A VETERAN COMES HOME FROM WAR

In 1968, at the age of 19, my husband Mick was drafted into the US Army Infantry, and within 10 short weeks he received his orders for the Vietnam War. We were childhood sweethearts, already dating 3 years. Once he recieved those orders, we decided to be married and quickly planned the wedding to take place just 2 weeks before his departure.

VIETNAM
As an Army infantryman with the First Air Cavalry, Mick carried either an AK-47 rifle or the M60 machine gun. He did rotational reconnaissance patrols, assuring proposed routes were safe before his unit moved ahead. He set up perimeters and guarded them during the dark of night. His unit walked on foot through high grass and jungles advancing toward the enemy. He was scared to death.

On December 15, 1968 a sniper started firing on this unit. Mick was hit by AK-47 gunfire in his shoulder, back and arm. He was airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Vietnam, transferred to Japan, had surgery, and was sent home to Ft Devens hospital to recuperate. He came down with malaria. A few weeks after the sniper, the rest of Mick's unit was killed in escalated fighting during the TET offensive.

The returning Vietnam Veterans were not welcomed home with tickertape parades. This was the era of Jane Fonda's antiwar campaign, and he vets were spit upon and called "baby killers." No one wanted this war, not the civilians, not the soldiers. These young boys were drafted and sent off to the jungles of a foreign country with only basic preparation. A great many died. Because of the prevailing antiwar sentiment, those who returned tried to blend back into society as quietly as possible. They didn't talk about their experience. They bore their pain in silence. This was unfortunate.

Fast forward 40 years. We have 7 children. Mick is a physical education teacher and avid runner. He decides to participate in the RUN FOR THE DREAM marathon in Williamsburg VA to raise money for wounded warriors. He is one of the lucky wounded warriors. He has all his limbs and can run. We signed up over the phone, prepared to pay the entrance fee. When the registrar heard Mick was a vet, she said a local philanthropist, Walter S. Segaloff, was paying the fees for the veterans! When we asked about hotels, we were told that because Mick was a wounded Veteran, Walter was also paying the cost of our room! Mick was amazed. When he arrived and signed in, Mick was given an envelope containing several hundred dollars of travel reimbursement, tickets to Busch Gardens Amusement Park and to Old Colonial Williamsburg, and restaurant vouchers! Other veterans there were embracing him and saying WELCOME HOME! They knew. This touched something deep inside my husband. It was a healing balm on a deep wound he had tried to ignore. He was deeply, deeply moved.

The vets were invited to attend a pre-race banquet, again financed by this philantropist. From there we were to walk a few blocks to the Governor's Mansion in Historic Williamsburg to see a patriotic celebration program with fireworks. The speaker at the banquet and moderator at the celebration was actor and veteran supporter Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds). After the banquet the vets were surprised by a Colonial Fife and Drum regiment waiting to escort them through the streets to the program. Along the streets leading to the Governor's Mansion were hundreds of people applauding the veterans. Mick had no idea any of this was going to happen. The regiment led us to front-row seats on the lawn of the mansion, where the applause continued. Mick had tears rolling down his cheeks. Forty years after the fact, this wounded warrior had at last felt welcomed home from the war. Thank you Walter S Segaloff for your generous heart for the veterans. You made a difference. May you rest in peace.

PS: So readers, please, the next time you thank a Vietnam Veteran for his service, also tell him, "Welcome Home!" It's been long overdue.