Vietnam vet fought in tunnels
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- MailTribune.com - Silver Star recipient Larry Rupp recalls a life-changing tunnel confrontation with a Viet Cong insurgent.
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Our government owes the Vietnam vets a lot more than a wall. What a shame.
Wall just a point in time. Many of us got injured from our own chemical weapons (extreme concentrations of dioxin in Agent Orange) in Vietnam and didn't know it until years later. Many have already died and many are dying. People tend to forget that Rambo movie started out when Rambo found out his close friend form his unit died of Agent Orange/Dioxin.
phapnui My grandfather is currently dying from Agent Orange, terrible to see him suffer. They really need to do more for our vets.
Never mind what they actually owe Vietnam ...
@@whynottalklikeapirat what do they owe vietnam? Do you know of what you speak?
You know the generals asked for a blessing not help with the coup right?
@@WVU.STEELERS.CELTICS Those Vets who fought in ANY war to help keep America free, deserve everything they get and MORE! We owe it to them, even it it means helping them the rest of their lives. There ARE ways that could be accomplished. We just need to change our priorities. E.g., I resent paying $60,000 a year for inmates who are in prison, who committed heinous crimes, proven guilty, they need to be removed period, not have the privilege of 3 square meals a day, a roof over their heads, clothes, play time often with other criminals, they have TVs, radios, cell-phones, all juiced with electricity we pay for! There are more important things to be done with the money. White-collar criminals are a different story but some are treated the same as a murderer, when hard labor could be a punishment! Make them help build bridges and roads, many other jobs they could help with instead of just sitting on their butts "doing time!". Today, DNA is indisputable evidence and when a crime is solved, the perp needs to be punished, if he killed, he needs to die. Use the money we save to help our Vets who deserve it!
I know that will rile a lot of people but it's just common sense!
PTSD 1:02 man goes from interview to tunnel in Vietnam in 0.5 seconds . Glad you made it back brother .
+keyman keys Here Here. God bless all of them. Whether they came back or not.
+Gemini Girl When I returned stateside for R & R from my 1st tour with Echo Co/2nd Batallion/ 1st Marines in December of 1965 nobody knew what PTSD even was ,I met my wife in Hawaii after accepting the bonus to extend my tour a 2nd time & found myself lying to her ,I allowed her to believe I was assigned in the rear as kennel master so she wouldn't freak out knowing I had accepted a 2nd combat tour to stay with my K-9 Deuce whom I formed a father like bond with ,after the 1st 72 hours sightseeing with my wife all I could think of getting back with my squad & Deuce ,durring my training at Lackland AFB Dog School we were warned how attached MWD handlers become to their K-9 partners but we still didn't expect the level of love that would form ,my eldest son was born durring my 2nd combat deployement & my wife wanted me to come home after the 3 months I had left of my 2nd tour ,just thinking of what would happen to Deuce without me I would have panic attacks that would drop me to my knees,I couldn't breathe & even passed out once , Deuce was a scout tracker WD so I knew whoever was assigned him would be walking point with him daily in hairy shit that could get him killed ,for 26 months I ate with Deuce ,I slept with him at my side in the Bush & on base ,I shared every emotion I had with him & in return he kept us alive ,we knew all that could be known about each other & were inseparable but I knew he was Marine Corps property & not my child to take home, after speaking with other handlers who were on their 4th and 5th tours because of the bond I decided to extend a 3rd time without asking my wife ,but I kept up the lie of me being in the rear with the gear, I couldn't even bear to take the R & R I had comming to visit my wife & see my newborn son for fear of losing Deuce because he refused to kennel without me or even take food from anybody but me ,my wife filed for divorce & sent me the papers 90 days before my 3rd tour was up with a letter giving me 2 choices ,#1 come home to my family #2 stay in the Marine Corps with Deuce ,she knew the love I had for that animal was like my own child from our letters but she couldn't take being alone anymore ,It took me a month to make the choice to come home ,when I said my goodbyes to Deuce he knew we would never be together again & freaked out ,he was doing back flips & howling ,he was so worked up he was gnawing & tearing at the kennel gate trying to climb aboard with me thinking I was going on patrol without him ,that's the last memory I have & it's my nightmare of 48 yrs now ,after I had been home about a month I received a package from my CO that held Deuces harness & a tuft of fur cut from his tail ,that made me happy until I read the enclosed letter ,that's the moment my PTSD became suicidal .
