Wounded Vietnam Vet Felt Out Of Place In America
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- The speaker is David Christian interviewed in 1989 for my TV series on the sixties. He was wounded 7 times, received the distinguished service Cross, and worked then as he does today to help Vietnam veterans. He was a green beret and clearly a hero. I appreciated then as I do now his sense of patriotism and honor. I will post several clips from his interview in the coming days. If you like this, please subscribe to see other David Hoffman interviews. #vietnam #hero #vietnamveteran
After listening to him in one interview, I listened to a few more. This one in particular when he talks about his english class assignment, on writing a story about what he did last summer, and the teacher giving him an "F" because he didn't want a fictional story. I wish he would have shown up the next day in full uniform with is medals.
Shame on that professor!!!
It probably wouldnt have been well received.
I hated that kind of stuff in college. It still happens today to different degrees.
You are my hero to fight the Vietnam War, you brought freedom for our family and many other. Thank you for your services Sir. I was born and raised in Vietnam. I am Chinese and the communist treated us terribly. Thank God USA humanity save us, accepted us, welcomed us to United States of America after we escaped Vietnam by fishing boat. Thank again.
It speaks volumes about his character that he didn't feel the need to prove it.
I am moved by this man's testimony of his experience, his eyes...oh my. God bless him.
Amen Lord please save more veterans and the disenfranchised
I find this guy really captivating. The way he speaks about atrocities so blatantly and frankly, really sums up the effect it has on the mental composure of a person. Great stuff.
I worked with a green beret. Best machinist in the place and super easy to talk to. I asked if he was ever wounded. He lifts his shirt and shows me a bayonet wound. The scar ran from one side of his belly to the other, about 3" wide. Then he shows me the multiple bullet wounds in his hands and arms. He's telling me the caliber of each as he goes along.
Miss you Bill. You were a great guy. One of the best guys I've ever known.
@@cellardoor199991 that's Al Swearengen from HBOs Deadwood (Ian McShane).
If I'd had that professor, I would've shown up to the next class wearing my dress uniform with all my medals on it, and then handed him the exact same paper I'd already written.
his articulation makes for a great listen,........thanks for your story, thanks for your service, "WELCOME HOME" ( I was told to say that to the Vietnam war vets, because of the distain people had for them, they never really got a 'welcome home' from the general public)
Golf company 2nd battalion 3rd Marines weapons platoon 60 mm mortars. Nail on the head. I've been struggling to come to grips with all of this. This man is so on point with that divide and you know things are never going to be the same as the photograph you're trying to come back home to but you been through things, this was so awesome to find tonight. Thank you God. It's just nice to know you can hear someone else kind of explain things that you can relate to.
wise words from a wise man ,unfortunately his government haven't heeded his words
this guy is amazing.
All of U VETS. we're mislead &dishonered. What a shame. THANK ALL OF U WHO SERVED. ❤️☮️🙏👍😇🦁🤩👌
warrior. I am disgusted by my country! The way they treated you. I was just a child then. I watched clips coming back from that war. You sir deserved better. Thank you for your service to this country.
After HS I was in the hospital for almost 30 months learning to walk, talk, etc. And playing catch-up is so belittling so I can't imagine what it was like for him to be only 20 and have some crusty fuck tell him his story was fiction.
As a 34-year Army vet who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, I totally get what this fellow is talking about and feel a strong affinity with all that he talked about here. Military service can reach across generations.
You are an AMERICAN HERO,All who fought are the bravest of all,walk tall be proud thank you.
We've learned nothing since then...
At 1:50, I'm pretty sure he says "Bobby Mueller" - as in Robert.
;)
No, he’s talking about Bobby Muller, not Robert Mueller. Robert Mueller was never outspoken against Vietnam even though he served there as well.
