MARINE SNIPER in Vietnam Behind Enemy Lines: Ordered to Take Out High Value Targets | Sherman Hickam
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มิ.ย. 2024
- After enduring an incredibly rough childhood, Sherman Hickam wanted an escape and with his mother's permission enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at age 17 in 1962. After completing boot camp Hickam spent the early days of his service doing "float phases" in the far east.
In 1965, with tensions growing in Vietnam and eager to get into the action, Hickam volunteered to become a Marine Corps scout sniper. The incredibly dangerous job had Hickam working with a spotter and going deep behind enemy lines for both reconnaissance and to take out high value targets.
In 1966, while assisting on a rescue mission for a downed helicopter Hickam and his fellow Marines stumbled onto a large force of Viet Cong fighters. In the ensuing firefight, Hickam was wounded by mortar fire and evacuated from the battlefield.
Interview recorded on June 26, 2023
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Video Credits:
Editor - Daniel Taksas
Director of Photography - Jon Hambacker
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A message to all Vets that do interviews. Never, repeat NEVER apologise for needing to take a moment when talking about your brother's and heroes. You've earned the right, you've actually been places and done things within bonds most people will never know. Those of us whom appreciate your stories truly, when you guys have that brief moment, we bow our heads. I may be a civie, but I know your thinking vividly of brothers and heroes. I (we) appreciate your opinions, stories, wisdom, and courage.
Semper Fidelis that!
Oorah brother
Don't patronize veterans.
These videos should have millions of views. Thank all vets everywhere. We would be nothing without you.
@@johnqpublic2718who in the hell said he was patronizing.
TO THE MARINE SNIPER, Sherman Hickam thank you for your service and this interview. WELCOME HOME BROTHER.
I was not in the Marines first of all. I was in the US ARMY and in Vietnam in 1967-68 During TET of 1968. At that time I was stationed at Long Bien. I also lost some good men that night. And like this man it is hard to get over it. I am now 75 years old and with a lot of meds and doctors and I am dealing with it. But before I was seeing doctors and counselors for PTSD I was a mess to say the least. When I went for a evaluation I had never heard of PTSD. Because when I left the Army in Jan 1969 I thought I was ok. But after a failed marriage and drinking a fifth of Jack Daniels a day it caught up to me one day. The doctor said I have classic signs of PTSD. Hell I was a Old Country Boy and told him I used a condom the whole time I was there so it wasn't possible that I had caught anything. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, "See that is what I am talking about. You try to cover up everything by making a joke of it."
At that time I was about 8 years into my second marriage and did not want it to fail like the first. So I started going to the VA in Gainesville, Florida. Let me tell you this, It is hard to live with yourself after all we had to do there. The Killing, loss of life, friends dieing beside you, and the hate I had for that country and the people. It ruined my life for years and I didn't know it was doing it. I just wish we had some sort of debriefing and help back then. I spent a few nights thinking about taking my own life over it. I had done things that no one should have to do.
So I understand what he went through. And unlike him when I came home I didn't over look the Hippies that spit on me and my friend in College Park, Maryland. We sent 8 of them to the hospital and had to be escorted out of town by the Parkway Police. Am I sorry I did it? HELL NO and I would do it again. Thanks for your time and the video. I just subscribed to this.
How many people did you murder ? Nine eleven , what goes round - - .
WOW !!! WELCOME HOME AND THANKS FOR KICKING ASS OVER THERE !!! Also, thank you for sharing that story with us. I'm 49 years old, and my generation always said that Vietnam Vets are cooler than the BEATLES !!!!! 😉 Big hugs Brother.
@@chadwickrogers43Thank you very much for the kind words. Have a great week..
As a coward who didn’t serve and the grandson of one of 6 brothers who served overseas in WWII. I cannot beg you enough to understand my thanks for you. Your service yes, but you individually more. God Bless you sir. You’ve helped create the American dream. You’ve helped preserve our way of life. You’ve made this place better. You yourself. You’re a good man. Stay free
same to you brother i arms yo will never be forgotten ever God Bless You and Thank you for your service
That might be the most honest interview I've seen of a Vietnam vet; he tells his story in a most engaging manner. Bless that man, heal his pain, and my best to him and his family.
An average American doing his patriotic duty, doing unbelievable and heroic things most Americans will never truly understand, and doing the best that he can to survive and protect as many of his buddies as possible. It is unconscionable the lack of any mental and other support for the Vietnam returning Vets. I salute You Sir, and have the highest level of respect for you, and your buddies that made it back and did not make it back. I pray you can find peace living in the present understanding and remembering the past, but not dwelling and/or living in the past. Granted no easy task, but with a 100% belief and trust in GOD I promise You, all things are possible.
The following is NOT aimed at our hero in the video, but is a reminder to all humans:
As humans we so often quickly forget the times, and sometimes numerous times we asked GOD for help, but when we get through the situation how quickly it becomes how “lucky” I was to survive or get through a situation totally forgetting we had prayed for GOD’S help. Never forget when we pray to GOD it is of the utmost importance that we FULLY believe and trust in GOD. A prayer to GOD I have learned is for help, and although it is human to provide GOD with direction or specifics as to the help we want, this is not fully believing and trusting in GOD. GOD knows what is best for us. Providing specifics in a prayer to GOD if you think about it is not at all fully believing and trusting in GOD. Finally for our prayers to be acted upon by GOD it is, again paramount, that we ask for GOD’S help and leave the specifics to GOD.
There are no words that can express the sacrifice this man has made for his country.