The kennel master assigned my Deuce to an ARVN handler knowing full well Deuce absolutely hated all Vietnamese people ,Deuces ARVN handler took him outside the wire on a supposed training exercise & returned without him ,he claimed Deuce broke his harness & disappeared after attacking him ,the other handlers in my squad wasn't buying his story so at 1st light they tracked Deuce down ,he was found about 500 yards outside the wire with his harness still on & his throat cut ,that fucking ARVN bastard murdered my dog ,his payback was swift so I took some comfort in knowing he met his end exactly like Deuce, left to bleed out alone & afraid in the dark .
I spent the next 11 years inside a bottle & the alcoholism only made it worse ,after finding me passed out in our bath tub with my 357 still stuck in my mouth my wife thought i had killed myself ,when the police came i was out of my skull & she had me committed for psychiatric observation where I spent the next 90 days in 5 point restraints tied to the fucking bed ,which saved my life because I had lost all will to live .
I still suffer from separation anxiety,especially after I dream ,in my dreams I can feel Deuce laying beside me with his hot fur touching my neck,I can feel his breath on my neck & how soft his fur is, the dreams are always the same where I lift up my poncho to check on him & he's not there ,it's only then I realize I'm holding the covers from our bed & it's my wife next to me ,not Deuce and sometimes after i realize he isnt there, I hate her with all my heart for that brief moment of awareness ,the only way I can get back to sleep is if I curl up on the floor with our American Bulldog & hold him ,my kids used to see me sleeping with our pets & grab a blanket & lay with us the rest of the night but their all grown & have their own homes now .
The VA is zero help because the psychiatrists there think more of their own political ideologies than the doctor patient confidentiality , I made the mistake of telling my VA therapist about things soldiers do to vent anger & ended up being visited & questioned by MP investigation & the FBI ,the FBI told me my VA therapist had made tape recordings of our sessions & that she had filed for disability claiming the things I told her in confidence have left her unable to sleep ,had I not told the Marine Corps investigator the things I spoke to her about in confidence were just dreams I would be locked up in FT Leavenworth today, sorry for the long winded response but this video made me remember many things I need to never think about .
Michael Ledford 8
Michael Ledford: I'm English and grew up watching the Vietnam War on T.V. As kids, it was just American soldiers, filmed fighting somewhere far away. Cowboys and Indians brought to life in a modern setting if you like.
As I've got older, I've read a lot and have come to realise that war - all war - is basically stupid. But I don't want that to sound like I regard the troops that fought those wars as being stupid. Okay, so perhaps many soldiers aren't the sharpest knife in the drawer, but they do as they are told/what they believe in and in my view are entitled to be treated better than they often are once they return to 'civilization'.
I feel for the losses that you have suffered and for the loss of your Canine friend. I hope the Kennel Master got what was coming to him, too?!
My late father (WW II Royal Navy - including 'special' operations) told me once how, when he returned home from the war, his own father said to him 'Well son, you must try to forget what happened and put it behind you'. Something like that anyway. Like so many, my father used the bottle to help him forget/justify his actions.
I have never served, but I like to think that if I were entrusted with the intimate/horrific recollections of a veteran such as yourself, I'd have the decency to put aside my 'training' and instead, let my humanity accept that what happened to you in the field was barbaric BUT - that No-Man who hasn't been through that experience has a right to judge!
I hope that things are better for you now and that my words - however inadequate - may have brought some small comfort to you.
Respect!.........
Larry looks like he could still use some therapy. God bless him. I hope he is doing OK.
The eyes never lie
I'm a Vietnamese student in U.S . One time I met a Vet who fought during 1960s and he was one of the kindest host father I had ever seen. He had 4 Vietnamese exchange students since 2003. I can still remember that Vet told me he did this to Vietnamese students as a little work of healing our country as well as create a good relationship.