Thank U VERY MUCH 4 YOUR SACRAFICES 🤩🦁😇👍🙏☮️❤️. DEVINE BLESSING'S
I'm just finishing up David's book Victor Six an awesome read so bummed I'm at the end I really wish a movie would be made about this American Hero someone should get Clint Eastwood on it he would do a great job of telling David's story
I agree. Another great movie that Clint Eastwood could do would be Carlos Hathcock. He was the legend, a Marine who was a sniper in Vietnam.
Brilliant
Thanks
It's funny, when you hear a good song, you'll listen to it over and over again. Why don't people feel that way about discussion? This video is approximately the length of a pop song. And entirely worth hearing several times in a row, just like a pop song. Or hearing several times a day, just like a pop song. Each time finding nuances that escaped you the time before. Why dont people do that? Or maybe they do? I can't say. But truth be known, this video has many important thoughts worth thinking about, on multiple levels, in multiple passes
Wow....
*If there's is another war let's us do it differently.*
Uh about that...I mean he's right about the whole looking back and reflect part...
At that time, the American People had nothing but disgust in their souls for us. The greatest tragedy ever perpetrated upon military members in the USA.
I wonder why...
Corporations getting sweet deals on Vietnamese labor. Yup, his sacrifice helped make me free.
It would help if USA at least did not try so hard to start more wars than anyone else in the world, but oh well.
It's hard to not start wars if your country has one of the highest responsibilities than any other. Not only that were American got a problem with us? Kill us! Oh wait you can't because your wack ass country is most likely swallowing our nuts
@@someone-eo1zf you claim to be american, yet english is clearly not your first language. Interesting.
Lol we totally didn't those same nastiness again....
Im confused. Who won this war?
The politicians , because they couldn't fight this war the way it should have been conducted, felt their political careers were on the line, and caved to the liberals, the hippies, and other BS groups . So the USA withdrew. Sad, because there was no way that South Vietnam was capable of fighting and or winning this war against the communist north, who were supplied via China & Russia. Yes Communism was spreading. The USA military didn't lose. That 'loser' tag belongs to the politicians , the liberals, the democrats, colleges, & universities professors, and their student bodies, the 'hippies', and anyone or group 'anti-USA'.......In the long run....the North Vietnamese Communists defeated South Vietnam.
Take this for what it's worth.......hope it helps with your 'confusion'.
I didn't like Joe Namath either. Or Ali. Or any of those 1960s loudmouths.
I havent been part of it since 1978
And the parting on the left
Is now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight
I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again,
lets not start another war based off lies!
or stay in a war based on lies while our President trotting around claiming to be great humanitarian.
This guy reminds me of Kurt Cobain.
"Then I realized life is just a game" this is likely a bucket of cold water to the face for a lot of people. I find it to be true though. Figure out what things you want in life, adjust the appropriate variables and the results will come.
Like Bruce Lee said
Be water my friend. Water adapts to its environment.
I think POLITICS is a game, and we all know that much of our career is a game, another form of politics. And human relationships is often a game, a barter game. The best we can do is carve out for ourselves a private space that is legit, that allows us to stretch our identity away from the fray. I didn't fully achieve that til I retired, though, as my job dominated my life for 40 years.
@@6688ya I would argue with that. Constantly adapting to your environment means constantly losing. Rather than that, resist, resist enough to keep some degree of integrity for yourself.
Wow a captain at 20? Crazy. A leader of men at such a young age! Massive respect to this man
Very compelling guy. I was of the same time period. Drafted but put aside for medical reason. All five of my high school friends on the bus with me to final physical that day died in the war. This guy hits deep in my soul.
God Bless
When I was In Country, I was assigned to be one of the Body Guards for Bob Hope and his Group. It was only for a short while, but it was a wonderful experience. He was constantly funny, even off the stage over lunch, he was cracking jokes, and he and I had a little time to talk... he was genuinely interested in me and, in all of us really. His show gave everyone an amazing boost in morale...the energy among the guys was electric...and powerful.
When I was saying good bye and handing them off to the next Detail, he hugged me and asked me to make him a promise...and of course I said "Yes Sir..." and then he said "I want you to promise me that you will come home safely." He was one of the nicest and most amazing people that I have ever met.
