As Title States:
For the Casualties/Fallen Heroes & Those Today... The Govt may have forgotten you but to US who care...YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
This contest is for these Soldiers who fought and/or were drafted to participate in this Mission...
1. NO BASHING OF VETERANS or POETS
2. NO BASHING OF THIS CONTEST OR WAR ITSELF
3. Show those Soldiers of Vietnam &/or Korea they have not been forgotten. MANY have been justled around like they are NO ONE, in fact they are.. These individuals fought for our country, without the use of internet to contact home, or cell phones, or via satellite, these individuals had to learn to rely on one another or die. Many have died, more than should of. I do not take light any subject pertaining to the military, I support every single one of them. BUT I do also note, that in the 50's thru 70's They didn't have the technical support they have today, which I m glad for, so people can keep up with family and loved ones.
4. ANY FORM/ANY STYLE/ ANY WAY you want to write it....
5. IDEAS TO PEN ON BUT DONT HAVE TO USE:
a. If you served the country by going to war, either voluntary or drafted, please share with us your thoughts when signing up/being drafted, let us know your story, ( the best that you can tell, I know some will be painful)
b. If youhad a loved on who served, tell us from your POV what has become of them from the days they served to the present..I also know this will be hard for many
c. Share your thoughts on how these Soldiers have been treated, past and present....
D. Anything pertaining to Vietnam from the 50's to 1975
BELOW ARE SOME STATISTICS: You can read for some ideas, or just to learn as I do with many poets who post things of historic nature. I love to learn. So teach me. Look up your own stories from then and tell me what ya feel... I DO NOT CARE as long as you DO NOT and I MEAN DO NOT, BASH any Soldier or the Vietnam War. Any piece or poet that does will be removed and turned in. I have asked for you to behave if you cant move on.
I WILL OPEN THIS TO GULF WAR VETS/ IRAQ as well...But would prefer seeing more on Vietnam. They need to be recognized!
Thanks and Good luck
Passionspromise
Facts of the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War, like most other wars, has had terrible costs for both the losers as well as the winners. Vietnam, the country on whose land this terrible war has taken place has suffered great damage to its ecosystem and it has taken years and years for it to re-grow. People have died, families have been hurt and no one was left happy with the after effects of this war.
The Americans and other nations supported the largely unpopular southern democrats, and although initially they meant to keep their involvement very limited, they ended up sending millions and millions of soldiers to Vietnam to prevent communism from spreading. Years and years of bitter guerrilla struggle in the typhoid ridden villages and rugged jungles of Vietnam eventually led to the victory of the North Vietnamese and the reunification of the country. Millions of soldiers, Vietnamese and Americans alike died in the struggle, and till today the country struggles to reinstate itself after the staggering damages made to its land, economy and people.
The Beginning of the End
When Ngo Dinh Diem was appointed to be the prime minister, with Bao Dai the then president, Vietnam was split into two separate countries: North Vietnam and South Vietnam. During this separation, more than 860 thousand people fled to the South and more than 50 thousand left for the north.
The northern government however, welcomed this change, as it meant feeding fewer mouths. It is said the Diem rigged the election so as to win, and then became the president of Vietnam. Although he wasn’t particularly popular with his people, the United States still agreed with his policies and completely supported him, as he was against communism.
However, the South Vietnamese despised Diem. Diem on the other hand, abused his power and sent people to kill his enemies while sending still others to jail for no apparent reason. Diem who believed that South Vietnamese people were influenced by communism canceled the election that was scheduled to take place in 1956.
It was then that United States stopped supporting Diem because they no longer agreed with any of his principles and policies. He forced peasants out of their villages and the final straw came when on May 8th, 1963 he sent soldiers to storm Buddhist temples and arrest the nuns and monks. In order to protest this, a Buddhist monk, Thich Quang Duc burnt himself alive in the streets. There were many other protest being led by the Vietnamese, but in other different ways. The northern government wanted to bring about peace and harmony, but this proposal was refused.
Finally the Southerners couldn’t take it anymore and Diem was assassinated on the 1st of May in 1963. South Vietnam celebrated this victory and the country was reunited.