Anh Vu Cool comment!
I visited Vietnam 2 years ago and I saw a few veterans there. I spoke to a Vietnamese lady who works with returning veterans who are seeking to heal so I asked her why would she volunteer to help them and her answer pierced straight to my heart. She said: We want to heal too.
@@miguelcustodio2177 and that Mister Miguel, is why we go when we are asked to go.
Some of us, managed to go without being asked , and never gave it much thought. We just did it.
They're no different than anyone else on this rock that spins in space.
Everybody bleeds red...
everybody
@@DonB.-Mulefivefive God bless you.
@@DonB.-Mulefivefive God bless you.
More of these men should be interviewed before we lose their important stories. This man is the epitome of courage and bravery 🇺🇸
It's not easy for the most to talk about the war. Some of them still are drug addicted or have depression.
key phrase "i was faster then him"
Key Face: Killing somebody is really something.
So true, many a warrior was saved by simply?thinking fast and acting fast by anticipating the enemy
Came to the comments looking for this
Chuckles mentioning his own wounds. Mentions a kill and he weeps.
A lot to learn in that.
A lot to admire too.
"I decided I didn't want to die getting shot in the back so I ran at them" spoken like a true hero
I stand at the national anthem because of people like you. Much respect.
I kneel because of the politicians who sent him there.
I couldn't agree with you more, l REFUSE to watch ANY sports that the players take a knee to. As?a vet l find it as they are collaborateing with the enemy
@@robertdipaola3447 Then you're missing the entire point of kneeling to begin with. It has NOTHING to do with the military or veterans.
@@aziegster there are so many other ways to protest your anger but disrespecting your own flag or kneeling is sheer sedition .
@@pranav7240 true, but when someone or a collection of people choose not to listen, you take it a step further. People are listening now. Once again, they aren’t disrespecting the flag nor the military. You people make it sound like they’re burning the flag midfield.
You were doing your duty mate, he would have shot you if he had the chance.
Hey if you read this. You have my complete respect you were a soldier you did what you were told . You are a hero , and youre alive
To think that this seemingly peaceful, sweet man was sent to such horrible place and situation makes me so mad...
Good guys are good soldiers.
If you are "so mad" you have a psychological problem.
@@antonius_006 If you think wars are worthwhile then you are the one who has psychological issues.
You can see he did not wanted to be in that situation he was sent. It is Nasty
Any man who can cry in front of a camera, is a TRUE MAN!
My husband was a Vietnam Veteran as a Navy. I would ask him questions and he would say when you ask me questions I have to relieve the time which I don’t want to. It took him awhile to open up about his time shooting at planes. He plane guarded for the Kittyhawk and others. As a wife we need to be understanding of their PTSD.
I Have a big respect for those great men who fought in this far country...For our country!
God Bless All the Vietnam Veterans!
That tunnel shit is about the most horrifying thing I can think of.
congrats Larry. I am a fellow Viet Vet that went into Law enforcement, I wish you well!
I don't mean to be crude but what a badass this guy is. Glad his story was shared and welcome home.
My heart goes out to you my dad shot a Japanese soldier in thr Phillipines World War 2 he pointed a rifle at my dad my dad pulled out his pistol and shot him my dad checked his rifle it was empty no ammo my dad broke down crying said the poor guy all he wanted was something to eat and that really bother him to take another man's life bless both of you rhankyou for your sacrifice and serving our country
God bless him. A soldier of first calibre.
God bless all Vietnam Vets, unsung heroes for far too long.
They did what there Country called for, nothing less.
Does not matter if the politicians were right or wrong, these soldiers served as called.
They deserve our blessing and our respect, always.
Hd two tours. Never scratched. Next door neighbor was 5’4” and was a “Tunnel Rat”. He retired a E8. He was a real bad ass and friendly guy.
Marine my family thank you brothers our walk a brother
God bless you sir and thank you for your service to our country. Out of all the people who don't appreciate our veteran's service, none of them would have the guts to do what you did.
