Eerily similar to my grandfathers experience in Vietnam. Purple heart recipient, took a 7.62 to the back of the ear and out of his face, got knocked almost unconscious from it and heard most of his platoon get slaughtered by VC. They passed him over thinking he was dead already from his face being blown out. One of the greatest men ive ever known. Thank you to all the vets out there.
My late older brother was drafted and served in Vietnam the same year as RJ 1966-68 my brother was in the US Army rank PVT-SP4 and served his whole tour, thank you and God bless all soldiers who served in Vietnam.
@@Idkwhodawg , or, maybe we see the same twitches and hesitations that we see in our family members? And, maybe we gathered enough info, with the luxury of modern tech, to realize that they were in a certain place at a certain time; and they lived; unlike most of their brethren. Yet, conducted their civ lives in an honorable way and spared the rest of us their pain. And, only now, we realize, yes, it was in their eyes all along.
@@Idkwhodawg , except for the science showing pupil response and dilation during exposure to emotion stimulus or recall of memories and the observers unconscious empathy response to it, yes, correct
Reminds me of my father who served in vietnam during TET. Character forged by fire produced amazing strength. Thank you for telling your story. I greatly respect you and all who served.
Thanks to your dad. The fighting in Tet was tough and very dangerous CQC but thankfully they finally drove the communists out and reclaimed the city. I was just watching videos last night about it. Thanks to all our veterans old and new!
@@marksc1929 The only people America has 'propped up'' in the last 50 years are your Globalist Satanic overlords. The mass genocide of millions of innocent men women and children from Hiroshima to Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq etc and the invasion of their sovereign territories and theft of their resources, your country has done the most by far to create the Satanic NWO. Now as the wheel of karma turns it is your own children and grandchildren who will pay the price of your abominations as they are left with the Global fascist communist system you created for your masters.
Big shout out to all our Vietnam veterans still out there I'm very sorry the way you all were treated when you all came back home i also wish to thank you all for your service i salute ya all my uncle gary was a marine in Vietnam but sadly he was kia in Vietnam along with other marine's when his chopper got shot down while heading out on a mission god bless our veterans out there
This was one of the best interviews I've watched from the Vietnam era! My dad was a Marine. Retired a Master Sargent and I miss him greatly! He was wounded in Korea. Got out and went back to school on the G.I.Bill. Married my mother. Went back on active duty. We ended up outside of D. C. When I was a boy. He ended up at Quantico in the Area Auditor's office. That's what he did the last 9 years he was in. Always a rifleman! Saw him clean an M14 on the kitchen table in Manassas, Virginia after going to the rifle range when I had just started school. He was stationed at Quantico twice when I was in grade school. Went to Okinawa between 2 tours at Quantico and then we ended up at Norfolk, Virginia for about a year before going to Okinawa for his last tour of duty before he retired. What a life!!! Wouldn't trade it for nothing! We went with him to Okinawa on his last tour and it was during Vietnam. When we came back to the States leaving out of Kadena Air Force Base we were one of 2 families (Marine) on the plane. Everyone else was a Marine going home from Nam! Semper Fi Marines! Love you All!
I served in Viet Nam as a Marine and came back to a United States I didn't recognize. So many people treated servicemen like trash on our return from war. At that time, I was bitter, but seeing how soldiers were treated coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan makes me feel better about the patriotic attitude of civilian Americans, and that's a good thing. I like it when someone says, "Thank you for your service", but I really appreciate it when someone says............"Welcome Home". Those are the words I never heard on my return, and it helps a lot to hear it now.
Welcome Home! I was too young to be there but had several families we knew who sent sons from SouthEastern NC. This country owes you and every other veteran magnitudes more than just a word of “thanks.”
It's so interesting to hear soldiers experiences. It takes a lot of guts to be in situations where you can die any minute. Amazing how well the training changes young men into professional warriors. Recently a Vietnam Vet who was also a sniper told me how he was sleeping one night on his abdomen in a river. The enemy walked over/around him middle of the night. They thought he was dead. Lucky guy!
Great interview, my father is also a disabled Vietnam combat Marine. Listening to RJ is like hearing my father tell his time during Tet and the 2nd and 3rd phase’s……. Crazy stuff these men seen, done, and been through no 19 year old should ever have to.
He did all that and kept his head on straight. So thankful he was able to lead a life that he chose after getting out of the Marines. I feel a kinship, like I know him, he is so open and friendly. My dad was a Marine and served in Korea and Vietnam. He didn't fare so well, having become addicted to pain medicines after being wounded in Nam, but he was able to go to college and get his degree after he got out in 71. Just couldn't hold a job for long after that. Lots of vets with similar stories, which is why it makes me feel so good that some wounded warriors, like RJ, were able to succeed. I served 80-85, no combat.
my pops served in ww2, korea and vietnam. his vice was booze. never could keep a job. and always had minimum paying ones. he never spoke of what he went through.
its impossible to play dead beacuse you need to breathe. Anyone watching a body can see a person breathe. I see it all the time in "fake dead guy" in tv shows.
@@bloop6812 yeah that’s one thing I got out of my combat experience. I’m coming up on 35 been out 15 years still no undies. They nasty get in the way take up room in my pack,
@@neglectfulsausage7689 If you are not a combat vet. how would you know couch potato. Did you think maybe he was trained to? Try it for yourself maybe you won’t recover from it.
I have the utmost respect for anyone who has been put in harms way while defending our nation. Thank you, R.J. Jackson, for your service and your sacrifice!
Thank you for your service RJ. You kind of remind me of my Uncle JIm. He served in Vietnam, he was extremely intelligent, very quiet, stoic and he kept himself very busy with his work, projects and taking care of his wife. He never really talked about his time in Vietnam because I think he had a lot of the same experiences that you went through upon your return. Unfortunately my Uncle passed away a couple of years ago from cancer.