The sacrifice was pointless we started nam
No, it wasn't pointless. You're alive and able to discard patriots like this man because of his and other warriors' courage and sacrifice. @WAFFEN681
@@stoeger40 well said
We spent millions of dollars training him, he didn't sacrifice anything, we did. He was a no knowing, do nothing loser who joined the military to run away from it all.
@prezidenttrump5171 the basement dwelling mommas boy has spoken.
My dad is also a Marine and Vietnam vet. He says at some point over there when you were getting rocketed/shot at/etc that eventually you realized you were already dead and were never going to see home again. It was the only way for many of them to survive, with that mindset.
There are millions of us as your fellow Americans who won’t forget your sacrifice and the sacrifices of your friends and brothers in arms.
Gee, if only they hadn't invaded a sovereign nation that had done NOTHING to the US people.
@@biggiebaby3541 the baby part of your name is very apt.
@@biggiebaby3541 War is war. Whether we agree or disagree with the politics, both side's soldiers probably would've rather been doing something else. It's just better to to respect those who have been through the traumatic experience that is modern combat.
Picture it this way. This may not be accurate for our gentleman here, but let's say that you're a college kid just trying to get by in a world that seems to be working against you. You were drafted into a war you don't care about, forced to fight a battle that seems pointless, and in conditions that could be compared to hell on earth. At some point you stop thinking about the things you're doing because it's not worth the mental exhaustion trying to make sense of the bullshit you're wading through. Even if it is horrible things. You manage to make it home after your term is over, and you return to an America that hates you. Calls you a murderer. Just for things that you were forced to do because if you didn't, you would die.
Now I'm not saying that all the soldiers on both sides were good people, nor am I saying that they were bad. I just want you to realize that there is more to any war than just what's on the surface.
@@biggiebaby3541You have no idea what it’s like. You need to STFU.. Golf Foxtrot Yankee while your at it.
I am glad your father is a former matine. You should be proud of his service.
Even as a German, much younger than you, this story grabs me and touches me deep inside. I am a former paratrooper and, thank God, never had to fight but I have the utmost respect for you guys and bow down to your sacrifice. Hope my english is understandable and good enough to understand the sense and meaning of what i wanted to say. God bless you, Sir!🫡
Sounds good brother.
Your English is perfect. I'm not a vet, but my father was. Thank you for your thoughts. We're all on the same side now.
@@828enigma6 I’m wondering that which side that could be. The barbaric stealing, cheating, and lying or the real heroes who in fact won the second WW chased the Germans back to the river Elba? I really need an answer!
It was very easy to comprehend.
@@bubamaranovichok4901 That comment does not make much sense... Are you talking about the russians? because All Enigma meant was he's grateful germany is Very good friends and allies with all of us !
No need to apologize whatsoever. It’s our government that owes every US soldier who served in Nam an apology.
FACTS
This interview should be required to be viewed by every American. Freedom is not free,and its men like this that are the reason we enjoy the rights and privileges this Great Country offers its citizens. Amazing man and R.I.P. his brethren.
why? vietnam won but that didnt make america any less free
The way a grizzled war veteran describes his abuse as child even after all these years just goes to show how damaging that is.
I've never made that connection but yes it's amazing connection actually that war as an adult might not me as traumatizing as abuse as a child because you haven't developed all the physiological barriers to protect yourself like cognitive dissonance or whatever let me know what u think about my thoughts
@@SynikhalRythem Yeah you are right.
I served in the Marines in Nam in 69. I 3/7 LZ Baldy and LZ Ross. Spent most of my time in the bush with my brothers in arms. Lost my P. Bill Franklin and that changed my whole life on how l think about life. To all my brothers that served SEMPER FI
May he Rest In Peace, thank you for your service @johnlwhite6848
I went out to take command of a rifle platoon in April 1968 north of Hue. I only went on one patrol, I call it, because I never saw a base camp again until I was medevaced out at the end of July. It wasn't like the melodrama of TV where troops lived in base camp, consorted with nurses or Red Cross volunteers at night while they talked about dreading the patrol the next day. It was one mission after another never-ending. At one point our company lost over 30% of its personnel in one night and my platoon strength was down to 12 men, including me. But we never let up. Company size search and destroy missions every day and every night the platoons went out on ambush missions. But one thing I can say about it, it never got boring in 1968.
Mind if I ask you a question? I know there were a lot of black people that served in Vietnam but I've never seen or heard of a story about any black snipers in Vietnam. Were they just not recruited for those roles back then?
Bless❤ I moved to Vietnam in 2019, I needed to put places to all of the names and places that I saw through every film every documentary every obscure news cast I have ever seen and dug deep to find. I needed to try to make sense of it all. I was able to get to many American positions from Hue And North. I lived the majority of my time in Hue. I immersed myself with local population as well as seeing many American vets make the return to heal. I recommend this to all that struggle ! Why? The American Flag is everywhere in Vietnam. I was heading to the A Shai Valley, destination Hamburger Hill. Had to go through Khe Sanh, stayed a while. Sat on what is left of that air strip for a long while. I have seen everything that happened there over and over through my research etc. I wasn't expecting what I felt. It felt peaceful on such a spiritual level it was hard to describe. Yes, there are remnants and yes a very small museum. I felt that the Vietnamese were very respectful of the remnants left behind ❤ it was a place of reflection for both sides and I felt that there was a duty from the Vietnamese side to honour the bravery of the Americans. It is something I'll never forget! Travelling through the town of Khe Sanh, we stopped for lunch in a traditional tiny roadside restaurant. Just before we parked our motorcycle a Ford F350 passed us with a giant American flag wrap from headlights to tail lights. Rolling his window down and waving and yelling Hello Hello ❤. It was hard to comprehend for sure. But I felt our lost veterans have much respect from the side of the opponents.