So obviously, I made it, but not without shedding some blood there. From the way I was treated when I finally got back to the world, to this day, I still feel like an outsider...looking in...never quite made it all the way home. But I did have a successful life, but now that I am retired, I spend pretty much all of my time alone.
Welcome home brother. I'm an Afghanistan combat vet and have felt like an outsider for over 8 years now. I felt like an outsider even during my last years in the military, as I was in the Air Force but deployed over there with the Army, working on the ground with them as an S-2. Previously, I had a bunch of non-combat deployments around the Middle East.
Today, as back in the 60s and 70s, USO shows are highly popular. What the late Robin Williams did for our generation was a gift. He was our Bob Hope.
My advice--what helped me eventually get out of my rut--was to engage with fellow veterans, but also to volunteer. Any type of charitable work. Perhaps at the nearest VA hospital or clinic. I also eventually accepted that my civilian friends would never fully understand but just loved them anyway.
Adam Saxe - And back at you Brother…welcome home to you. I hope the outsider feeling goes away for you. I think that once we operate as a Unit of Professional Soldiers, we want to recapture that feeling of camaraderie and trust… our tribe. That is why I went back…to where I felt that I fit in and people appreciated my experience and trusted me and me them.
I have heard that Gary Sinise, Toby Keith and a few others do USO…I was saddened by the loss of Robin Williams…and can certainly see how he would have been “your Bob Hope.”
Well, I have some injuries that I still deal with and my Primary Care Doc is Ex Air Force and treats a lot of Special Operators, so he got me together with two other guys like me…we never told war stories, just busted balls because we had Army, Air Force and a Marine, would hang out, go to the range… get each other to Doc appointments and like that. Well, last year, the SEAL died and it was tough for us, and not long after, the other two died within a week of each other…man, I didn’t come out of the house for a week.
I don’t go to the VA… some facilities are not that good and I did see a good Counselor there, but he could only see me once a month and could not even remember me each time I saw him, so had to read his notes for a bit when I saw him… it was okay…he retired and I stopped.
Also, I did volunteer to work with Rocky Blier (Pittsburg Steelers/Vietnam Vet) on a Foundation that helped “At Risk Kids” and that was okay, but his schedule is pretty full and that trailed off. I have been invited to go to Marcus Latrell’s ranch to work with the Veterans and his horses since I am a Cowboy type…but it’s a 5 hour drive and I don’t do well talking war stories. I called “Wounded Warrior” but they wanted money, nobody was a Vet and they did not want my time.
I am older than you and we had high attrition in country, and have since lost a lot of guys to cancer, strokes and suicide…so now I am the last one…still know a few Military guys and have one Ranger friend who lives locally…he is my go to guy. Anyway… I stay to myself and drive on… my injuries have kept me out of the gym, and I am able to walk again now, so will try that soon again.
Welcome home.
Terry and Adam: I am not a veteran, and I am
largely a pacifist, very liberal type. But I understand
our collective need for security and I respect and honor those who
sacrifice to provide it. Without you, America could not exist. For that,
and much more, you are most profoundly and warmly welcomed. Always.
Welcome home sir, welcome home.
I like how he casually name-drops John Kerry and Robert Mueller
Nah, he’s talking about Bobby Muller, a paraplegic vet and peace advocate. Robert Mueller definitely served in Vietnam too and was a decorated officer, but he wasn’t outspoken and anti-war like Bobby Muller was. Look him up.
When he said he can tell us for a fact that most vets did *not* kill innocent women and children, well, he helped me relax a little. There's a lot of info out there saying otherwise and I just needed to hear this message. And to hear it from this earnest, intelligent, eloquent man really hammers the message home. Those who *did* hurt civilians did such a colossal disservice to those who didn't, because in many people's eyes they all got lumped together. So unfair. That fact saddens me deeply.
God bless the men who served, fallen or living, and their families.