I have the utmost respect for all veterans, but the veterans of the Vietnam War always have the most interesting stories, and my respect to them is the greatest. I was in 10th grade, and we went to our areas in VA hospital, and I had to interview a vietnam vet and when I asked him what vietnam was like while he was there all he said was "hell" and then got up and walked away. Our questions weren't anything out of line. Just how was the country, what area where you are in, and so on.
Loved RJ’s testimony. He reminds me of my husband, who did four tours and performed many amazing feats. He would make a good subject for one of your videos.
You can tell he's reliving his anxiety from back then during this interview from his body movements. I have anxiety and I tend to do similar movements when I'm sitting still.
@@magdump4456 I have PTSD and severe anxiety - I'm sure we are both correct in a way but I was watching his moves throughout and think he has nerve damage like he said.
@@UrbanValorTVI have a question and a comment that aren’t going to be popular, but it is very personal for me bc of my own childhood. He’s driving a child as a San Diego cop. The child says, “don’t take me home bc my dad’s a marine and he’s going to beat me” so he then asks for the kid’s address? Bc he’s obviously going to take him there so he can be abused by his father some more? A child that is obviously acting out due to the fact he’s living in an abusive home and doesn’t know how to handle it. A child that I promise you is still fkd up to this day if he’s even still alive. He never reached a point in his life where he realized the damage an abusive parent has on a child? Our guy here made some pretty bold decisions as a young man that forever altered the course of his tough life, seemingly to get the fck away from his father (most definitely also an abusive father). A father whom was so awful, he was estranged from him for several decades after joining the marines at 19 y/o. This guy is a survivor, is certainly brave in some circumstances, and regardless of politics above him, on one hand him doing what he did in Vietnam was heroic. That said, I find it extremely disappointing he hasn’t discovered the root cause of his dangerous decisions. It shows a lack of personal growth or curiosity, which is the opposite of brave.
Thank you for sharing this vital oral history. We walk by Viet Nam veterans every day, and I see a number of them at the bowling alley almost every day. I am unable to adequately express my appreciation for their service and sacrifice.
Incredible interview. This really shed some light on my dad's personal story. I wish I could still ask him about it, or that I would have asked him more about it, before he died. RIP dad (USMC '67-'71).
It is with much respect that I give thanks to R.J. Jackson........my Dad was a Korean war veteran and my son served in the Marines.......because of you guys I get to live this Cushy life of a musician/Piano teacher............it's guys like this that enabled the rest of us to have freedom and easy lives without a scratch on us...............you are not forgotten......thanks for sharing and for giving your all for the rest of us.....job well done..............
Although I’ve NEVER been in combat (will never say that I know what that is like) but I do understand PTSD from something else and the individual triggers are real and there real side effects! It’s how one takes care of oneself and deals with it that makes the difference between a shitty life and a good life and it appears that he’s done a great job at dealing with his issues. All the thanks in the world to him and the women & men that served in that war!
A great interview of an amazing man. We put young men and women in harms way and they always show the bravery and brotherhood to each other in battle. Their stories are all amazing. God bless all our Military members. Thank you for making these interviews.
Wow, I was a ScoutSniper with the 5th Marines 1968/69. First I was a 0311 Grunt Rifleman with Hotel-c 2/5 and after being wounded twice I was transfer to Hq-co, 5th Marines, ScoutSniper Plt in 1969. Served as a spotter with the great Chuck Mawhinney near the end of his tour. He was the best sniper I ever served with. I grew up in the West San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles county, California.
Were you ever in Hue with the 5th, or was that before you? Thanks for your service. My uncle was Force Recon. He was with 1st Force Recon out of Camp Reasoner near Da Nang, early 68- early 69. He fought in the jungles outside Hue.
Lost my paternal father in 1970 a week before I was born, I was orphaned in Detroit. Vietnam has always been a part of my life even though I never served. I'm 52 now and do anything I can for Vietnam Veterans still to this day. These guys went through so much shit its sad. God Bless all you guys !
My Father was a Green Beret in Vietnam 65-72 4 tours he loved the Hmong people a DS at Tigerland FT POLK Louisiana and was a unbelievably gifted marksman and he was a incredible coach who got me to my pinnacle as 1st Alternate USA Olympic Team and 13 time Distinguished Expert in my home State of Mississippi
Thank yall I wish I could post a picture of him on our front page of our Newspaper shooting a M1 GARAND prone in 100yd competition don't think we will ever see pictures like that again
Your father undoubtedly spent hours upon hours out on Artillery road on one of the many ranges at Polk. Big alligators in every little puddle. Would love to know how many rounds have been fired out there.
Im a 3rd Generation Marine I grew up outside Camp Lejune with WWII Vets, Korean Vets and Veitnam vets I was alive for first desert storm. I love this channel it reminds me of eating dinner or going over to the neighbors houses and listing to the stories, usually never about battle but about the every day things, funny stories and such. I wish I had the sense to record some of the stories now most of them have passed. One of the guys I cut grass for was a Korean war vet, he could not hear for shit and drank 1 beer and smoked 1 lucky strike on saturdays his name is William "Bill" Whaley he is 94 years old.
Good interview. That interview is the longest amount of time I have sat and thought about Vietnam since getting out in 74. I’ve never seen a VN movie or read a book in fact my first wife never even knew I served. Like the gentleman said - success is just being alive today.
This man is truly a gentleman. I’m so happy he has a relationship with Christ! Thank you Josh for letting us hear just a little bit of what RJ experienced. God Bless
SEMPER FI, MARINE! WELL DONE! I also spent 13 months in 'Nam, USAF. It took a long time or me to settle into civilian life. I don't recall hearing of any VA or other organizations that might have offered help in 1971.