How the Americans got Involved
Johnson was the central figure when it comes to the US involvement in Vietnam. His vision was to stop the spread of communist aggression, and others shared this theory like Eisenhower, Kennedy and Truman. In the year 1964, the Northern Vietnamese apparently attacked two US destroyers. Thus, in the year 1965, the US began regularly bombing the Northern railroads, bridges and oil facilities as well as the HaiPhong harbor.
With the Vietcong attack of an US base in Pleiku, the Americans were now fully involved and Operation Flaming dart came next. In April of the year 1965, Johnson was all set to Americanize this Vietnam War and sent more than 40 thousand troops to Vietnam.
By mid June, Johnson was told to send in more troops in order to prevent South Vietnam’s collapse. Thus America had to plunge directly into the war, which was a better option at that time than facing defeat.
Facts of the Vietnam War
While most aspects of the Vietnam war are really debatable, the facts of this war have a strong voice of their own and are indeed indisputable. Here are some of the commonly accepted facts of the war:
- About 58,200 Americans were killed during the war and roughly 304,000 were wounded out of the 2.59 million who served the war.
- The average age of the wounded and dead was 23.11 years.
- After the war, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and The Philippines stayed free of communism.
- During the war, the national debt was increased by $146 billion.
- 90% of the Vietnam War veterans say they are glad they served in the war.
- 74% say they would serve again.
- 11,465 were less than the age of 20.
- The number of Vietnamese killed was 500,000 and casualties were in the millions.
- From the year 1957 to the year 1973, the National Liberation Front assassinated nearly 37,000 South Vietnamese and nearly 58,500 were abducted. Death squads mainly focused on leaders like minor officials and schoolteachers.
- Nearly two-thirds of the men serving the war were volunteers.
America spent more than 165 billion dollars on the war. Nearly sixty thousand American soldiers died, and thousands and thousands of them were wounded, while some are permanently paralyzed.
More than 2 million Vietnamese died in the war. They still have to deal with a country that is in tatters and that has an economy that is seriously depleted. Till today, their land is scattered with land mines, unexploded bombs and other unknown dangers lurking in the shadows. Their marshlands and jungles have all been destroyed by chemicals like Agent Orange and Napalm. Most of the Vietnamese historical sites and buildings were destroyed in the war, and millions of people were left homeless.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on October 1
- Rewards: Gold: 1000, Silver: 500, Bronze: 300, Honorable mention: 5 people
- Final notes: This was the toughest contest I think I ever had to judge next to the absue one i do. Many of these entries had brought tears to my eyes and pain to my heart.
I appreciate EVERY single entry turned in. Everyone of you should be commended, for your work overseas to a poet who is supporting our troops. I was quite amazed and VERY PROUD of each of your pieces.
I was graciously handed 1000 points for my supporting the Soliders of Vietnam and all wars in itself. I do not only stand behind one I stand behind EVERY soldier, Every Military branch out there..
So with the 1000 points I added a silver and a bronze and honored each entry a honorable mention, I know it seems just like :Man another booger cup"
but to me I could not let one of you walk away without my thank you and appreciation. I wish I could do more but I cant.
Congrats to the top three..these three and actually Yvette and Beret55 made it hard to pick a third so had to call another party in to judge between the two...
HONORABLE MENTIONS are not in any specific order.
Again, God Bless you guys for all who served and for all who support.
Until next time
Passionspromise
Contest Winners
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Each man had made the choice to volunteer;
To face the challenge and show no fear.by Wandering Woodchuck 45 lines, 22 comments, on Sep 20 6:49 PM. In History, War, Inspirational
Gold trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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by FightOffYourDemons 26 lines, 10 comments, on Jun 26 2:04 AM. In Dark• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Honorable mention
Entries [12]
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Comments
1 - 15 of 15
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Great contest. I wrote one a while back about the Tet Offensive. If I can get my muse jump started I may be back.
Mike -
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Mike if you have it handy I will open prewrites and allow it in.
Passions -
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Thanks for the offer, but I think I will reserve and give you a fresh write. If you want to read the previous one it is: http://allpoetry.com/poem/5482597
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Passions,
Thank you for this contest. I means a lot to us Nam Vets.
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Joe
Ill try to be back.- off next week. -
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Joe dont you dare try and be back...reserve your spot and come back.
