America’s forgotten heroes– Vietnam Vets
Andrea Shea King
© 2009
On Jan. 10, 1970, U.S. Army Capt. Herbert C. Crosby disappeared without a trace.
“Herby” Crosby was piloting “Firebird 91,” a UH1C Iroquois Huey helicopter combat gunship in Vietnam. He was leading three Hueys returning from Tien Phuoc to the unit’s home base at Chu Lai, South Vietnam. On board were Warrant Officer George A. Howes, co-pilot; Spc. 5th Class Wayne C. Allen, crew chief; and Spc. 4th Class Francis G. Graziosi, door gunner.
The 22-year old Crosby’s tour of duty was scheduled to end a few weeks later, and the young serviceman looked forward to returning home to Donaldsonville, Ga.
But on that day, Capt. Crosby and his three-man crew got lost in bad weather over Quang Nam Province. Their helicopter disappeared.
For 36 years, Crosby’s family awaited word on the fate of their son and brother. On Dec. 8, 2006, they learned the truth. Herby’s remains had been recovered, and all that was left to do was bury him with a full military funeral. The following Memorial Day, Capt. Herbert C. Crosby was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.
Today, we remember Capt. Crosby and all who have served our country, defenders of our liberty and that of oppressed countries the world over.
On this Veterans Day, I watched The “Forgotten Heroes,” a film conceived in 1985 and produced by filmmaker Jack Marino, who wanted to tell the real story of those who fought in Vietnam.
“Forgotten Heroes” isn’t a documentary. Rather, it’s the story of brothers in arms who were drafted, fought, overcame incredible hardships and came home to the jeers of fellow Americans who hated this war.
As one Blue Star Mom described it, “‘Forgotten Heroes’ is the polar opposite of so many Hollywood movies of the Vietnam War. You know, the ones that show the soldiers and Marines as bloodthirsty murderers and depraved and crazed killers of women and babies.”
The “Forgotten Heroes” website explains:
In 1986 after watching the film “Platoon,” Jack Marino realized that since John Wayne’s “Green Berets,” Hollywood was increasingly reluctant to say anything positive or portray in a heroic sense anyone that fought in the Vietnam war. He felt he had to do something to counter all the negativism that seemed so pervasive within the city limits of Tinsel Town towards America’s war vets. He had been kicking around this idea of a World War II style film in a Vietnam setting for some time.
Marino explains, “I wanted to portray on film that generation who answered JFK’s call to defend freedom anywhere and anytime.”
He continues, “Every Sunday possible during my childhood, my dad and I would spend a few hours watching all the great black-and-white World War II movies together. Still, decades later, when I came home for a visit, we would fight the war together again in front of the TV. John Wayne, Errol Flynn, Van Johnson, Audie Murphy and so many more are a major part of my childhood memories.”
The Blue Star Mom adds, “My husband and I have pretty much stopped watching movies coming out of Hollywood. We’re just plain sick and tired of sitting down to let go of our daily stuff and be entertained to find we’re being lectured on the liberal’s agenda of hating America and/or our military. There are so many wonderful and inspiring stories about our military out there, just waiting to be told. But the media can’t even bring itself to report on our finest unless its report after report about torture (mostly bogus), civilian deaths (so many found to be untrue) and how ‘demoralized’ and ‘broken’ our troops are.
“So, to think Hollywood (the bastion of liberalism and ‘blame America first’) would even consider making a movie that showed the truth of all the great things and personal sacrifice our troops are willing to stand up and carry out?” she asks. “Well, I’m not holding my breath on that!”
We remember our veterans today, Nov. 11, with hearts filled with gratitude for all they’ve given to make our nation and the world a safer place. And we say a prayer for our fighting men and women and their loved ones. May God bless every one of them.
The VERY FIRST welcome-home parade for Vietnam veterans did not occur until September of 1981.
Let’s put that in perspective.
The war “officially” ended in 1973. The South Vietnamese were left to fight on their own against North Vietnam, China, and elements from Russia. Saigon fell in April of 1975. Many have seen the classic news video of throngs climbing the steps of the US Embassy there, trying to get aboard the last helicopters evacuating embassy staff. The last man off the roof was a USMC Recon sharpshooter named Emil Pugh. (I met him once.)
So, it was not until EIGHT YEARS AFTER THE WAR WAS OVER that our country began to express thanks for their duties in Vietnam. That first homecoming parade was organized by a group of seven Vietnam veterans — the first combat veterans in American history to have to organize their own homecoming parade. The lead organizer was a man named Howard Newmann, who took over management of his father’s hardware store after he returned from Vietnam. Howie was severely wounded by FRIENDLY FIRE — which was far more prevalent in the jungles of Vietnam than it was in previous wars.
Howie was coming back from a three-day patrol. He was pont man. It was late at night. A nervous “green bean” was on perimeter. Instead of whispering the challenge word, per SOPs, the kid set off a Claymore mine — which was located right near Howie’s feet. (If there is any good news to this story, it is that Howie was so close to the mine that the damage from the flying steel balls was limited to his lower legs.) Howie once showed me his legs. I never wanted to see them again, and that was after they had healed for 20 years. (You see, in 1994, the year that I first ran for Congress, I helped Howie to register as a voter … for the first time.)
That homecoming parade marched along Harry L Drive in Johnson City, New York. The end point was Newmann’s Hardware Store. The parade was in September of 1981. There was a chilly drizzle that day — kinda like winter in Vietnam. I saw the photos in the newspaper the next day; the day that I arrived home on leave from Korea.
By the way, “Harry L Drive” is named after Harry L Johnson, a patriotic American businessman, and the son of George F Johnson. If you want to learn the important legacy of the Johnson family to the rest of America (and, at the same time, learn why the Socialists fight so hard to keep control of Congress), then click here.
http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/kovach/050830
By the way, Johnson City was selected (by who, I don’t know) to be a target city for Vietnamese refugees. I once worked with a man that had spent TEN YEARS in a Communist “re-education” camp, after having been a captain in the South Vietnamese army. He loves America.
I wish that more “natural-born citizens” loved America as much as he does, and were willing to act like it. If they did, then we would not have an illegal alien in the White House right now.
Principles matter. Remember!!!
PS: The veterans that really deserve to hear your thanks can’t be at the parades today. The Bible says that “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses”. They’ll hear you.
Beautifully written. Please make the time to visit my friend Marylou’s tribute at her site: http://flamingo91.com
Bless our Vets.
Sir, you bring tears to my eyes & a burning anger in my heart,
when I think of the shameful way these brave warriors have
been treated for so long by the leftist elements in this country.
Never once, to the best of my recollection, have any of those
responsible for the poisonous atmosphere that led to the
recall of our troops & a premature end to hostilities, ever once
apologize for all the suffering, degradation & death that
followed the hasty departure of our personnel from Vietnam.