Good job with the interview with a great Marine brother. I was a Marine in Vietnam at the same time, and at Camp Carroll (aka Artillery Plateau) during TET. I would love to be part of his Marine vets group, in fact I’ll be in Dana Point tomorrow. A good friend of mine was a San Diego cop at the same time he was with SDPD, and they may know each other. Small world. God bless you both.
Sweet interview Mr. RJ Jackson. I knew a guy who was a marine sniper in Viet Nam, the *realist* military vet I have ever met in my life. Everything I did or said even playful salutes were scrutinized ("Let me show you how to salute correctly!" 😆) and he put me wise about kill zones and military jargon and people who falsely claimed to have served in whatever capacity in the military (especially one guy I talked of who claimed he was a spec op). He was in my opinion as real as they came like you. Thank you both for serving.
I was USAF based at Udorn, Thialand Aug 71- 72. Completely different experience. Much easer, flew 12 to 13 hour missions over the southern PDJ. I was a Airborne Command and Control flight. We communicated ground forces, mostly indigence and directed fire support to units inbound. We also controlled units inbound to the north. We flew about 12 or so days per month. or about 1200 hours per year. Never got shot at or put in danger. It was a cake walk...compared to others. Had an O'club $5 bucks for call whiskies bottles and maybe 50 cent beers. Strippers three for four night a week and 24 hour bar. Had many Navy guys off the ship who could not handle the life style. Our gain their loss.
So proud of my Marine! Awesome interview Josh! Years of keeping quiet - now a time to share. My Dad was a pilot in WWII and Korean War. I never heard any stories. I wish there had been someone like you to encourage and record his stories. God bless you!
Im honestly thankful my grandpa fidnt get drafted and didnt end up serving he married my grandma young she was 15 he was 17 she passed 2 years ago they was married the whole time never once separated hes still with us and healthy as can be and definitely the best man ive ever had the privilege to meet i couldn't imagine the man id be today if he wasnt around my whole life to guide me I feel for all the young men who lost their grandfather's to this bloody war a lot of great men gone I feel lucky ive gotten to spend 30 great years with him and hopefully many more great years to come! Welcome home everyone that served!
I served as a Corpsman with 1/1 medical battalion in Chu Lia & with them in Da Nang in late 1966/67. Worked Triage & ICU, later volunteered with Combined Action Platoon (Delta 3) near Hoa An until getting shot by a sniper in May of 67. Made it home in time for the Summer of Love., from Hell to Heavenly Things.
Were you ever at Camp Reasoner? I was 1st Force Recon there 68-69. A lot of Recon work (Snooping and pooping) and counting crispy critters for command after air strikes. Glad you made it home, brother! God bless!
We can never thank you enough for your sacrifice, physically and emotionally. Your personal account in Vietnam is amazing. God bless America and its protectors.
I'm amazed by the similarities. I was drafted Oct. 6. My base camp was Chu Lai. Main difference, I was assigned to 1/14th artillery. We went over as a brigade on three troop ships. Arrived at Chu Lai and had to unload to LST's to get to shore. I was there during the TET. I had been transferred to the 3/16 artillery. We fired our 155mm howitzer for 72 hours non-stop. We got not one wink of sleep the whole time. Took turns grabbing a can of Crations and running to the toilet. Several times I shouted CEASE FIRE when I saw the blinking lights of a helicopter out in front of the direction we were shooting. After we had official cease fire, the sarge tried to light a cigarette on the barrel. It was really hot but would not quiet make it red. I saw a wee bit of smoke come off the cigarette but it would not quite turn red and burn. The barrel slides back when fired and springs return it to firing position. There is a grease groove between the barrel and carriage where we are supposed to add grease on a daily basis for maintenance. The grease was dripping out and we had to add grease after every 4th or 5th shot. We almost ran out of grease. There was a muddy, greasy mess under the gun. We ended up digging it out and putting down fresh dirt. I remember the lousy rain at Christmas. Helicopters brought out those big green containers with all the Christmas food which was great, but we had to go to the chow hut and walk back to our hootch to eat it. The wind blew water into my tray, half the food was wet and got cold but it was still better then Crats and it made me feel good that someone at battalion cared enough to do that for us. To this day, I know I was lucky to be in artillery. No stomping through rice paddies and watching for booby traps. No ambush to worry about. I did have to deal with those lousy mortars and rockets. Those were scary. had to be ready at every moment to find a place to shelter when you heard them coming in. The trouble with being artillery is Charlie always knew where you were. I got lots of cuts and gouges from building bunkers for the ammo and other projects but was never wounded by the enemy, so no purple heart for me.
thank you. different is we were army. unless these marines were in the field they had it made bein g in places like beach front property cam rah bay. beach party. most of navy in ships most of air forces on base shelters
I grew up during the Vietnam war, and I have a special place in my heart for those who served. May God bless you and the other men and women who served 💙
My brother was in the Marines from Dec of 67 to November of 68 , brought home for a month, went back to Nam until Aug of 69. Camp Monihan was eliminated during the 69 time there due to the ammo dump going up. He never talks about what happened there but he has suffered from PTSD and loud noise
God Bless you RJ and thank you Sir for your service. May I add, thank you Urban Valor for this interview. You made RJ feel at ease and you asked all the right questions.
Such a great interview and story from RJ. My dad was a Vietnam vet and I didn't get to hear much of his stories or experiences. He only talked about his time in Bangkok and partying in Thailand (which a lot of us know what that means lol).
This brave soldier keeps a strong face, but you can see his sadness and trauma in his eyes and body language. At times he looked like he was going to cry. God Bless our Vietnam soldiers.
