“Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Winston Churchill in a 1948 speech to the House of Commons.

There is no specific date and time more sacred to our country and our Freedom than the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month because that is when we, as a nation, stop to remember and thank  all those who have served, winning and preserving our freedom.

Throughout the history of our country, Veterans have been respected and revered by their fellow citizens for what they gave and what they lost.

From the Revolutionary War to today, and every mission, every battle and every war in between, Americans have stood grateful for the service and sacrifice of our veterans except once.

There was one time, when many in our nation at best chose to forget and some at worst chose to vilify our returning service men and women.

That treatment of our Vietnam veterans, when they came home, is one of the darkest marks in the history of our country.

It is when, as a country, certainly not all, but certainly, a critical mass of citizens, forgot the very price for the freedom that they enjoyed and who had paid for it.

The average age of the Vietnam soldier was 23 with sixty percent under the age of 21.  Over 2.5 million Americans served in theater with the average soldier seeing 240 days of combat per year.

Whereas in WWII, the average infantryman saw 10 days of combat per year.

They were constantly in the thick of it and under fire.

They fought in as hard and harsh conditions, as the veterans before them and like them, they endured and answered our country’s call.

And, just like the veterans before them, their sacrifice was great with 58,318 killed or missing in action and over 304,000 wounded in action.

Their courage under fire, spirit in adversity, and sense of duty, met the high standard set by those who served before them.

They were no different or less heroic just unfortunate victims of a divisive war and a divided country.

Unlike the veterans before them, they did not return as heroes to parades or public celebrations but instead they returned, in many cases, to public silence and in some cases to jeering, insults and worse.

They didn’t declare the war.

They didn’t set the policies for the war.

They just fought and died, served and sacrificed.

And through it all, they just wanted to get their job done and come back home.

Here are excerpts from a letter written to his 7 month old brother, by U.S. Marine, John Tanney, while near Khe Sanh in 1968.

It captures the thoughts of a young man, on the eve of a dangerous battle.

This letter was only to be opened in the event of his death, which occurred in September of 1968 from wounds which he sustained from mortar fire during the Battle of Khe Sanh.

“You are little now and haven’t the slightest idea of what is going on in the world, but what we are doing concerns all…Someday, when you come of age, you too will render your service to your country…Yes, it is a privilege to fight for a noble cause. War is far, far worse than hell.

Men are torn apart like a worn-out rag doll. War has a smell to it. It is the smell of charred flesh. War has sounds. They are the sounds of men dying. Bob, I hope that you will never have to go to war….

I am nearly going crazy thinking about assaulting that hill. But I am a Marine and I shall not falter. I will be confident in the Lord and in my training as a Marine. Bob, if anything should happen, remember this: I am fighting for what I believe in, you, Mom, Dad, Tom and Cindy. I am fighting for the right to choose my own religion, make my own decisions, and to be my own man. And, yes, I am fighting for the flag. My country means a lot to me and I am proud to fight for it. I know that you will be too…

I hope that your generation of people will respect what we are doing here. I hope that they will understand that we, too, love life…

Perhaps it sounds foolish. Perhaps it is. But you can never imagine what it is like, not knowing if I’m coming back down that hill. I wanted you to have something from me to you. I love you, Bob, but you are too young to know it.

Someday you will know.

I will leave now, time is short.”

The pride and confidence, the anxiety and uncertainty and the love for his family, his country and freedom, which Marine John Tanney genuinely expressed in this letter, is emblematic of the type of young American, who fought for us in Vietnam.

They were ever much as selfless, courageous and loyal, as those, who fought before them, and those, who fought after them.

Yet, upon coming back home, many became the targets of the apathy and anger that an unpopular war brought forth.

It was a shame and a stain on our Freedom to not welcome home with open arms our boys, who endured and gave so much.

However, even in light of all that, 85% of Vietnam veteran still  made successful transitions back to civilian life with 91% saying that they were happy that they served and 74% indicating, knowing the outcome and what they went through, would still serve again.

Many unfortunately would return scarred, as they would suffer with PTSD, Agent Orange induced medical conditions and disabling physical injuries.

But, Thank GOD, that the public reconciliation and personal healing, which was so needed, would finally begin in 1982 with the completion of the Vietnam Memorial Wall and continues unabated to this day.

Many years after his service, a fellow Vietnam veteran would reflectively make the following observation.

“It is easy to pick out a Vietnam veteran in a crowd whenever a helicopter flies overhead. It’s those 50-60 year olds just looking up and staring into a time gone by. My wife said she can always pick them out by the look of distant fires in their eyes.”

Those “distant fires” might still restlessly smolder in their minds but, at least now, they can be comforted by knowing that they are forever appreciatively welcomed home.

Thankfully, we have learned from our past mistakes and remember all our veterans, especially our Vietnam veterans, who will never be forgotten and whose service will always be honored.

Forever Home, each of them.