I'm a Canadian and I was only born in '68 but my cousin in the States did 3 tours in Vietnam as a paramedic. I know 2nd hand from him that this was an ugly war but those who committed to it's cause are all heroes. Thank you Sir, for your service and answering your Commander in Chief's call.
50 years ago today, on October 29, 1968 he was awarded the distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism. Sorry but those wild wildwood days can’t compare what you been through
Your professor must have been smoking cannabis resin
Just another civilian that can’t comprehend what happens in war.
David Kristian knew him at ft Gordon in basic for a little while read about him later in newspapers today its July 26 2022 found him on my tablet quite a guy and what he did God bless dave
I do not agree with his ideas about the necessity of Vietnam war, however I respect him immensely over his maturity and acceptance toward people with different point of view. Most people seem to forget that we don't have to agree on everything in order to have healthy relationships.
One million Vietnamese were massacred after we left. The politicians were told this would happen if the communists took over. 2 million in Cambodia. It happened and is still going on in North Korea.
We tried to stop a genocide.
Funny thing is, my college English professor for all but one semester was a Vietnam Veteran. I had spent my entire life studying the Vietnam War and was eager to say something to him. I tried to talk with him about it but he wouldn't. Either way, I told him that I was proud of him and grateful for his service there.
Ironically, he gave ME an "F" on one of my first papers and managed to pull that grade up to a cumulative "A". The following semester, he used me as an example that just because you bomb the first paper, doesn't mean you're done! He asked AFTER THE FACT if it was okay if he used my story as an example. I bashfully grinned and said, "No problem, sir!"
Ever since, I've been known to chase down old men with Vietnam Veteran swag of different types and stopping them to shake their hand and tell them, "Welcome Home!".
A man among men with Wisdom. All of those guys deserved so much better from the System.
" I want facts NOT fiction" woooow.😮
All I can say is "WOW " .. Deep commentary . I liked these interviews
Thank you for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that TH-cam is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
I love all the Vietnam Veterans. I respect them, and they fought because they were sent there by their leaders. I have many family and friends that served and I understand what our government was telling us here at home while our men were being killed in a war that many of us at home didn't want or understand. Thank you Sir, for your loyal service.
This guy had no idea how effective a military was the Viet Cong. They had defeated empires before. The American Empire was yet one more imperial invader to be put in its place. It's the same old story as seen in Afghanistan. Empires and their cannon fodder defenders never learn.
You was not in country after tet 68 they wiped out Gary Owen
Hi David, You did an amazing job, (project) with these interviews, on the Vietnam War and the 60's happening. I'm of that era born in 51. I carry unforgettable experiences and memories from then. I still have those values and wonder why it wasn't more successful than it is. I know there has been some improvement (which is better than none). I do see regression brought on by division. I guess the old saying, ''divide and conquer " is true. Great work!!!
This guy is something else.OUTSTANDING. A book should be written about him or a feature FILM of his amazing LIFE.
these interviews are gold
Thank you Byron for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that TH-cam is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
I may not fully agree with this man politically, but he's clearly very intelligent and incredibly articulate. I could listen to him speak for hours about anything.
Did hear him admit that he didn’t even know what a communist was?
I think what might have surprised Mr. Christian is the War in Irak. Another Vietnam, another failure.
Would love to hear from some of the Grunts who for what ever reason never got their deserved Medals or recognition for their Tours of duty.
This guy is the greatest.
David A Christian, interesting fellow.
not sure I like this guy
Meanwhile Hanoi Jane is still doing the same BS. My father and uncle are Vietnam veterans. I am a veteran. It makes me sad to think about the lack of support they had coming home at this time. They have my respect!
I think this guy forgot that we dropped more bombs on Vietnam then we did the entirety of World War II. Those Viet Cong were tougher than he gives credit for. Held them back without a problem
From my knowledge JFK wanted to withdraw the troops from Vietnam. Now at least based on that, whoever says it was right to go there sounds at leas weird...