Semper Fi Brother! Great recollection of your time in Vietnam! Thank you for your Service to this Country! All my drill instructors were surviving Marines from Vietnam when I went to MCRD San Diego 1974.
When the Interview asked what he does now to help with his emotional condition. When he says "And im and Christian, And I have God" that was pretty cool! Thank you for your service sir!
I really enjoyed this video along with others. His story reminds me of my dad's service in Vietnam; those guys were getting at it. I can relate more to the Iraq/Afghanistan wars because I was there. Great video, looking forward to more
Great interview Victor, my experience is very similar to yours but I didn’t get wounded. I’m the same age as you and I went to MCRD October 19 1966. After all the same training R Lee Ermey was my DI Plt. 3344 . I got to spend 3 glorious days in the Tijuana jail and I was sent to Camp Margarita while they were forming up the 27th. Marines. We were all in formation and they asked for all the experts to step forward. They had to fill up their quotas and finished off with sharpshooters and I was selected. I went TAD to a range platoon unit February of 68 and TET broke out and we stayed the night at at El Toro stopped to refuel in Hawaii spent the night on Wake Island then landed in Danang. We were stationed close to Marble Mountain and we patrolled twice a day and once at night . Our first battalion 27th. Marines were sent to Hue also. It sounded like hell. In March I got to go to Sniper school for two weeks and I loved it plus it got me out of the bush. Most of my action was in May on Go Noi Island during the Mini TET called the spring offensive and Operation Allenbrook. It was extremely hot and we had about 80 casualties. I left country in August for emergency leave and finished up at Great Lakes a office Pogue like you and got discharged October 18. L/cpl Tom Fuleky Ann Arbor Michigan. I too was treated like shit when I came home. Welcome home brother .
Eerily similar to my grandfathers experience in Vietnam. Purple heart recipient, took a 7.62 to the back of the ear and out of his face, got knocked almost unconscious from it and heard most of his platoon get slaughtered by VC. They passed him over thinking he was dead already from his face being blown out. One of the greatest men ive ever known. Thank you to all the vets out there.
Rough, life like a movie
VVV
What a waste
@@TheTradosaurus another vet says just that, war is waste
My late older brother was drafted and served in Vietnam the same year as RJ 1966-68 my brother was in the US Army rank PVT-SP4 and served his whole tour, thank you and God bless all soldiers who served in Vietnam.
RJ still carries the scars of his time in Vetnam .
Honour & Respect . Lest we forget .
What a class act. I hope he knows how much people appreciate what he went thru. I really appreciate him sharing his story.
His body language tells it all. He`s endured a lot. Thank you for serving sir.
Tough
Everybody watching these videos turns into a body language expert all of the sudden and truly believe you can see trauma in the eyes
@@Idkwhodawg , or, maybe we see the same twitches and hesitations that we see in our family members? And, maybe we gathered enough info, with the luxury of modern tech, to realize that they were in a certain place at a certain time; and they lived; unlike most of their brethren. Yet, conducted their civ lives in an honorable way and spared the rest of us their pain. And, only now, we realize, yes, it was in their eyes all along.
@@dus777 literally nothing proves that eyes change when you endure trauma..
@@Idkwhodawg , except for the science showing pupil response and dilation during exposure to emotion stimulus or recall of memories and the observers unconscious empathy response to it,
yes, correct
Such a calm and gently spoken man, I really enjoyed hearing about his life. Thank you
The object of war is to survive. Any way you can survive is OK. This man is a Hero! God bless You! Thank you for your service.
No its to win.
@@johnnyjericho8472 You must survive to be the winner.
@@jeffryblackmon4846 not true.
@@johnnyjericho8472 if you’re dead, you’ve lost
@@fanfeck2844 War isn't about the individual.
Reminds me of my father who served in vietnam during TET. Character forged by fire produced amazing strength. Thank you for telling your story. I greatly respect you and all who served.
Thanks to your dad. The fighting in Tet was tough and very dangerous CQC but thankfully they finally drove the communists out and reclaimed the city. I was just watching videos last night about it. Thanks to all our veterans old and new!
@@ChristSavesUs so much trouble for a few extra year, should just save more life and bugger off sooner
Always a Marine, thank you for serving.
I could listen to RJ speak for days. I am so thankful for his service and am glad he made it home to make an impact in so many ways. A true patriot.
This man saved a lot of American lives. God Bless him!!!
Yea snipers definitely save Americans.
He was in War....And you want FAKE GOD to Bless him...If there really was a GOD there wouldn't be a War
@@slit4659 Read your Bible.
@@slit4659 Don't worry, our "real" God will bless you, despite the fact that you are one of the least deserving individuals.
@@slit4659 Maybe you should read the Bible friend because this isn't at all the case.
Great interview. We really haven't done enough for our wounded warriors. Thank you RJ for your service and devotion to your country.
Unfortunately we never will .. but we prop up everyone else “
@@marksc1929 The only people America has 'propped up'' in the last 50 years are your Globalist Satanic overlords. The mass genocide of millions of innocent men women and children from Hiroshima to Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq etc and the invasion of their sovereign territories and theft of their resources, your country has done the most by far to create the Satanic NWO. Now as the wheel of karma turns it is your own children and grandchildren who will pay the price of your abominations as they are left with the Global fascist communist system you created for your masters.
Facts, they ask nothing of us
Interview guy sucked should have more knowledge
Interviewer sucks! Interviewee was great.
Big shout out to all our Vietnam veterans still out there I'm very sorry the way you all were treated when you all came back home i also wish to thank you all for your service i salute ya all my uncle gary was a marine in Vietnam but sadly he was kia in Vietnam along with other marine's when his chopper got shot down while heading out on a mission god bless our veterans out there
This was one of the best interviews I've watched from the Vietnam era!
