Can someone help me?
My name is Betty. I am a Registered Nurse in NYC.
I am writing a paper for one of my classes... and need to gather information.
I need to know how the Military changed you... or your son/daughter.
I need to know how the sights and sounds of war impressed you at first..
I need stories about your injury, a friends injury, or a friends death.
I need to know how it felt to be at war. What you were thinking.
I need stories of how you related to the locals.
How did they receive you. Did they do something nice for you or your platoon?
Did you, a friend or the platoon do something nice/ cooperative for the people in your town?
The children... how did they relate to you?
And you them?
Did you foster any relationships with them. How did you feel leaving those relationships behind?

If you just pick one question and tell me the story.... Maybe,
I will be able to use the information to draw some conclusions on which to write my thesis. You can e-mail me directly @ boopsiny1@aol.com

I'm not in the habit of discussing my service experiences with just anyone.

I think you'll find this attitude a common one. What you need to do is go to a VA Facility and talk to some Veterans in person....

And be sure to THANK THEM for their service.

These forums aren't really here for questionaire purposes. We come here to chat, not be interviewed for someone's project.

Hal thank you. You actually said it a lot more politely than I would have, the way I have been feeling recently, which is why I didn't respond to it.

Agree with Hal. Talk to some Vets in person. This may take some time. You will have to gain their trust and respect in order for them to open up.

You won't get a lot of help from this board.

Yeah, I agree all around on that. ya wanna know ....go there.

Betsy

Just FYI and to understand what has been said here.
Last year I attended the 1st Marine Division reunion. I met a WWII marine and his wife. We talked over the differences between the old and new Corps. After about an hour he began to tell me of some of his experiences at Peleliu and Okinawa.

His wife of 52 years was shocked at what she heard. He had never in his entire marriage discussed his experiences with her before.

So you see, some experiences are kept private.

quote:

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Originally posted by cedarbird6:
Betsy

Just FYI and to understand what has been said here.
Last year I attended the 1st Marine Division reunion. I met a WWII marine and his wife. We talked over the differences between the old and new Corps. After about an hour he began to tell me of some of his experiences at Peleliu and Okinawa.

His wife of 52 years was shocked at what she heard. He had never in his entire marriage discussed his experiences with her before.

So you see, some experiences are kept private.

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RE: At our division reunion a couple of years ago, we had a guy whom I'll call Smitty who came for the first time. Smitty was hit in the neck with shrapnel and it cut his carotid artery. A guy named Russell stuck his finger in the hole to keep Smitty from bleeding to death.

Anyhow, they met again for the first time in over 30 years and it was the first time they'd ever talked about that day with each other.

I was watching Smitty's wife's reaction. She just sat there with her mouth open so I asked if she'd ever heard this before and she said no, not a word about it in 28 years of marriage.

On the other hand, SOMEONE needs to hear those stories or they'll die with the participants. That would be a tragedy. Like Smitty's, stories like that aren't earth-shaking and won't effect the course of history if they're kept secret, but it's still important, to me, that they survive so that future generations will know just what young men and women are asked to do when they're sent off to war.

Betsy
I don't know of many Vets who will give info to civilians. Kit may have hit the nail on the head as it is tough to relate some experiences without some similar frame of experience. Sadly a lot of Korean and Vietnam stories will be lost because of the reception and/or attitude conveyed when the Soldiers returned home.
Could you find humor in pulling leaches off other Soldiers; a Soldier riding a Water Buffalo; or finding maggots in a meal that is half eaten?
Without that how can you deal with the horror that many faced? and how is the Vet to know what is acceptable? to tell you?

"finding maggots in a meal that is half eaten? "

I had that happen to me ONE time..and the thing is, I was so hungry, I didn't get sick. But no, I did NOT finish it, lol!

I agree with the rest of these people, there are alot of things I have never told my wife of 31 years. You need to talk to the vets at the local VA. Sorry but if I will not tell my wife I sure will not tell you, nothing personel towards you.

quote:

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Originally posted by Amvet91Alpha:
"finding maggots in a meal that is half eaten? "

I had that happen to me ONE time..and the thing is, I was so hungry, I didn't get sick. But no, I did NOT finish it, lol!

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Maggots in a meal? Needs more hot sauce...

ANYTHING tastes better with hot sauce.

just as long as its not from New York city..

sign up and find out for yourself and serve your country. Nothing like first hand knowledge.

Been there done that, thank you very much.

No, you haven't you poser piece of shit. When are you going to poke your fat head in the ring? We're waiting for you... we've seen your ass lurking around over there.