46 years on, Vietnamese helmet returned

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

http://news.yahoo.com/46-years-vietnamese-helmet-returned-101426992.html 46 years on, Vietnamese helmet returned Associated Press
By TRAN VAN MINH
4 hours ago
HUONG NON, Vietnam (AP) — In 1968, young American soldier John Wast was scouring a battlefield in central Vietnam for weapons and intelligence when an enemy helmet with an image of a dove scratched onto it caught his eye. He tied it to his rucksack, and five months later took it home as a war souvenir, where for 46 years it had sat on a shelf.

When a U.S. veterans' charity approached him asking whether he would like to see the helmet returned to the family of its onetime owner, he said yes, so long as it didn't cause them any more pain. The group, the Development of Vietnam Endeavors Fund, located the family of the soldier, Bui Duc Hung, who was killed in the war, his remains never recovered.

On Tuesday, four U.S. veterans returned the helmet in a ceremony in the Hung's family's village 70 kilometers (45 miles) northwest of Hanoi that stressed the need for peace and reconciliation.

"This is a very sacred moment for my extended family," said Bui Duc Duc, the 52-year-old nephew of the slain solider.

Duc wept as the helmet was placed in front of a family altar in his house. The Americans, along with around 100 villagers and local officials gathered for the ceremony, looked on. A bust of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam's victorious war time leader was also in the room.

"We consider this helmet as part of him and we will keep as a reminder for our family's future generations," he said.

Up to 3 million Vietnamese were killed in the war, which the United States undertook to stop the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia.

Wast, a 67-year-old from Toledo, Ohio, didn't travel back to Vietnam. But in a statement that was read out at the ceremony, Wast said that Hung had "fought with skill and courage."

"The time has now come for me to return this helmet to those who knew and cared for Bui Duc Hung," he said. "I do this with thoughts of love and peace to you all." I have mixed thoughts on this. On the one hand the soldier sending back the helmet has the right to do so but we ALSO must remember how they treated our guys that were captured!! They were brutal as hell with our guys and showed nothing but savage and cruel treatment to them ignoring Geneva Convention rules, etc. Sure it is a feel good story now but how about if one of your family members was killed or wounded there or even captured and abused every minute during their time as a POW?? One of my very best friends was a Marine Vietnam War veteran and he held this to be the best policy with them, -- " ffkk 'em feed 'em fishheads". I'd stack him up against any man I know. So his words have great merit IMHO.. -Tyr

[Gaffer]

When Vietnam is a free democratic country, then I would consider visiting and being friends. Not until then. All this playing nicy nice with them is a bunch of hooey. The commies were my enemy and they will always be my enemy. I really don't care about the feelings of a viet cong or nva family.

[Abbey Marie]

I too have mixed feelings, as my oldest brother did a tour in Viet Nam, and was almost killed.

It is a very nice thing to do. And the people fighting aren't usually the ones making the policies, and are instead often just pawns in a political game. So as a soldier-to-soldier gesture, it makes some sense.

I guess in the end I am wondering if things would be any different if we were to fight there again today.

[aboutime]

Personally, as a Nam vet myself. I have no ill-will to anyone in that nation anymore.

But. I do hold the feelings, and refuse to forget what took place during those years when American civilians...namely a Hollywood Traitor in a skirt...BETRAYED AMERICAN PRISONERS.

I don't think I need to say a specific name...but if puke had an ID photo. It would look like that person.

More than 58,000 American names are on a Wall in Washington, and SIX of them joined the military the very same day I did.
For them. I WILL NEVER FORGET.

[Gaffer]

I have no problem with the regular South Vietnamese people. It's the Viet Cong and NVA I despise. I saw what they did first hand. Yeah they were pawns, but they were vicious pawns. The same ones that I fought against back then are now controlling the govt. (theirs and ours).

[jafar00]

You would think the war was over. You guys lost. Get over it!

[aboutime]

You would think the war was over. You guys lost. Get over it!


Wrong jafar. The military didn't lose in Vietnam. The POLITICIANS lost it. And the same can be said for IRAQ, and AFGHANISTAN today.

This is what, and why on all counts......http://icansayit.com/images/cutrun.jpg

[jimnyc]

You would think the war was over. You guys lost. Get over it!

For a minute there I thought this thread was about Israel/Palestine. :)

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

You would think the war was over. You guys lost. Get over it! No, politicians gave it up. We had the power to destroy a few dozen N.VIETNAMS AND CHINA TOO. Either you are vastly ignorant of our military might and power then and now or else you simply pretend to be. Russia never attacked us DIRECTLY because they knew we'd defeat them and you think the puny N.VIETNAMESE DEFEATED US! You did make me laugh at the absurdity of your claim... --Tyr

[jafar00]

For a minute there I thought this thread was about Israel/Palestine. :)

Lol, you are forgiven :)


No, politicians gave it up. We had the power to destroy a few dozen N.VIETNAMS AND CHINA TOO. Either you are vastly ignorant of our military might and power then and now or else you simply pretend to be. Russia never attacked us DIRECTLY because they knew we'd defeat them and you think the puny N.VIETNAMESE DEFEATED US! You did make me laugh at the absurdity of your claim... --Tyr

It's a river in Sudan :p

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Lol, you are forgiven :)



It's a river in Sudan :p In Egypt too but that has nothing to do with the reality we were forced to fight a very limited war by our politicians. We could have absolutely pulverized N.Vietnam had we been allowed too. --Tyr

[jafar00]