My dad was a Marine. Retired a Master Sargent and I miss him greatly! He was wounded in Korea. Got out and went back to school on the G.I.Bill. Married my mother. Went back on active duty. We ended up outside of D. C. When I was a boy. He ended up at Quantico in the Area Auditor's office. That's what he did the last 9 years he was in. Always a rifleman! Saw him clean an M14 on the kitchen table in Manassas, Virginia after going to the rifle range when I had just started school. He was stationed at Quantico twice when I was in grade school. Went to Okinawa between 2 tours at Quantico and then we ended up at Norfolk, Virginia for about a year before going to Okinawa for his last tour of duty before he retired. What a life!!! Wouldn't trade it for nothing! We went with him to Okinawa on his last tour and it was during Vietnam. When we came back to the States leaving out of Kadena Air Force Base we were one of 2 families (Marine) on the plane. Everyone else was a Marine going home from Nam!
Semper Fi Marines! Love you All!
I served in Viet Nam as a Marine and came back to a United States I didn't recognize. So many people treated servicemen like trash on our return from war. At that time, I was bitter, but seeing how soldiers were treated coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan makes me feel better about the patriotic attitude of civilian Americans, and that's a good thing. I like it when someone says, "Thank you for your service", but I really appreciate it when someone says............"Welcome Home". Those are the words I never heard on my return, and it helps a lot to hear it now.
Semper Fi Brother! Thank you for your Service!
agree same here. but what i hurts me s them calling all those ""heros no they are not word over used.
John Helm, Thank you for your service. Welcome home Sir.
@@Elite59 Thanks man, happy to be here. I appreciate the comment bud.
Welcome Home! I was too young to be there but had several families we knew who sent sons from SouthEastern NC. This country owes you and every other veteran magnitudes more than just a word of “thanks.”
It's so interesting to hear soldiers experiences. It takes a lot of guts to be in situations where you can die any minute. Amazing how well
the training changes young men into professional warriors. Recently a Vietnam Vet who was also a sniper told me how he was sleeping
one night on his abdomen in a river. The enemy walked over/around him middle of the night. They thought he was dead. Lucky guy!
What a beautiful man! My uncle served in Vietnam (Army) in 1967 and I remember it like it was yesterday….
Thank you for your service,sir. A real man with balls of steel.
Great interview, my father is also a disabled Vietnam combat Marine. Listening to RJ is like hearing my father tell his time during Tet and the 2nd and 3rd phase’s……. Crazy stuff these men seen, done, and been through no 19 year old should ever have to.
remember they volunteered/ it was their choice.
@@sammiedog4 sympathy for those who was drafted, none toward these invading scum
He did all that and kept his head on straight. So thankful he was able to lead a life that he chose after getting out of the Marines. I feel a kinship, like I know him, he is so open and friendly. My dad was a Marine and served in Korea and Vietnam. He didn't fare so well, having become addicted to pain medicines after being wounded in Nam, but he was able to go to college and get his degree after he got out in 71. Just couldn't hold a job for long after that. Lots of vets with similar stories, which is why it makes me feel so good that some wounded warriors, like RJ, were able to succeed. I served 80-85, no combat.
my pops served in ww2, korea and vietnam. his vice was booze. never could keep a job. and always had minimum paying ones. he never spoke of what he went through.
@@azthundercloud alcohol is a s.o.b.
When you know a man is telling the 100% truth … thank you sir 🇺🇸
its impossible to play dead beacuse you need to breathe. Anyone watching a body can see a person breathe. I see it all the time in "fake dead guy" in tv shows.
Wringing out his underwear? He must of meant socks and t shirts we didn't wear skives.
@@bloop6812 yeah that’s one thing I got out of my combat experience. I’m coming up on 35 been out 15 years still no undies. They nasty get in the way take up room in my pack,
@@neglectfulsausage7689 If you are not a combat vet. how would you know couch potato. Did you think maybe he was trained to? Try it for yourself maybe you won’t recover from it.
@@timothyalvar1762 people who get ptsd from killing their enemies are weird. Like, go paint flowers if you're that soft.
I have the utmost respect for anyone who has been put in harms way while defending our nation. Thank you, R.J. Jackson, for your service and your sacrifice!
Thank you for your service RJ. You kind of remind me of my Uncle JIm. He served in Vietnam, he was extremely intelligent, very quiet, stoic and he kept himself very busy with his work, projects and taking care of his wife. He never really talked about his time in Vietnam because I think he had a lot of the same experiences that you went through upon your return. Unfortunately my Uncle passed away a couple of years ago from cancer.
I have the utmost respect for all veterans, but the veterans of the Vietnam War always have the most interesting stories, and my respect to them is the greatest. I was in 10th grade, and we went to our areas in VA hospital, and I had to interview a vietnam vet and when I asked him what vietnam was like while he was there all he said was "hell" and then got up and walked away. Our questions weren't anything out of line. Just how was the country, what area where you are in, and so on.
Loved RJ’s testimony. He reminds me of my husband, who did four tours and performed many amazing feats. He would make a good subject for one of your videos.
Is he still be alive?
Is he open about his service? My dad sure isn't, he did things over there that still haunts him today, marine as well
You can tell he's reliving his anxiety from back then during this interview from his body movements. I have anxiety and I tend to do similar movements when I'm sitting still.
it seems his injuries are what causes this.
@@rycor9117 maybe some of it but not all of it
@@magdump4456 I have PTSD and severe anxiety - I'm sure we are both correct in a way but I was watching his moves throughout and think he has nerve damage like he said.
Parkinson's Disease
Fascinating interview and an awesome dude! I hope for more interviews from the Vietnam generation. Thank you for your service
We definitely will continue to keep them coming!
