallantry, since I also have one, etc. He thanked me for fighting for his country. That meant a lot. That really had not occurred to me. I retired, he hasn’t. He will not allow me to pay for my small personal projects. That means a great deal more than I can say.
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I read both of your books and I appreciate you and the blog and emails you put out. Thanks for saying positive things about Vietnam. I was a FMF Corpsman with Charlie Company 1/1 I was shot and Medivaced to San Francisco on 1967
I have focused as much as possible in the last 52 years on the lives I saved and the Vietnamese people I treated. The horrors of war are overwhelming and it is great to look at the good things we accomplished also. Thanks again.
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I worked as an X ray tech a few years after I returned home. I have had several Vietnamese ask if I was their father.
I know they had a rough time after we left but many of them made it to the US too.
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Thank you, really loved this. I forwarded to my DD friends
Sent from my iPad
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I also came back and used the GI Bill unfortunately I went to a private college FDU, in NJ. I graduated cum laude and I was also married and working as a truck driver full time. Our GI Bill was not as good as the WWII Bill or the current Bill. There the Gov’t paid tuition direct to the schools and gave the veteran a stipend to live on. I received a flat $125 per month and had to pay all tuition fees, books, and costs out of that money. I therefore had to take a loan out from a bank every semester and pay it back out of my GI BIll check. It was tough but I did it.
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Very good breakdown of the reality behind the Vietnam era GI Bill.
For those of us like myself who served Post Vietnam , there were hardly education benefits at all. The Vietnam GI Bill was ended in 1975 by then- Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, during his first term under Gerald Ford, allegedly as a budget-saving measure. We were instead offered something known as VEAP, which was a pay into as you go 2 for 1 contribution racket. It was also set to a limit which was totally inadequate to fund any real college expenses.
But then, this sort of thing was typical for the likes of Donald Rumsfeld .
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I am sorry to hear about the educational benefits being reduced. I always thought that the benefits got better. For those who may not know. You can get your home loan benefit back if the home is refinanced. I used mine three times. I moved around a lot. Each time I did a fifteen year loan thinking that I would retire in that home. They were all assumable in those days but, were all refinanced or sold.
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John Davies. Right on about Rummy.
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