A Vietnam Veteran Shares His Story. He was Wounded Three Separate Times.

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Military news…

As Suicides Rise, US Military Seeks to Address Mental Health

In March, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the creation of an independent committee to review the military’s mental health and suicide prevention programs.

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Fort Hood to Be Renamed for Richard Cavazos, a Four-Star Hispanic General

The new name will honor Gen. Richard Cavazos, who is noted for his leadership during the Korean War, when he earned the Silver Star and Distinguished Service Cross for leading the Puerto Rican regiment “The Borinqueneers.” He also served in Vietnam.

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U.S. Military Teaches Living off the Land to Feed Future Warriors

Military leaders say such lengthy supply chains may not be workable in a potential future large-scale conflict and are preparing troops to be more able to live off the land. 

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The Marine Corps Hit All Its Recruitment Goals for 2022

The Marine Corps met its recruitment goals for fiscal year 2022, making it one of the only branches this year to fully reach its target numbers.

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Nuclear Deterrence Drill, Talks on Restocking Arsenals Next up on Nato’s Agenda

The U.S.-led NATO alliance will agree this week to a plan for ramping up munitions and weapons production to replenish stockpiles after months of arms shipments to Ukraine.

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I met a marine yesterday while shopping at Cost Co. He was one hell of a guy. We quickly became friends, and I asked him if I could have his email to keep in touch. He agreed, and I told him I was writing a book on the military and could I interview him. He said yes.

Then he gave me a sneak peak of what happened to him. He was wounded three separate times. Two times by bayonets. One of the bayonet times the bayonet went through both legs. He was also wounded by shrapnel. He said there was a lot of close up fighting going on. He was in Vietnam from 1965-1969. A long haul.

Come back and read his amazing story as it unfolds. Better yet…go to the top of this page and click on subscribe. When you do all future posts will go directly to your inbox.

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you fighting back memories?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 15,219 Veterans on this site who have your back.

If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.
1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

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Remember:


You are never alone.


You are never forsaken.


You are never unloved.


And above all…never, ever, give up.

+Now there is an easier way to get help. Just dial 988, and you will have help ready for you.

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Interviewing veterans Who Lost a Buddy in the Military Was Very Hard for Me.

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Military news…

Ukraine official: Zelenskyy meets with Austin and Blinken

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin came as Ukraine pressed the West for more powerful weapons in its fight against the Russian invasion, which began 60 days ago.


In Mariupol, echoes of history, utter devastation and a last stand

The fight in Mariupol is not over. Civilians and Ukrainian fighters — including combatants from the Azov Regiment, the same nationalist unit that helped wrest back the city in 2014 — remain hunkered down in a dramatic last stand at the sprawling Azovstal Iron and Steel Works.

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Russian officer: Missile to carry several hypersonic weapons

Col. Gen. Sergei Karakayev, the commander of the Russian military’s Strategic Missile Forces, said in televised remarks that the new Sarmat ICBM is designed to carry several Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles.

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‘Worth a lifetime of PTSD’: Cradling a Ukrainian infant, an Idaho Marine veteran finds meaning in his pain

On March 22, Idaho Marine veteran Jared Malone came to Ukraine to raise money for Victory Christian Church and help rent a building in Lviv that could house refugees. He spent nearly a month in Ukraine, flying back to the U.S. on April 16.

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Russia hits rail, fuel facilities in attacks deep in Ukraine

In meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday, the American secretaries of state and defense said Washington had approved a $165 million sale of ammunition for Ukraine’s war effort, along with more than $300 million in foreign military financing.

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US weapon stockpiles worry some lawmakers as Ukraine war rages on
Shipments to Ukraine of weapons such as Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles have cut into the Pentagon’s inventory by about one-third, according to estimates by some lawmakers and experts during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

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US and allies gather at Ramstein to discuss how to help Ukraine defeat Russia’s ‘unjust invasion’Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that allies must “move at the speed of war” to get more weaponry into the hands of Ukrainian forces, following meetings with dozens of foreign military leaders at Ramstein Air Base on Tuesday.

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I have been interviewing many veterans for my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life. I will share one with you today to show you what you can see if your acquire the book.

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Interview with Don the Marine

On my way home from doing errands I decided to stop and have lunch at a local Carl’s Jr. I got my meal and saw a guy sitting in one of the seats wearing a “Once a Marine, Always a Marine,” hat. I walked up to him and told him thank you for your service. I went on to my seat and started eating.

I watched him as I ate. He had scars up on one of his legs, and down one of his arms. He was connected to an oxygen machine that was in a carrying bag he had.

He started to get up to leave. He had a cane. He went to empty his tray, and came right by me. I asked him to sit and talk for a while.

He wasn’t sure he wanted to do that at first, but when I told him I was a veteran as well, he sat down with me.

We bonded quickly. He was in Vietnam. He worked with helicopters. They brought supplies and good to the shore.

I asked him about his physical problems.

Don I had agent orange. I have had three heart surgeries. I have type II diabetes. I can’t breathe well, because of all the scar tissues

Were you in Vietnam?

Don: Yes

What rank did you have?

Don: Corporal

What unit were you in?

Don: 333rd

What were your duties?

Don: We were on helicopters bringing supplies and food to the shore.

What was the hardest part of your service for you?

Don: Seeing friends die. I saw one of my best friends and another pilot flying a helicopter that crashed into the ocean. They were trapped inside and they drowned. They never recovered their bodies.

How did you do while serving?

Don: The VA never recognized me for getting sick until recently.

What are your feelings on how soldiers were treated who fought in Vietnam?

Don: People spit on the soldiers when they came through the airports coming home.

We exchanged email addresses and I have a new friend who feels some of the pain I had while I was in the service.

This is a typical story from many Vietnam veterans. They didn’t deserve the treatment they received, and still served our country with honor. This was a very short interview because he had a hard time talking about his service.

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you struggling?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 14,525 veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with as many other veterans as you can. It has helped so many.

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If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

________________________________________________________________

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.