I shot on the 173rd Abn Bde rifle team; the USAR PAC rifle team; the Ft. Campbell rifle team and the 3rd Army rifle team. All soldiers were given to same opportunity to try out for these teams without reserve. In all the time I only remember 5 or 6 Black soldiers who qualified for any of the teams, and all but one marginally qualified and shot on the 2nd team. The other, Joe White, was a standout in anyone's book! That was was just my personal experience over about a period of about 18 months. The 101st Abn Div held a post championship match at Ft. Campbell and all the soldiers with an interest had a chance to enter. The post rifle team was selected from the top shooters and we had one Black soldier who qualified. I ran into him again later in Vietnam and he was on an EOD team with the engineers in the 101st. The 101st didn't have assigned snipers in Vietnam.
When I came back from Desert Storm they were 50,000 people on a pier waiting for us! I have more respect for these men and women than anyone on the planet! NEVER FORGOTTEN
Semper Fi Marine!
- from an old Army Ranger
esprit de corps
11 Bravo 10 straight leg 9 th Div.
Means always faithful.
@@emmetjames3
I'm aware of that
Survivors' guilt is so heavy.
May you have peace in your heart, brother...
Heartbreaking what these guys went through. To fight in a war is one thing, but to have no support and help when they returned is unbelievable . My heart goes out to each and every one of them
Imagine all the men who were DRAFTED to fight too. Like the great Muhammad Ali said, "“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go ten thousand miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?"
I will never forget my mom's cousin Steve coming home from a tour in Vietnam. I was pretty young, but I'll never forget this man stepping on the porch at our front door in that brown Marine uniform. Steve was a giant of a man, full of muscles like a gunny sack full of big rocks. His immediate family live about 25 miles away, but Steve stayed with us for quite a while. He just wasn't ready to go home. Mist night, he slept outside in the grass in his "flea bag" next to his newish Corvette. Although there was a bit of an age gap, Steve and I stayed pretty damn close. Well into my adult years. He rarely talked about the war but often talked about the people and the processes.
Thank you for your service and please don’t feel the need to apologize for your emotions. Hell, I’m tearing up numerous times listening to you and I don’t have a clue what you guys went through and are going through all these years after.
My uncle Tran died in 68 fighting for the VC! He was shot by a damn sniper! Very disrespectful of you Americans!
This man should be used an example, not only for his courage and strength during the war but as an orphan with a very hard childhood who didn't let it turn him into something awful, thank you sir.
Yes, being a murderer for the US government is such a noble thing!!
@bubamaranovichok4901 hired killer? What are you 13 years old? He was a soldier just like the Vietnamese who fought and died there, go watch any documentary where Vietnamese and American soldiers meet after the war and you'll hear them say they have more in common with each other than the civilians they live amongst, they respect each other because they served in a horrific war that they didn't start or vote for. The average soldier on the ground is a victim of war like the civilians caught in the crossfire, they didn't start the war and 100% did not want to fight in it, honestly does it sound like this guy had a good time? Is he relishing in the killing of the enemy? No, he can barely speak about it without weeping and that's a sentiment shared on both sides, Vietnamese soldiers share a lot of the hardships US soldiers do because they had the same experience after the war, no one talked about it, no one cared, and their was no one to relate too and share the burden of memory.
@@bubamaranovichok4901, what have you done in service and defense of the USA. you don't even sound lije an arm chair quarter back. Coward comes to mind.
As opposed to all the many many others out there in the same position, aye
@@philtorres2975except Vietnam was pointless money grab and not in defense of the US lol
I was in Vietnam in Saigon 68/69. Watched combat from afar. Was never shot at directly and I do understand there is a big difference between being in combat and not being in combat. Combat veterans has it much rougher than what I went through. A different world.
Every time me and my grandpa go hunting he will have a couple drinks and tell me all the Vietnam stories he remembers and it’s usually the same stories but man every time I hear them it’s like the first time. The rollercoaster of emotions he has while telling them. My upmost respect goes out to all those who served thank you!
And your there to listen. God bless you both
This Guy is as Real as they can come. I want to Thank Him and every other Soldier that lost a part of His Peace Doing that Job.
What a raw and real interview. Thank you for your service and more importantly sacrifice. I'm sorry for your loss and the loss of those you loved. Thank you for having the courage to tell your story. We may not understand, but we are rooting for you and your brothers in combat.
We had the BEST in Nam, not in D.C.
United Technologies, General Electric, and Rockwell International all thank you for the billions you helped them profit.
@@fisherbuys1you’re the real hero here! 👊
Decompression … so important. 🫡
Never apologize for saving people from the existential threat of Communism. To all the military veterans from USA and Allies having participated in Korean War and Vietnam War, thank you for your service for trying to contain the spread of the deadly and toxic Communism which, like a infectious plague, was and still is a stain on humanity!
It angers me how those vets where treated when they came back home,I honor this man for his bravery and his sacrifice 🫡,where I go to church we have a Vietnam vet and I love him as my dad and thank u everyone that served and continued to serve. May God bless u and heal u completely in Jesus name!