In Egypt too but that has nothing to do with the reality we were forced to fight a very limited war by our politicians. We could have absolutely pulverized N.Vietnam had we been allowed too. --Tyr

It was my understanding that the reality was that the VC were extremely tough to fight. Not the pushover that you think they were in your haze of patriotism.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

It was my understanding that the reality was that the VC were extremely tough to fight. Not the pushover that you think they were in your haze of patriotism. I never said they were a piece of cake. My point was they had a base = N. Vietnam, that we were not allowed to obliterate which we could have done. Fighting a war using on the right foot is stupid and costs lives . Worse than that it drags on so long the will to win (which politicians never had) falters. Anybody with any adequate knowledge of our military power of that time knew we could have ran a 3 month campaign of total destruction of their support bases in N. Vietnam and won. Tyr

[Voted4Reagan]

It was my understanding that the reality was that the VC were extremely tough to fight. Not the pushover that you think they were in your haze of patriotism.

The VC didn't wear Uniforms to identify themselves. They fought Guerrilla actions. the NVA Regulars were uniformed.. Easily Identified.

Do you know anything about Vietnam Jafar?

I do...I was fortunate enough to discuss it at lengths with the people that fought there. From Infantry soldiers, Marines, Navy Seals and even the Commander of all US Forces in SE Asia, Gen. William Westmoreland.


Before you regurgitate your quasi-knowledge...perhaps you should review what youre talking about..

AboutTime and Myself will be glad to school you.

[aboutime]

The VC didn't wear Uniforms to identify themselves. They fought Guerrilla actions. the NVA Regulars were uniformed.. Easily Identified.

Do you know anything about Vietnam Jafar?

I do...I was fortunate enough to discuss it at lengths with the people that fought there. From Infantry soldiers, Marines, Navy Seals and even the Commander of all US Forces in SE Asia, Gen. William Westmoreland.


Before you regurgitate your quasi-knowledge...perhaps you should review what youre talking about..

AboutTime and Myself will be glad to school you.


Thanks Red States Rule. But jafar is just presenting his resume' that mirrors John (WAR HERO) Kerry who helped to betray Americans in uniform after he gathered all of his SELF AWARDED medals for a MONTH in Vietnam.
The SWIFT BOAT gang is still alive, and well. Despite all the Obama-like Lies Kerry insisted were true.
Jafar simply isn't worth the time, or the effort. We have NOTHING to prove to him since he KNOWS EVERYTHING there is to know...as his training on such subjects seem to have been stolen from the DNC Talking Points Manual...updated by Debbie Wasser man(is she ugly) Schultz.

[Gaffer]

Where do I start? First of all jafar, the VC were not tough fighters. They were sneaky and rarely came out for a straight up fight. The only time they came out was when we stumbled onto them or went into a area where they had bases and large forces. Their favorite tactic was to hide in a village and start shooting at us, causing us to have to respond and shoot up innocent people. Sound familiar? hamas any one?

The NVA stayed hidden as much as they could too. Again they rarely came out for a straight up fight. The only time they and the VC did was in tet of 68. They got their ass royally creamed with 90% casualties among the VC. The VC after that were no longer an effect fighting force. The role had to be taken by the NVA.

The war as far as the US was concerned ended in 73 after Nixon finally bombed Hanoi and forced the north to the peace table. In 1975 the north attacked the south in an all out invasion. The US was not there. The democrat socialist in our congress had cut off all aid to South Vietnam, so the south couldn't really fight back and were literally over run. South Vietnam lost due to the US congress of that time.

And lastly, there were a lot of Aussies in Vietnam. Along with Filipinos, S. Koreans and others. Did your country lose the war because they pulled out along with the US?

[Trigg]

Where do I start? First of all jafar, the VC were not tough fighters. They were sneaky and rarely came out for a straight up fight. The only time they came out was when we stumbled onto them or went into a area where they had bases and large forces. Their favorite tactic was to hide in a village and start shooting at us, causing us to have to respond and shoot up innocent people. Sound familiar? hamas any one?

The NVA stayed hidden as much as they could too. Again they rarely came out for a straight up fight. The only time they and the VC did was in tet of 68. They got their ass royally creamed with 90% casualties among the VC. The VC after that were no longer an effect fighting force. The role had to be taken by the NVA.

The war as far as the US was concerned ended in 73 after Nixon finally bombed Hanoi and forced the north to the peace table. In 1975 the north attacked the south in an all out invasion. The US was not there. The democrat socialist in our congress had cut off all aid to South Vietnam, so the south couldn't really fight back and were literally over run. South Vietnam lost due to the US congress of that time.

And lastly, there were a lot of Aussies in Vietnam. Along with Filipinos, S. Koreans and others. Did your country lose the war because they pulled out along with the US?

somehow I doubt jafar considers himself Australian, or he might have a different view of the Vietnam war.

I also doubt he had any family who fought/died in that war.

[aboutime]

somehow I doubt jafar considers himself Australian, or he might have a different view of the Vietnam war.

I also doubt he had any family who fought/died in that war.


Trigg. Personally. After all of the endless defensive posts jafar has made...based on hatred, and lies. I now look at jafar as not worthy of having any family, or courage to defend himself, or them.
Cowards tend to seek asylum in Far Off places, from which they can espouse their endless hatred for anyone who isn't like them.
That's the nature of AQ, HAMAS, and HEZBOLLA as well. Their only purpose in life is to KILL, and be Miserable while hiding behind a FALSE PROPHET.