**Vietnam Vet Shares Harrowing Memories on War's 50th Anniversary** A local veteran reflects on the sacrifices, struggles, and lasting scars from

# **"I Wasn’t a Hero—I Just Survived": Local Veteran Reflects on Vietnam War 50 Years Later**

Fifty years after the fall of Saigon, a **local Vietnam veteran** is sharing his story—not as a tale of heroism, but as a raw account of survival.

### **A War That Changed Everything**
For many veterans, the Vietnam War was more than a military conflict—it reshaped their lives in ways they never expected.

- **Drafted at 19**, he was sent to a warzone with no clear mission.
- **The jungle was the enemy** as much as the Viet Cong—constant ambushes, harsh conditions, and the psychological toll of guerrilla warfare.
- **Coming home was harder than fighting**—many veterans faced scorn, not parades.

### **"I Wasn’t Welcomed Back—I Was Ignored"**
Unlike past wars, Vietnam veterans returned to a deeply divided America.

- **No hero’s welcome**—instead, protests and accusations.
- **Many struggled in silence**—PTSD wasn’t recognized, and VA resources were scarce.
- **"We were just kids,"** he says. "We did what we were told—then were left to deal with the aftermath."

### **A New Generation of Veterans**
Now, as fewer Vietnam vets remain, their stories take on new urgency.

- **"I don’t want pity—just understanding,"** he says.
- **Younger veterans** now seek guidance from those who came before them.
- **Lessons from Vietnam** still echo in modern conflicts—how we treat soldiers matters long after the war ends.

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## **What Do You Think?**

- **Should Vietnam veterans receive a formal apology for how they were treated upon returning?**
- **Were the anti-war protesters justified in their anger at soldiers, or was it misdirected?**
- **How can we better support veterans from all wars—especially those suffering from PTSD?**
- **Does America have a responsibility to veterans that extends beyond VA benefits?**
- **If drafted today, would you serve, or resist like some did in the '60s and '70s?**

**Let us know in the comments—your perspective could help shape how we honor veterans moving forward.**

*(Breaking Now News – BNN)*