100 K topped themselves
Indeed. The shitheads that treated them that way unfortunately had offspring. Those offspring are the very same shitheads who are trying to tear this country apart.
thank you god bless you too
This man should never apologize, and I hope he has a life where those that love him are always around. Bravery in some of the most difficult times, he had some amazing and horrifying experiences - and as he says, not the way to live. War sucks, the soldiers are to be honored.
when incombat you die for your freinds not so much the goverment
u die for your freinds in combat but fight for your country
@@edwardkujawathis❤❤❤
Exactly right! Never apologize for saving people from the existential threat of Communism. To all the military veterans from USA and Allies having participated in Korean War and Vietnam War, thank you for your service for trying to contain the spread of the deadly and toxic Communism which, like a infectious plague, was and still is a stain on humanity!
He can apologize if he wants to. He fought for his freedom to be able to apologize.
I'm not an army or a vet, I'm not even an American, but I have a huge respect to these veterans who fought for the freedom and democracy.
Tbh, I’m still confused on as to why I was in Iraq
Freedoms that our politicians are removing from us all right now. We need great men like this instead of turncoat socialist government appointees like the ones we have now.
Colin Powell sent you #WeaponsOfMassDeception @@stinkfist4205
@@stinkfist4205 don’t worry about the politics my friend, that’s for the weak minded civilians to think about.
If you truly served down range, you should know and understand that you are a warrior. Like many men before you , from the time of Leonidas and Alexander the Great in the Mediterranean to gengis khan in the east
To king Hrothgar in the frozen north. To the mighty Aztec empire in the new world.
We are the same men as they where, reincarnated in modern times.
I was blessed to have been able to test my mettle in Afghanistan.
All warriors need to wake tf up, and start our own communities and organizations. Stop worrying your head with POLITICS.
A LION DOESN’T CONCERN HIMSELF WITH THE OPINIONS OF SHEEP
@@BattleBorn304 oh I definitely was down range. Baghdad, Mahmoudiyah. I got ten brothers tattooed on my arm, battle field cross and the American flag. And a Purple Heart tattoo on the other. Never went to Afghanistan. Never got the opportunity. Thank you brother, I appreciate the words.
Sending prayers for all our veterans. Unimaginable what they went through. God bless you all.
My uncle was a Forward Observer in Trang Bang in 1968. He wrote a book entitled Delayed Detonation describing his experience. It was similar to the experience described here. Death, horror, buddies blown up, and the decades spent coming to terms with that awful experience.
So much respect for this gentleman, and all our fighting forces.
War is truly Hell.
Jeff's got a hell of a story
Yes, indeed! He was always my favorite relative (my mom’s brother). I was around 5 or 6 when he left and didn’t know until years later what he, and so many other warriors experienced.
Thank you for commenting!
Did you know him?
@@flapjackson6077 no but I've heard of the book before. I want to read it all the way and I will most likely buy a copy on Amazon as it appears it's available.
I'm in my senior year studying military history and this is a good primary source on Vietnam.
His comment abut the difference between WWII vets and Vietnam vets caught my attention. My father spent two years fighting in the Pacific from 1944-45. He then spent, till April 1946, in Japan as part of the occupation force and was part of Gen. Eichelberger's security detail before shipping home to Fort Dix. According to him he had a great time based on his stories. Those 10+ months of decompression as compared to a Vietnam vet flying home and then mustered out the next day into a normal world is huge.
I had the good fortune (but did not know it at the time) of being sent to Okinawa with my unit straight from Vietnam. That gave me 3 months among fellow Marines to decompress a little; and read more news than "Stars & Stripes" had room to print. Flew from Okinawa to LAX; took a short trip from there to San Diego to pick up an item being held at a jewelry store, then to Denver where I was met by my mother and girlfriend. After dinner that evening, GF became fiancee.
I did have some trouble starting college right away because I had completed 3 yr active duty but still had a 3 yr active reserve obligation. I learned it was really hard to blend into a 1970s campus when I still had to maintain a Marine Corps haircut!
My late father-in-law served in the US Navy during WW-II. His ship received orders to go to the Panama Canal the day before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
@GraemePayne1967Marine what was the name of that ship I believe my grandfather may have served on the same ship
I was a Marine infantry platoon commander in Vietnam 1968-69. Hard year. I lost a lot of good Marines killed and wounded.
He is right. Coming back into friendly lines was a challenge because technology was basically crap. We had first generation Starlight Scopes, but they weren't very good and we could never get replacement batteries and there was only one in my platoon. In early 1969 radio communications were not all that reliable and were not secure. Later we received the PRC-77 radios that were encrypted, but they were heavier and the batteries didn't last as long.
For navigation, I only had a compass and an out of date French 1:50,000 map. I was lucky to know where I was within 1 to 2 thousand yards in some areas and I had very little idea were I was in the jungle and mountain areas.
There were no precision guided bombs or artillery except with US aircraft in North Vietnam had the first generation of Walleye precision missiles. When sometimes operating as a company, the company commander had a qualified Marine pilot as a Forward Air Controller or FAC, but not at the platoon level.
As a platoon commander operating on my own, I did have a procedure for calling in close air support, but it was difficult because I had to switch the frequency of my VHF radio between the company commander and the pilot where the FAC had a dedicated radio to the pilot.
The same with calling in artillery. There was a separate frequency for that as well as keeping the company commander informed. Because I was never certain where I was, I always called for the first round of artillery to be a smoke round so I could correct them off of that impact.
Vietnam really sucked in those days. Everything was hard to accomplish and we rarely knew exactly where we were. I would cut off my left arm to have had GPS and precision guided bombs in 1969.
I understand what this guy is saying. Vietnam sucked and it was very difficult to get anything done with any precision.
Semipro Fi and thanks for your service. The older breed (i.e. anyone who came before us) is why I became a Marine, and is a reason most who join to this day also.