I hope for more interviews from the Korean generation, the survivors of the forgotten war, are about to be forgotten.
@@UrbanValorTVI have a question and a comment that aren’t going to be popular, but it is very personal for me bc of my own childhood.
He’s driving a child as a San Diego cop. The child says, “don’t take me home bc my dad’s a marine and he’s going to beat me” so he then asks for the kid’s address? Bc he’s obviously going to take him there so he can be abused by his father some more? A child that is obviously acting out due to the fact he’s living in an abusive home and doesn’t know how to handle it. A child that I promise you is still fkd up to this day if he’s even still alive. He never reached a point in his life where he realized the damage an abusive parent has on a child?
Our guy here made some pretty bold decisions as a young man that forever altered the course of his tough life, seemingly to get the fck away from his father (most definitely also an abusive father). A father whom was so awful, he was estranged from him for several decades after joining the marines at 19 y/o.
This guy is a survivor, is certainly brave in some circumstances, and regardless of politics above him, on one hand him doing what he did in Vietnam was heroic.
That said, I find it extremely disappointing he hasn’t discovered the root cause of his dangerous decisions. It shows a lack of personal growth or curiosity, which is the opposite of brave.
Thank you for sharing this vital oral history. We walk by Viet Nam veterans every day, and I see a number of them at the bowling alley almost every day. I am unable to adequately express my appreciation for their service and sacrifice.
Buy them a pitcher of beer or pay for their game or shoes....
Incredible interview. This really shed some light on my dad's personal story. I wish I could still ask him about it, or that I would have asked him more about it, before he died. RIP dad (USMC '67-'71).
Thank you for your service. Your story meant a lot to me
So glad it connected with you man!
Thank you for taking the fight to the enemy and your sacrifice. 🙏🏻❤️🇺🇸
It is with much respect that I give thanks to R.J. Jackson........my Dad was a Korean war veteran and my son served in the Marines.......because of you guys I get to live this Cushy life of a musician/Piano teacher............it's guys like this that enabled the rest of us to have freedom and easy lives without a scratch on us...............you are not forgotten......thanks for sharing and for giving your all for the rest of us.....job well done..............
Although I’ve NEVER been in combat (will never say that I know what that is like) but I do understand PTSD from something else and the individual triggers are real and there real side effects! It’s how one takes care of oneself and deals with it that makes the difference between a shitty life and a good life and it appears that he’s done a great job at dealing with his issues.
All the thanks in the world to him and the women & men that served in that war!
A great interview of an amazing man. We put young men and women in harms way and they always show the bravery and brotherhood to each other in battle. Their stories are all amazing. God bless all our Military members. Thank you for making these interviews.
Thank you so much and we're honored to do it!
@@UrbanValorTV how often do you interview veterans?
I am convinced RJ would be a lethal weapon, with or without gun today. His arms look so powerful.
This man is stone cold in the best way. God bless him for his service and that he was on our side
RJ, Thank you for telling your story.
RESPECT !!
A great man! Thanks for the comment!
Wow, I was a ScoutSniper with the 5th Marines 1968/69. First I was a 0311 Grunt Rifleman with Hotel-c 2/5 and after being wounded twice I was transfer to Hq-co, 5th Marines, ScoutSniper Plt in 1969. Served as a spotter with the great Chuck Mawhinney near the end of his tour. He was the best sniper I ever served with. I grew up in the West San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles county, California.
Were you ever in Hue with the 5th, or was that before you? Thanks for your service. My uncle was Force Recon. He was with 1st Force Recon out of Camp Reasoner near Da Nang, early 68- early 69. He fought in the jungles outside Hue.
The toll on him was enormous. I hope he is still alive and doing well.
May God Bless You 🌞 Thank you for your service!! 🇺🇸 You make America proud!!🇺🇸
wow, this man just exudes a total solid act, thank you for your service
Wow that was incredible. How do you survive that? Amazing. Thank you, sir.
He seems a gentle person and very genuine.
Lost my paternal father in 1970 a week before I was born, I was orphaned in Detroit. Vietnam has always been a part of my life even though I never served.
I'm 52 now and do anything I can for Vietnam Veterans still to this day. These guys went through so much shit its sad.
God Bless all you guys !
Brunzy , your father was and is a Hero!!!
Vietnam Vet Tom
My Father was a Green Beret in Vietnam 65-72 4 tours he loved the Hmong people a DS at Tigerland FT POLK Louisiana and was a unbelievably gifted marksman and he was a incredible coach who got me to my pinnacle as 1st Alternate USA Olympic Team and 13 time Distinguished Expert in my home State of Mississippi
Wow! That's incredible! Congratulations on your success and we appreciate what your father did for our country 🙏
God bless your father, and thank you sir for your sacrifice and services..🇺🇸
Thank yall I wish I could post a picture of him on our front page of our Newspaper shooting a M1 GARAND prone in 100yd competition don't think we will ever see pictures like that again
Your father undoubtedly spent hours upon hours out on Artillery road on one of the many ranges at Polk. Big alligators in every little puddle. Would love to know how many rounds have been fired out there.
Wow
Im a 3rd Generation Marine I grew up outside Camp Lejune with WWII Vets, Korean Vets and Veitnam vets I was alive for first desert storm. I love this channel it reminds me of eating dinner or going over to the neighbors houses and listing to the stories, usually never about battle but about the every day things, funny stories and such. I wish I had the sense to record some of the stories now most of them have passed.
One of the guys I cut grass for was a Korean war vet, he could not hear for shit and drank 1 beer and smoked 1 lucky strike on saturdays his name is William "Bill" Whaley he is 94 years old.
