Help Rev. Rocky (a Vietnam Vet) and Janice make ends meet

How Armed Forces Service Members Were Treated When Returning Home From War?

Hello, I am Rev. Rocky (A Vietnam Era Veteran) and my wife is Janice, and we need your help.

Soldiers returning from every war and military conflict in United States history (Including World War I, World War II, The Korean War, The Gulf War, The War in Afghanistan, and The Iraq War), were, and still are, greeted with gratitude and respect for their service.

Unfortunately, this honour was not extended to the Vietnam era veterans. They were publicly mistreated and abused. Some veterans recalled that when they had just landed, people were demonstrating against them. “Many spit on us, and called us rude names.”

I would venture to say that this treatment added to, or even caused, the PTSD suffered by some Vietnam Era Veterans. And even those who never saw action in Vietnam were mentally influenced by their homecoming. According to a study, almost 700,000 Vietnam Era Veterans suffer from some sort of PTSD.

I was discharged from the Navy in February 1975. But it wasn’t until 2007 that I received my first public thank you for my service during the Vietnam War. Over 30 years. It was at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. All the veterans in attendance were invited down to the stage. Then they lowered the flag, folded it and passed it around so all the veterans could hold it. There were around 30 or so Veterans on stage, and I was the last veteran to handle the flag. It was an emotional experience.

On November 13, 1982, the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall was dedicated in Washington DC to honour those who gave all during the Vietnam Conflict. So when you see a Vietnam Veteran wearing a hat, shirt, or jacket, take the time to thank us for our service. The old adage of “Better late than never” does apply here. And even though by thanking us you may cause us to remember how we were treated when we came home, it is still nice to be acknowledged.

I am a 71 year old Vietnam Era Veteran. We, my wife (71 years) and I, only have our social security to live on. And we are both dealing with major medical issues in our lives. Because of the state of the economy over the past few year our Social Security isn’t enough to cover our living expenses. This has required us to use different sources of credit to survive.

We are currently nearly $150,000 in debt. It is our goal to take care of our needs as well as help other veterans in the same situation. But we can’t do it alone.

That is why we have set up this Go Fund Me account. And with your help we will be able to realize our goals.

God Bless, Rev. Rocky, and Janice, Sanders