What outfit? Where and when? Did RVN '66-'67, E/2/1, 0311.
@@doctordetroit4339 I need some more information please. First, who attacked who? Second was it a neighboring country where he served? Third, did any of who he killed did something against him? More question than answers!
I was just a school boy then. You were always heroes in my eyes.
Thank you
Sir, please don't apologize for opening up about your young life that you gave for me, my family and my country. Thank you and thank all veterans and enlisted men and women. May God bless you
You have nothing to apologize for. Thanks for your service.
My dad was a surgeon's assistant in a MASH unit and got a Purple Heart because he was mortared while doing a surgery. He saved the kid with AK holes in the guts, then got on the table for shrapnel removal. I remember seeing him pick metal out of his shoulder when I was a kid and he still has some, along with bullet shrapnel from being a county sheriff deputy and detective after Nam. My uncle was a Green Beret and used an M14 with a scope in Vietnam. He has some wild stories if you can get him to share them, he came back from 2 tours a broken man. Mom's sister did her best to fix him, with mixed success. War tears people up.
To hear the stories told by this Marine is to walk in his shoes for but a moment in time. Thank you for your sacrifice and for those who never returned home. We will never know the reality of war, but by sharing your experiences it helps us to understand just how terrible war really is.
Sacrifice would be losing a limb or anything from his body. I could tell stories from the same war but from the other sides perspective. But because I do live in the US, I really don’t want see you in my scoop and kill you with one shot. Yes I was a sharp shooter to with a perfect score. All those veterans miraculously having their payed off house with a three car garage and with huge retirement money, which could be robbed from somebody in a foreign country. The real veterans with low ranks in fact living in tents in the USA. Just give a thought about that!
😮@@bubamaranovichok4901
@bubamaranovichok4901 so because he wasn't wounded physically he didn't sacrifice his mental health and well being so other people possibly didn't have to go
I had experiences where one of my Marines in Vietnam had tripped a booby-trapped bomb that hadn't exploded and it literally vaporized those around it. We might find a piece of an arm, a leg, and part of the torso, but the rest was just bloody pieces of their military gear. I remember feeling how their family would feel knowing that a closed casket was because there were only pieces of their son, brother, father, or uncle that could be recovered.
I was lucky. I managed to survive a year in Vietnam without any serious wounds. But my brother was severely wounded and spent a year in the hospital. one of my uncles was a Captain in the Special Forces who was severely wounded and spent more than a year in the hospital.
The thing that I hated about Vietnam is that our politicians didn't have the guts to allow us to win the war. Think about it. We won WW II in less than four years. We fought the North Koreans and the Chinese to a animist is 3 years. But we couldn't defeat a third world cesspool in 10 years of fighting because we were never allowed by our politicians to invade North Vietnam. Had we been allowed to to so, then just like in WW II, we would have ended the war in less than 1-2 years. Would it have been bloody? Yes. But not as bloody as losing 68,000 men and women over 10 years.
The biggest problem our military has is our politicians who are not committed to winning a war they started.
In WWII over half of the Congress had sons or daughters in the military, so it was a personal sacrifice to them. Now (2023) you can count that number on one hand. It's always easier to send someone else's children to war than your own. If I had my way, every one would go into the military after high school so no one would know not only what it means to serve your country, but what it means to have someone else's life in your hands. I served as a Marine in Chu Lai (1969), but was left on the base to serve "in the rear" while brave men like this did the dirty work. It is men like this, to whom my soul wants to forever hold the dearest part of my heart, for their sacrifice. If you haven't been in war, you have no idea what it can do to you for the rest of your life. This man can have anything I have, for he already has earned my respect. May all those that served, enjoy the sweetest fruits of life, and when they pass, may they dwell in heaven in the most beautiful pastures of sweet flowers under the coolest of breezes and bluest skies, forever. Amen.
I've said the same for years. Politicians trying to run wars lose them, full stop. Leave that to the Generals and stay out of their way, or pay the price. Poppy Bush flew hard combat sorties for the Navy, and knew and respected the limits of his own expertise. The Gulf war was mercifully brief and a resounding success. Dubya knew nothing and got us nothing. And to your point about going all in being the best and most humane way through it, I couldn't agree more. After I'd gotten out and used my GI bill, I took a poly sci class about the morality of warfare. It made me sick, honestly. Just ivory tower nonsense at its worst, no basis in any kind of reality, all arguments for trying to make war "nice", which just prolongs it. At the end of the day it's enforcing a political will through violence, period. The faster you get through it, the better.
You men were sent there to kill the Beast of Communism, you didn't kill it, but you cut it's balls off. Vietnam never became like Russia or China, because of YOU MEN going over there and chilling it out. That is a WIN in my book. Welcome Home, and thank you Brother.
Because it's not about winning to these politicians it's about the money.
We had the same issues in Afghanistan. It’s disgusting how we’re sent to do a job and then we’re chained up and restricted from doing anything. Let us go and watch the US military take care of the situation.
Sir, I bow to you with the greatest respect for you. It's men like you that have given us the freedom we all enjoy today !
You should never apologize for having a "moment"... We, as a Country, apologize to you for putting you thru the things you have endured...mad respect and love for you Sir ❤
Wish I could give you a hug mate. Have seen combat myself but nothing like you. You are humble, real, true and an inspiration to the world on why war is pointless. I hope that you get to spend the rest of your days in peace of mind. Hope the memories do not haunt you. Thank you from an Aussie.