I want to THANK YOU for your Courage and Strength. I THANK YOU for what you guys have done for us. No words can ever THANK YOU enough.
Please, do reserve and come back..I would be honored.
Passionss x 1000000
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Hard To Write Without Bashing The War Itself
The soldiers were just pawns in the battle - they are not to blame for the war (Iraq as well) but they were sent there to fight for ???? - while the ones that sent them there were wined and dined back home -
Have contest on My Lai - would be interesting. Bless God - Joe - dobar dan -
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I didnt ask you to pen a pie3ce penned on why they were sent I speaking for the Soldiers who fought. I had asked no one to bash anyone or anything. The soldiers did what they need to as bosiar so well put it, you want to complain about the war go to the government, dont take it out on our military.
My Lai? If given more information I would check into and see about it, i shall look into it anyway,
Thanks for coming by
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My father, Leon, thanks you for this contest. I thank you as well and wish I could write something befitting the importance- to bring those experiences out that dad, and so many others, so bravely lived through.
With these contests I usually sit and stare at the screen, nothing comes out ... in what seems like a temporarily shocked state.
He was, I believe, part of the 1st Cav Division. He served as a medic in Nam for 3 years .. 65 - 67, I think. If not, it is only a year off in either direction.
A couple hugs .. ... from us to you and a humbled thank you. 
Leon/Steve -
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No please Tell HIM we THANK HIM for his duty to our country. I am deeply honored to host a contest for these Soldiers. They got the raw hand when returning to the countries. Bosiars comment below you says it best, indeed, am ashamed how the government treated them when they returned. Please
if you can not put a piece together I would love to actually send some questions *kind of like a reporter* and oen a piece for him myself. I truly believe you can do it dear , try. I would love to see whatever comes of it..speak to your dad, feel his every word and then write.
You dont have to post it, and iffen you want I would love to read it
Love to you Steve & Leon
Passionspromise -
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You may send the questions regardless Passions. He has told me a few stories, some you really have to laugh and cry about at the same time .. his issued .45 and live rounds coming out like dum dum rounds .. basically the bullet came out end over end in a tumbling fashion ... scary in a combat situation, but that is one of those things, if you survive, you have a huge array of emotion about; anger to laughter, what-ifs and such.
I think I will talk to him tomorrow about collabing .. he isn't a member of AP but that won't stop me from doing it. It seems logical to collab but it didn't strike me until now.
I've bookmarked this contest. My instinct says you'll have a poem from us, but I don't want to push destiny or rush the piece.
... and I will relay the message ..
~Steve
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Thanks for remembering them
All our soldiers are heroes and the Vietnam soldiers came home to a very ungreatful country and I for one am ashamed at the way they were treated. The soldier is not the war nor do they choose where they go or when again shame on us for the way they were treated. Our government bares all the blame in the action taken and the prolonged mysery our men and women went through you want to complain complain to our government not to our men and women of the services. -
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Thank you..I Couldnt of said what you did better and actually asked a few to check your comment out. Thank you again for your support. Hope to see something from you.
Passions -
The anger and hostility against the troops during that time is amazing and heart-wrenching to me(of course I wasn't a part of that generation but still) .. the soldier is a pawn of the country, thus before any action is taken, there is supposed to be a run through the chain of command. It does make sense from an accountability standpoint, but the soldier has to be able to protect him or herself in combat and I could never understand the reason, during that time, to wait until orders came down to counter-attack. Communications are probably 1000x better and faster or more today but how long does a bullet take to reach a soldier say 100 yards away. How about a rocket. The rules were one of many things that our Veterans faced in the heat of battle and Dad will tend to tell me, "Our hands are tied behind our back."
I agree 100%. Goto Uncle Sam's complaint dept, don't take it out on the couriers.
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Thank you I couldnt of said it better hon thank you so much
I love how you speak out.
s
Passions
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Sad war - lots of pain for little gain
The country - The Deocratic Republic Of Vietnam - is a communist state today - doing quite well after all they were dealt - I did not bash the soldiers - when I saw the pic of the soldier crying I thought of My Lai and Son My - but turned my thoughts to Iraq and the look in that mans eyes was that he was looking at dead woman and children ------ Bless God - Joe - dobar dan
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