Good interview. That interview is the longest amount of time I have sat and thought about Vietnam since getting out in 74. I’ve never seen a VN movie or read a book in fact my first wife never even knew I served. Like the gentleman said - success is just being alive today.
worthless interviewer! What is TET, unbelievable! Total clueless interviewer, didn't do any homework!
This man is truly a gentleman. I’m so happy he has a relationship with Christ! Thank you Josh for letting us hear just a little bit of what RJ experienced. God Bless
Fascinating interview. Wasnt even looking for this subject tonight but once I started it, I just couldn't stop watching.
SEMPER FI, MARINE! WELL DONE! I also spent 13 months in 'Nam, USAF. It took a long time or me to settle into civilian life. I don't recall hearing of any VA or other organizations that might have offered help in 1971.
What these men and women endured overseas and then at home, rips me apart. Thank you sir. Your a national treasure
awesome interview what a honour to know and talk to this man R J
1 million salutes to you sir....what a great fellow... a real warrior Godbless
Thank you sir for all you have done for US. My uncle was KIA in Hue on February 15 1968 he was a Navy corpsman,
Respect to your uncle from one vet to another
May your uncle RIP! He died a hero. As I am sure you know, Navy Corpsmen are known as a Marine's best friend.
Good job with the interview with a great Marine brother. I was a Marine in Vietnam at the same time, and at Camp Carroll (aka Artillery Plateau) during TET. I would love to be part of his Marine vets group, in fact I’ll be in Dana Point tomorrow. A good friend of mine was a San Diego cop at the same time he was with SDPD, and they may know each other. Small world. God bless you both.
Sweet interview Mr. RJ Jackson. I knew a guy who was a marine sniper in Viet Nam, the *realist* military vet I have ever met in my life. Everything I did or said even playful salutes were scrutinized ("Let me show you how to salute correctly!" 😆) and he put me wise about kill zones and military jargon and people who falsely claimed to have served in whatever capacity in the military (especially one guy I talked of who claimed he was a spec op). He was in my opinion as real as they came like you. Thank you both for serving.
Thanks for your interview. I appreciate it. You aren't alone.
Thank you endlessly for your service and may God bless you always!!!!! ✝️🇺🇲✝️
God bless you and every soldier who ever goes behind enemy lines.....
Thank you for that wonderful interview
Great interview; besides the Guinness world record for the number of times saying “wow” in a single interview. I’m wowed out for lifetime haha
I was USAF based at Udorn, Thialand Aug 71- 72. Completely different experience. Much easer, flew 12 to 13 hour missions over the southern PDJ. I was a Airborne Command and Control flight. We communicated ground forces, mostly indigence and directed fire support to units inbound. We also controlled units inbound to the north. We flew about 12 or so days per month. or about 1200 hours per year. Never got shot at or put in danger. It was a cake walk...compared to others. Had an O'club $5 bucks for call whiskies bottles and maybe 50 cent beers. Strippers three for four night a week and 24 hour bar. Had many Navy guys off the ship who could not handle the life style.
Our gain their loss.
most air force navy it was cake walk with many tours because of combat pay and drink beer with buddies while the army and grunts did the shit. truth
God bless you RJ, thank you for sharing. Amazing story, take care of yourself.....
Great story from a good guy, and a lovely tribute to your work as well!
These guys are what made this country great.
Amazing story. RJ is an hero.
Thank you so much for your service, welcome home.👊🏻🇺🇸
So proud of my Marine! Awesome interview Josh!
Years of keeping quiet - now a time to share.
My Dad was a pilot in WWII and Korean War. I never heard any stories. I wish there had been someone like you to encourage and record his stories. God bless you!
Thank you so much and very thankful for your Dad's service 🙏 We appreciate your comments and support greatly!
Interviewer has no idea of Tet ? Do background research before interviewing
@@richardstainbrook9633 The interviewer did a great job. I like the fact that RJ described the TET Offensive.
Im honestly thankful my grandpa fidnt get drafted and didnt end up serving he married my grandma young she was 15 he was 17 she passed 2 years ago they was married the whole time never once separated hes still with us and healthy as can be and definitely the best man ive ever had the privilege to meet i couldn't imagine the man id be today if he wasnt around my whole life to guide me I feel for all the young men who lost their grandfather's to this bloody war a lot of great men gone I feel lucky ive gotten to spend 30 great years with him and hopefully many more great years to come! Welcome home everyone that served!
I served as a Corpsman with 1/1 medical battalion in Chu Lia & with them in Da Nang in late 1966/67. Worked Triage & ICU, later volunteered with Combined Action Platoon (Delta 3) near Hoa An until getting shot by a sniper in May of 67. Made it home in time for the Summer of Love., from Hell to Heavenly Things.
Appreciate it brother and thank you for serving 🫡🤙🏼🇺🇸👊🏼
Were you ever at Camp Reasoner? I was 1st Force Recon there 68-69. A lot of Recon work (Snooping and pooping) and counting crispy critters for command after air strikes. Glad you made it home, brother! God bless!
We can never thank you enough for your sacrifice, physically and emotionally. Your personal account in Vietnam is amazing. God bless America and its protectors.
An most interesting skill set matched with your intelligence and candour Sir...
🇿🇦
Excellent. Clear headed, sound, and A Christian. Thanks RJ Jackson.
I'm amazed by the similarities.
I was drafted Oct. 6. My base camp was Chu Lai.
Main difference, I was assigned to 1/14th artillery. We went over as a brigade on three troop ships.
Arrived at Chu Lai and had to unload to LST's to get to shore.
I was there during the TET. I had been transferred to the 3/16 artillery. We fired our 155mm howitzer for 72 hours non-stop. We got not one wink of sleep the whole time. Took turns grabbing a can of Crations and running to the toilet. Several times I shouted CEASE FIRE when I saw the blinking lights of a helicopter out in front of the direction we were shooting.