My deepest appreciation to you Marine... I was with my family on the Island of Guam 1967-69,aged 11-13 and my mother was active with Navy Wives Assn. and she my sister and I went to visit those hundreds of wounded US servicemen who were not quite stable enough to take the long trip stateside. As a youngster I saw and heard about much of the horrors of Vietnam.... The images and the faces of those young men stay with me even now and I'm 67. So I believe I can mostly appreciate your pain and your tribulations after what you had been through. Bless you and I wish you Peace and hopefully you're able to find Joy in your life.
Sempre Fi. ✌
Thank you for your service to our country, Sir. I was in the USAF and spent a year in SEA. For a long time I felt like I didn't pull my weight because I wasn't shooting or being shot at. Years later, after working with an Army troop that experienced much of what this Marine experienced, he related stories of how the air strikes saved them, I came to realize nobody wins the war alone. The military is a big machine and all the parts must work together to accomplish the mission.
What a man. Words can't express the gratitude and pride I feel for our service members. Absolute heroes.
Thank you brother for your time energy and effort over there. Had my time in the stan... My heroes have always been the vets before me. War truly is hell. It's wild we find ourselves in conflict as often as we do ... But best believe we never have a shortage of warriors willing to show what true strength is. This man was a warrior of his time. Live in peace brother. Thanks for speaking. One day I'll speak my piece. Also super thank you to those who arranged this and let these guys speak it true. Cursing and all haha. Amazing work and you should be recognized for doing this. It was my pleasure to watch every single one of these interviews
1st Cav 68/69. Great video, makes me feel it again.
Thank you so much for your service to our country, your humanity, your patriotism and your honesty…I wish every American possessed those traits..we would be in a far better place as a country
God bless this man. Found himself in a war he didn't ask for, and a war they're still fighting.
Thank you for these interviews. And thank you to the people, the American service personnel worldwide .
I just finished watching your video and you had me crying with you. While I’m also a Marine Nam Vet, I was stationed at Chu Lai 68-69 1st MAW MAG 12, way after you were there but knowing what you went through, just makes me feel guilty as hell because when I got there, I knew I had a 99% chance of making it back to the world. Plus, I didn’t have the BS in the airports like you did, for some reason. At San Francisco, we got there about 1-2am and there wasn’t hardly anyone there. When I got to Love Field, it was 7-8am…I didn’t have a watch…but no one bothered me there either. And I was in my uniform too. Anyway, I’m sorry that you’re still going through your bad experiences but it just shows you have feelings and a heart. You’re not cold about it all. But I want to tell you…WELCOME HOME Brother. I wish I could meet you and tell you how much I appreciate what you did.
Familiar stuff - Operation Starlight, that time in Nam, Operations Double Eagle & Utah, Dickey Chappelle, the Repose, all so damned familiar... my Gunnery Sgt. took my 3.5 rocket launcher away after Utah, sent me to Danang to sniper school. Came back to the unit carrying the 30.06 bolt action Winchester rifle and ammo I trained with. My experiences were uncannily similar to his, in the same areas of I Corps in '66. It's eery, listening to him, like having a dream of Nam. Unreal. I got wounded west of Tam KY in June '66, they killed my spotter Marc, blew both my legs off right there. End of my tour. Semper Fi, Corporal. We made it home, one way or another.
Thank you for your service! We are grateful for men like you.
First of all thank you for everything you've done to protect our country. My dad was in the Air Force during Vietnam, but he was in a civil engineering squadron like the SeaBees. He wasn't exposed to half what you were over there, but saw enough and did enough that I don't think I'll ever know it all- because I'm sure there are things he wouldn't talk about. My uncle (dad's brother) was killed there in 71'. It messed my dad and his family up. Dad was stationed at Yakota AFB in Japan at the time, and he had to go ID my uncle's body and escort him home for the funeral. I've never experienced war firsthand- but I've been around enough guys through my dad's involvement with the VFW/American Legion that I've seen the underlaying toll it takes on people. I've watched guys like you wearing Vietnam veteran hats hit the deck when kids are lighting fireworks. I remember one instance a few years ago when a guy ducked and grabbed his wife and tried to pull her down to hit the deck. It never goes away. As a kid, I was in boy scouts. At night at Camporee sometimes we'd play hide-n-seek, kick the can, etc. We had a Scoutmaster friend from another troop who would ask my dad (our scoutmaster) if we could stop doing that- it reminded him of something over there and was affecting him. This is long winded, I've said plenty- thank you for serving our country, you Vietnam guys deserved better.
So much respect for these guys. I’m not American but thank for your service, you answered the call and you deserved so much better on your return. That was tough to watch. Thank you again Mr Hickman I hope you find peace for the rest of your journey.
Hard to watch this man relive the horrors of war with his pain and broken heart that refuse to leave. An American hero. My father served in the European theater during WWII and never spoke of the war. His brothers landed on the Normandy beaches. Even into the 1990s, my aunt shared my uncle would be under the covers at the foot of the bed trying to dig a foxhole. True, WWII soldiers returned, like Sherman said, with some decompression time on a boat with their friends, and were greeted as heroes. Vietnam vets, not the same story. Such a failing in American history. I take every opportunity to shake a veteran's hand. I served 1987-2007. Thank you AVC for sharing these stories.
Since it’s not kosher to ask a vet to tell war stories I thank you for this channel, allowing these heroes to be thanked for their service and an outlet for trauma.
Much praise to CPL Hickam to re-live the horrors of war by telling his story. I want you to know how much I appreciate your duties and sacrifices.