Thank you for your service sir! Every Vietnam veteran deserves a well meant welcome home and all the respect we can give! Unfortunately you didn't get it back in the days, but i really hope you get it now. You did your duty and answered the call, you've seen war, your buddies getting shot and die, while the rest of the world went to sleep in their cosy beds every night. You fought for freedom! Our freedom! we owe you guys s much and i thank you for that!
Alexander Postma Freedom? The US had no good reason to invade Vietnam
@@zip8327 Please do not blame the soldiers for the wars created by criminal psychopaths.
This man had a very strong mind that allowed him to detach himself from so called ptsd.
What brings you to that conclusion?
aus71383 The point that he was able to continue his life after such a traumatic experience.
I doubt he was completely unaffected by his experiences - but he does seem to be doing well, and like a good man.
aus71383 I'm sure he was affected but he seems to have handled appropriately.
He does appear to have it under control.
But I'm sure he's had "moments" in the past that woke him up out of bed in a cold sweat.....
thank you for your service sir, I know those words are just words sometimes and doesn't mean a lot...
all I can picture is how they were disrespected by idiots when they came back and got spit on.
So disgraceful
Respect. Thank you for your service Sir.
thank you HERO........
THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DID BROTHER. I AM PROUD OF YOU.
The vets that I've known say they didn't fight because they hated what was in front of them, but did so because of what they left behind them.
Respect.
thank you sir for fighting for me and the rest of America ,I have family that was their and sometimes still are there ,Your my hero God bless you 🇺🇸
My left ear enjoyed this video.
Mad respect though, what he did takes a lot of balls.
tour 26 a marine respect brothers
Sounds like "papa San" was a real Patriot defending his country
God bless you sir and thank you for your service!!
My brother was in Vietnam as well l,for the marines, 2 purple hearts n a silver star.
Your a good man!!!
I retired from the Army last year after 24 years, and in ALL that time never did great things like yourself. Thank you. When I say great, I mean you stayed alive, probably helped your buddies and basically did your job. I'd follow you.
I was 12 years old in 1997 studying our Federal Government.
My Grandmother took me to the Vietnam Memorial....that is something I will NEVER forget.
The list of Heroes seem to go on FOREVER... Still think about that.
“Yeah I got a silver star for that” he says it like its no big deal 😂
my father was a tunnel rat as well got a sliver star as well and just like this man my father just said i just did my job
My take is he was thinking of the other times he didn't get a medal and they were same or worse situation.
God Bless YOU, Larry Rupp .... you ^ every military personnel & family member affected by Vietnam
You can see he did not wanted to be in that situation, He has body in his heart and he did not like that.
You can tell this guy Is a really nice guy he still has his spirit I admire that
Thank You You For Your Service SIR!!!
I see his insignia the 25 my father served with them he also was a tunnel rat during 70 to 71
Kevin Hebstriet
That was some spooky shit man, you are lucky to be here.
nothin but respect for your father from me.
damn thats terrifying. much respect for your father
I’ve gone over this scenario many times in my head, and I still can’t fathom crawling into a dark tunnel with pistol in hand, not seeing anything beyond a couple feet. You’re at a complete disadvantage in that scenario. No thank you.
Where can I find the entire interview of this guy? I want to hear it.
He has a great spirit for being in Vietnam u are a good man at heart
American hero nothing to feel bad about! GOD BLESS YOU!
Thank you all who served.. welcome home..and GOD BLESS YOU & YOURS
Welcome home and thx to all vets
tks for your service sir
0:58 Extreme stress leaves you a permanent reaction ...
Much respect brother…
We need more humble brave people like this in the world
Thank you so much for your service
My uncle was in Vietnam, another uncle was in Korea, my grandfather in WWII, none of them were really bogged down with ptsd or guilt, they just had a way to let it go. They were a seriously tough breed, both uncles are stll alive, grandfather is not. I have talked to them about it, not in serious detail but they talked. Uncle in Korea ended up with hearing aids in both ears from the damn artillery batteries and he somehow got tasked with body detail, picking up and identifying bodies, be it American, Chinese, Korean, whatever, body parts too. Absolutely amazing that he doesn't get bothered by it, i imagine the look, the smell of burning and rotting corpses, how he did that and went on with his life i have no clue. Thank you Uncle Kenneth (Korea), thank you Uncle Mike (Vietnam), thank you Grandpa Hersey (WWII).