"They just weren't ready for the returning veterans" is true. However, also true is that they couldn't have cared less about Veterans. Most of our fellow countrymen hated us and even my WW2 Veteran Father told me "You lost your war". Even my own father hated me for having "failed the test" of "The Greatest Generation" which was "Victory". Heck, that v word has disappeared from common usage in the USA, but not in the capitals of our rivals across the globe.
(those leading us by the way)
Im not american, but its obvious you guys won the war, militarily speaking. The politicians were the ones who lost the political war. Not your fault.
I returned home from Vietnam in 1969. Sometime later I was "recruited" to join the VFW......I think I was stationed at Camp LeJeune at the time. Never went to the VFW or really associated with much of anything during my final years in the Marines, nor after. I kept to myself. My best friend was also a Vietnam vet, a Marine also. He eventually died very young. My other friend lasted much longer....Alcohol. I felt very confused , lonely, & lost. One day I decided to hopefully find gratitude & comfort, & peace at the VFW. Was I ever wrong! The WW II & Korean War vets treated me as the same outcast as the American public. I was 19 when I came home from Vietnam. I'm now 74. I have never set foot into the VFW again. And , I disowned my 'hippie' brother. I've carried too much pain all my life, inside of me.......and I don''t need anyone's "help' making my pain worse.
@@B126USMCI know it’s none of my business nor do I understand but I want to say thank you and welcome home and I’m grateful for you and everything you’ve done for this country and may god watch and bless you for all you have done for this country thank you.
The government treated them like shit.
Fascinating stuff !!
David you're brilliant.
You ain’t going to believe me but I stopped short driving jack hamm during drivers education and I told his wife I saved his life with best of intentions and gave her a waiver to add special requests none of the mushy stuff just to keep her husband safe and back home ok shit I gotta go with the gladiator and I would have killed to survive
I was a kid when Vietnam was going on but o treat the returning soldiers badly is what I remember. I’m Canadian and Vietnam was one war we would not participate in as a country. The horror is that Kissinger is still in the halls of power at 93.
There is a law that requires any serviceman that is wounded the third time has to be removed from the war zone. It cannot be overridden by anyone.
He must have gone on 3 tours?
Read his book. Incredible story about his life
Never let us make the same mistakes. A phrase nobody in US parlement seems to take into account.
It's the same story now for us vets. Only option is to turn into a pirate and take their booty.
That's what she said.......
i dont deny that their is a large possibility that the teacher had some bias about military. however if this guy really did write about everything he did, i can see why the teacher said "phhsss yea right kid." no offence to him as a fellow military member, but i see the side of the prof. also massive credit to him for getting home and immediately writing about his experiences in Nam. some guys still and wont come to face it because of what they experienced.
A captain at 20 years old? Something stinks here.....
It's called casualties...
TOMMY WATKINS His name is David A Christian. Legit guy.
Nothing stinks!!!!!!! I have access to several supporting documents on his military career. This is real. He graduated from OCS at the age of 18. At 19 years of age, he was sent to Vietnam. He was younger than the men he led. I met many of them in June of 2019. They all spoke of his outstanding leadership. I also met two of the 8 men that credit him with saving their lives. His tactical officer from OCS was also at the reunion. Everyone attested to his superior skills and commitment to our country. His Officer Efficiency Report states the his unit was the most successful in the battalion, and that because of the confidence his superiors had in him, his unit was allowed to operate independently for days at a time in enemy territory. He was promoted to Captain at the age of 20. He authored a book from his memoirs, Victor Six and has a website dave@t He is and always will be a true American Patriot.
My sister called me before this video was made and said she was scared and couldn't talk about it because they were listening. She had to call me back and said she was hiding in the closet then I heard someone open the door and the phone hung up.
I saw this guy today and when he received a text with a picture of her he pretended he didn't know who she was then he put his black gloves on and started pacing. They better take his phone and make this right or I will.
Perfect example of why you don't use video tape for archival footage. You can see this is falling apart already.
Remember that the original is Beta SP 20 minute videotape. Not film.
David Hoffman
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