Sir, I was in the army in the 80's fighting the reds (not USA) and I count my blessings every day that I did not see action. For years I regretted that I did not qualify for the MOS that I wanted. No longer. Thank you for doing what you did; I wish I could give you even a minute of the peace of mind I experience every day because I did not see what you saw. God bless you, sir
What an incredible story of heroism; bravery and any other word you can think of ! It was a total disgrace how Vietnam Veterans were treated upon their return ! You sir are a genuine hero !!!!!!!!
Mr. Hickam,
Thank you for your service and sacrifice. May God bless your heart and soul for all you endured. Your courage and determination are so appreciated. Thank you for sharing your story.
You have nothing to apologize for, you are a true hero!! Thank you for your service. I have two grandsons serving one marine and one in the Air Force both making a career in their service to our country.
#MaiLaiMassacre
Upmost respect
Welcome Home Brother
So many years later and still brings a MAN to tears talking about his story. This man has made me feel better about my own struggles about the Gulf War. I guess I still have a long ways to go. I just wonder if the pain will ever stop.
Bless this man for his service and for the memories he carries inside him. There is no shame in crying. He has witnessed things that most people will never witness.
I suspect, many veterans who fought in the Pacific area, knew what these soldiers would be facing. The soldiers in the European theatre has less trepidation.
When you invade a country to fight against it, you're playing on their terms. The exception being Iran and Iraq. Afghanistan foiled the Soviets.
I'm British but I live in the US. I appreciate every single veteran who has served regardless of country. This was one of those wars that shouldn't have happened.
War is hell.
Amen
There's a quote I once heard:
"War is not hell, for from hell innocence is spared."
War is war, that's why Americans are the most effected by PTSD, PTSD comes from seeing things you never expected to see. War isn't hell that's where the enemy goes.
You're an attention seeker
Inside a place called Tibett , even peace is hell
Thank you for sharing the story about the tough reporter, learning a little bit of her story brings her efforts to life.
Thank you Sherman for the job you did, the sacrifice you made for a kid like me at the time. Thank you for sharing your story as well. I'm honored to hear it. God bless you.
Thank you for your service 🇺🇸❤️
A very good and honest interview, you went through a lot and served the best you could. You never have to apologize, you've earned the right to cry. Thank you for your service!
I had a friend Ken Dickenson from Colorado. He served in Vietnam in the early 70's. I'm in Canada he was up here visiting some friends. I asked him many times what it was like and he never gave me a clear answer. We were sitting drinking one night and had had a bit too much to drink and I asked him again, I guess the beer and time of night made him open up. He said it was a good time to be alive for him, he also had some sad memories and and he cried a bit. He became a better friend and I understood a lot more about him. He was very disillusioned about his gov. of the day , quite frankly he felt betrayed. I have no idea where he ended up, but hope he has healed emotionally some what.
God bless you, Mr. Sherman. You are one of many American Heroes. No doubt I honor you sir, from the bottom of my heart and thank you so much for this interview. I am a Vietnam era veteran. 1966 to 1970. Although I didn't go to non. Luckily for me, I know a lot about what you're talking about. And it's true again. Thank you for opening america's eyes god bless
Respect. I'm here crying myself and all I can do is pray that you have peace.
God bless this man, and every other man and woman who has fought for us to enjoy a life of freedom. You are all loved and appreciated!
Bullshit! Without any war or wars you would be OK in the US. And just as a reminder, ya all should listen to one song written by an American songwriter named Chris Christofferson in about 1966 or 1967 during the Vietnam war. And it goes like this. “ freedom just another word if you have nothing more to loose “ under the title “ me and Bobby Mc Gee “ Americans are to spoiled and getting stupider by the day. The real heroes are in the cemeteries if they were lucky enough to transported back in one piece.
Thank you for your service. My brother came back to the states, but not same before he left. Died Sunday 4/21/2024 with Vietnam Nam docs on his bed. God bless all of you whi served. No one can imagine the trauma endured during that time.
Learned what Vietnam was twice 65-66 69-70. Before my first NAM tour saw combat in the Dominican Republic. 57-58 I was in South Korea. After 2d NAM tour, went to Latin America for 4 years then 74-80 at Fort Hood. Retired 1980 as an 04.
Thank you for your service. Thank you for sharing your experiences as the history and service is appreciated.
You mean the shamefull warmongering US service?
Crazy to hear someone else talk about the noise of outgoing, and knowing you had seconds to get to cover.
I was an 0341 during OIF and we fought mortar squads all along the Euphartes. That sound sticks with me to this day.
Outgoing means your side shooting though right? did you mean incoming? I am no expert just asking for clarification.
@jamesbarnett527 yes, incoming fire. I was talking about hearing enemy rounds leaving the tube. We were told to start counting whenever we heard it, so we can get a rough estimation on distance.
@@jpcrites86Makes total sense. Glad you made it back.
It was Chesty Puller who typified the marine attitude. When surrounded by Chinese troops at Chozen reservoir he commented that they had them right where they wanted them. They were able to fight their way out of this situation.
You endured those horrible things because you are a brave and good man. We need more men like you now.
Wow that was great. Gives me a little of what my dead grandfather went through in ww2. Let us not forget . These people are true life heroes.
A couple of minutes have passed, and I have regain my composure. I am a truck driver, and I had to walk into an office. That’s one of the most powerful things I’ve ever heard in my life. I am a man had one circuit to make a decision. I’m at the decision he made. I’m sure I’m right when I say that that is the heart of the United States Marine Corps.
I served four years in the USMC, and I agree with you 100 percent. He's the real deal.