After we had official cease fire, the sarge tried to light a cigarette on the barrel. It was really hot but would not quiet make it red. I saw a wee bit of smoke come off the cigarette but it would not quite turn red and burn.
The barrel slides back when fired and springs return it to firing position. There is a grease groove between the barrel and carriage where we are supposed to add grease on a daily basis for maintenance. The grease was dripping out and we had to add grease after every 4th or 5th shot. We almost ran out of grease. There was a muddy, greasy mess under the gun. We ended up digging it out and putting down fresh dirt.
I remember the lousy rain at Christmas. Helicopters brought out those big green containers with all the Christmas food which was great, but we had to go to the chow hut and walk back to our hootch to eat it. The wind blew water into my tray, half the food was wet and got cold but it was still better then Crats and it made me feel good that someone at battalion cared enough to do that for us. To this day, I know I was lucky to be in artillery. No stomping through rice paddies and watching for booby traps. No ambush to worry about. I did have to deal with those lousy mortars and rockets. Those were scary. had to be ready at every moment to find a place to shelter when you heard them coming in. The trouble with being artillery is Charlie always knew where you were.
I got lots of cuts and gouges from building bunkers for the ammo and other projects but was never wounded by the enemy, so no purple heart for me.
thank you. different is we were army. unless these marines were in the field they had it made bein g in places like beach front property cam rah bay. beach party. most of navy in ships most of air forces on base shelters
Jesus christ what a life this man had, and still seems like a great and kind man. Unbelievable story
Be careful how you use the name of Jesus Christ
@@Jack-rg6xf Agreed
I grew up during the Vietnam war, and I have a special place in my heart for those who served. May God bless you and the other men and women who served 💙
I am very proud of him.
My father was a marine in Vietnam from 68 to 70. He told me many stories.
My brother was in the Marines from Dec of 67 to November of 68 , brought home for a month, went back to Nam until Aug of 69. Camp Monihan was eliminated during the 69 time there due to the ammo dump going up. He never talks about what happened there but he has suffered from PTSD and loud noise
Thank you for your service Sir! Very inspirational for men who have lost hope after serving.
Thank you for watching 🙏🏼
Thank you RJ for your incredible service
God Bless you RJ and thank you Sir for your service. May I add, thank you Urban Valor for this interview. You made RJ feel at ease and you asked all the right questions.
Such a great interview and story from RJ. My dad was a Vietnam vet and I didn't get to hear much of his stories or experiences. He only talked about his time in Bangkok and partying in Thailand (which a lot of us know what that means lol).
This brave soldier keeps a strong face, but you can see his sadness and trauma in his eyes and body language. At times he looked like he was going to cry. God Bless our Vietnam soldiers.
Heart and Soul. A great American!!!
This brave soldiers body movements, shows you that he has been thru hell!! sincere respect to you sir!
What a stand up guy, amazing God Bless him.
Semper Fi Brother! Great recollection of your time in Vietnam! Thank you for your Service to this Country! All my drill instructors were surviving Marines from Vietnam when I went to MCRD San Diego 1974.
This Guy was a Bad Man!!
Thank you for your service Sir. Much Gratitude to you and All military personnel 🇺🇸🇺🇸🙏
We appreciate your support 🙏🏼🇺🇸🫡
Thanks!
When the Interview asked what he does now to help with his emotional condition. When he says "And im and Christian, And I have God" that was pretty cool! Thank you for your service sir!
BHB, I agree!
I really enjoyed this video along with others. His story reminds me of my dad's service in Vietnam; those guys were getting at it. I can relate more to the Iraq/Afghanistan wars because I was there. Great video, looking forward to more
Melvin, thank you so much for you and your dad's service as well as watching/commenting! We really appreciate your support!
What a hero! How blessed we are to have Veterans of this quality.
Your Channel is going to be Legendary/ History. And you actually Give AF About the conversation you indulge in 💚💚 I appreciate the Video 💯
I appreciate that! Only because of amazing support like yours, thank you Cam!
Hue was a freakin meat grinder. That’s crazy he made it out. Vietnam veterans are bad ass.
Rj what an aswesome man!! thank you for your service!!!
Perfect definition of a real an true human being thank you for your service
First off, this Devil Dog is a freaking stud! Secondly, the interviewer didn’t know what the Tet Offensive was. Inexcusable.
a fascinating interview with a great American.
Great interview Victor, my experience is very similar to yours but I didn’t get wounded. I’m the same age as you and I went to MCRD October 19 1966. After all the same training R Lee Ermey was my DI Plt. 3344 . I got to spend 3 glorious days in the Tijuana jail and I was sent to Camp Margarita while they were forming up the 27th. Marines. We were all in formation and they asked for all the experts to step forward. They had to fill up their quotas and finished off with sharpshooters and I was selected. I went TAD to a range platoon unit February of 68 and TET broke out and we stayed the night at at El Toro stopped to refuel in Hawaii spent the night on Wake Island then landed in Danang. We were stationed close to Marble Mountain and we patrolled twice a day and once at night . Our first battalion 27th. Marines were sent to Hue also. It sounded like hell. In March I got to go to Sniper school for two weeks and I loved it plus it got me out of the bush. Most of my action was in May on Go Noi Island during the Mini TET called the spring offensive and Operation Allenbrook. It was extremely hot and we had about 80 casualties. I left country in August for emergency leave and finished up at Great Lakes a office Pogue like you and got discharged October 18. L/cpl Tom Fuleky Ann Arbor Michigan. I too was treated like shit when I came home. Welcome home brother .
Great interview, thank you for your service.
AT3 J.M. Johnson
USN Rescue swimmer 75-80