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Letter Number 11

Jimmy Benner

 

     I recall the day I went into the service, the day I got married, the day my kids were born, the day I went to Vietnam, and the day I came home. But the day I met you changed my life in some ways. I will talk about that more as I go on.

    When I came home I didn't receive cheers from people, no people were protesting the war and calling us Baby killers. Guys were dodging the draft by going to Canada. I didn't ask for this war and neither did the rest of the brave men who went there, some not coming home, some coming home not the same. Why did we go? Because that is what we were ordered to do, so we went. Our country told us to go. Whether right or wrong, we went. If everyone wanted to do what they thought was right, then maybe this country may not be free today.

     Then life went on. Stories of the war came out as years passed. Movies were made about it. Books were written about it. People saw the war in a different aspect as time went on. Some people forgot about the war, while others persuaded the truth or facts that were hidden. But the veterans that served there will never forget.

    The age of the computer came about. People were brought closer, veterans could find out more and find lost friends. A lot of friends were made on here. The greatest friend I met on here is why I am writing this letter, the one thing I hate to because I am not a talented writer. But because she stood up for all the veterans. She put life back in me. She made me want to talk about Vietnam again, not hide behind it. I wish there had been more like her back then.

     So Hope, I am glad to call you my friend. You instill feelings in people that is hard to describe. You have helped so many of us, now it is time for me to help you.

            SP/5  Jim (Jimmy) Benner
            205th Assault Support Helicopter Co.            

            Phu Loi, Vietnam, '67-'68                                

 

 

   This page established July 23, 1999