My brother in law said his debriefing from Vietnam consisted of, "what you did here, you can't do in the states" he didn't wear his uniform coming home, just sad!
I keep coming back to this video in particular. It’s so raw and telling even in the moments of silence it’s very telling. Bless you sir and thank you for your service.
You sir are of the Marines that created the reputation the rest of us were defined by!!!!! Thank you!
Thanks for your service Sherman. God Bless America
It’s people like this man that allows me to live in peace in America, watch videos on TH-cam etc etc etc. I thank him and the ones who made the ultimate sacrifice so I can
Thank you sir for taking the time to share your experiences overseas in Vietnam my cousin was 101 airborne. He had done two tours of duty and came home alive not in box. But he never really came home he couldn't shake all the horror and of the things that he put up with over there. He still was interested in drinking and smoking dope. He finally ended up getting in a bind got dressed one night like he was going out sat in the backyard and blew his head off what a horrible ending to a wonderful man. Like you said you came home and apparently it's extremely hard to hard to readjust to home. Thank you all for your time and courage in the field so far away
What a powerful interview. Thank you seems so useless to say to a man like you but thank you for what you did for us. There's no way we can ever understand the hell you guys went through. I wish you the strength you need to deal with the memories and hope you find peace.
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ive a good freind a Marine he doesnt talk too much about it Vietnam very nice guy God Bless him also
Amazing story!…most people will never understand what you dealt with… but every proud American sure as hell appreciates what you did!!!!
My dad served in vietnam. Im proud of him for his strength and service and i am proud of you. Im always amazed at the experiences and fortitude you brave men endured and i hold a humble reverence for you and all of those men that served and put their lives on the line to do what you did. My dad returned from vietnam to an ungrateful nation at that time, and so seldom speaks of his service, even when asked. He feels like he didn’t do anything exemplary, but he did, and i want you to know and all of the vets that served and gave their lives physically and mentally as you have, you are heroes to me and my family. Thank you dear sir from the bottom of our hearts for sharing your personal experience with us.
Thank you for your sacrifice and your service. It was gut wrenching to hear that you weren’t able to talk to anyone on the way home. My husband is a disabled 0351 from 01’-05’. I know most civilians can’t relate but when he started telling me about the really tough stories, I had to listen and put myself in his shoes. No judgement, he did his job and he did it well and I am so grateful that he made it home. He still struggles with the friends that weren’t able to come home to their children and wives when at that time, he had no one to come home to. Still fighting the VA for his disability almost 20 years after being discharged.
He served with my brother. 7th Marines, stormed the beach at Chu Lai and was in Operation Starlight, so no doubt.
I heard the stories, my brother and father (WWI, Haiti, served 1916-1920) talking. I was clueless but the impact of both being able to connect, despite the age difference, made a lasting impression on me. Listening to him speak about his experiences brought all that back to me.
We owe these guys everything. They stood between us and harm's way. I always thank a Veteran when I see one.
Wow, what a warrior! It must take a lot of strength to unpack all of that emotion. Thank you for doing what you thought was right. I appreciate what you have done for all of us.
Thank you for your service,Sir! We can’t even put in prospective what you and your fellows Marines went through in Vietnam. Gob bless you and your Family!
Complete Respect for you my Brother, the Courage you had then and now are unbelievable! Thank you and God Bless you 🙏 🇺🇸
What a man! Thank you again for your service!
As a Marine vet I would like to thank this gentleman for his incredible service. Thank you for the great interview. I know talking about your experiences can be very difficult. Much respect. Simper Fi Devil Dog 🫡
Wow!!!! First of all ..thank you for your Service. You are a class Act. May God Bless you all of your days. Hold your head high ..you Deserve the Respect
Mr. Hickam, I am so sorry for all you’ve gone through due to your service but I do want to thank you for serving. Please know that you telling your story is an amazing thing and it broke my heart that anyone has experienced such pain and loss in this life. I hope you are doing well and are able to cope with the trauma you’ve experienced. RIP to all the vets who sacrificed themselves for their country and to save their buddies. thank you to all who have served. 🇺🇸
The pure emotions of these veterans is very touching to my soul, I wish all of them the best life possible in the future, and to the ones who have passed away to rest in peace with honour from their families and country 🙏🌹
I Graduated Marine Scout Sniper School on 2/24/79 , at Camp legune Rifle range on my 20th Birthday.
This gentleman’s story reminded me of my dad who recently passed away. My dad was in Force Recon in the late 1950’s as a scout sniper in a 4 man team. The only one he would talk to about what happened over there was me. It was cathartic for him and traumatizing for me. But, I was glad I was there for him. No one understood him but me. He was so misunderstood. War really changes someone and leaves an indelible mark that never goes away.
Thank you for sharing. As a Marine Vietnam veteran, I almost didn't watch this & started several times to click away. Now I'm 76 can relate to your story. I was in a different area & time than you, April 68 to Feb 70, and spent most of my time in Hue City detached to MACV but can still remember everything as if it was yesterday. Mostly the good times, not the bad. I think I left Danang Vietnam on Feb 9th & was stepping off the plane in Asheville, NC the morning of Feb 13th. Basically, no time to decompress & I was back in the world. I can remember the last time I was in Vietnam because it was last night. You never leave. Semper Fi brothers...Greetings from that Old Jarhead in WNC
Thank you endlessly for your service Sir!!!!! May God bless you always!!!!! ✝️🇺🇲
Thank you for your service and for sharing your story.
Can't even begin to thank this veteran for what he endured in Vietnam and especially what all VN vets had to put up with when they returned home... Real Heroes!