I have an Uncle Ken who was a bag and tagger in desert storm. Read your comment and saw you also had an Uncle Ken who served and did bag and tag. How weird life is sometimes.
My grandpa is a hero he was a tunnel rat a sniper alot of things when he served in the marine corps during Vietnam and he was only 27
If your Grandfather is about 85 now, he was a much older soldier than average if he was 27 in Viet Nam. My Father was a career Marine and was in his late 20s to early 30s during his 2 tours.
I was a tunnel rat I also was the smallest I still cry
his calm quiet demeanor doesn't reflect the things he has seen and done. I work with a Vietnam vet and respect him more than anything.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thank you!
Thank you sir.
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE!!
Thank you for your service
Thank you for your service sir
These tunnel rats volunteers soldiers were the real warriors of vietnam conflict..really had big balls to fight...
Yes Tunnel Rats were tough. All due respect Sir, please, it was a War not a Conflict. To Vietnam Vets it was a War. The protesters and anti-government called it a Conflict. Semper Fi from an old Marine Sgt......OUT
Thank You Brother...
P.O.W.
M.I.A.
Never Forget
Thank you sir
Real Heroes 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
This man is a hero. Many people refer our vietnam vets as baby killers. Well our vietnam vets are true hero's and they deserve so much!! 😔
I was in Okinawa in April/May 1975, with the United States Marine Corps when Saigon was Evacuated and the Mayaguez Incident Battle at Koh Tang Island Cambodia. I rotated back to Camp LeJeune in September 1975. When got off the plane at LA Airport and protesters were there. This was 4 months after Sagion fell and over 2 years after the Peace Treaty was signed in January 1973, people were still protesting. They called us baby killers and spit at us. I felt so ashamed of our country. Today I am proud of our Country there has been change. Semper Fi from an old Marine Sgt.
Here's my story. I am a proud Vietnam/Draft resistor. All those guys that went to Vietnam were chumps and pawns of their Government and the military/industrial complex. They chose to go, willing or unwilling, to a war their Government didn't have the guts or integrity to declare. Vietnam did nothing to Americans or the US. It was essentially an Asian civil war for independence after decades of colonialism. These guys did nothing for American safety, security and freedom. They were nothing more than invaders and aggressors in someone else's country across oceans from the US. They are not heroes or someone's victim...they are survivors of an American disaster which they participated in.
My dads generation are leaving us now. Tough men.
Thank you
I don't like or dislike this movie, but I sure respect the brave veteran talking in i
Left ear loved this
😂
i feel sorry for this guy.
he is most likely to be an ordinary folks , grew up in middle class american family went to high school then conscripted to the army and have to risk life in the meaningless war
It wasnt meaningless we were trying to stop the spread of communism
This guy is someone who earned respect
Thank you for your great service.
What a total badass
My guy raises steers and doesn't talk until he feels you are trying to help him ....wish somebody from the State would come to help him. Really opened up when he had sheared TA shaft in his 885. Thank you D. Marco...... the guy in the circus truck.
Respect from 🇬🇧
God Bless you Mr. Rupp.
ye i got the silver star for that. he says that so casually ... as if it was an everyday thing. amazing
❤️ you are hero sir ❤️
Unbelievable and unwavering respect to this man. Few volunteered for being tunnel rats, even fewer made it back home. Even more kudos for fighting a personal war back at home that has never ended, PTSD is an awful, BRUTAL torture of the mind and soul. I knoe both from personal experience and meeting other vets. I wanted to serve all my life but after being diagnosed with a debilitating condition, i realized i never can. Respect to all those who are currently, or have ever, sacrificed and fought for their country, in any war or conflict. Regardless of the political BS, these soldiers were, and still are, called into action and they answered for their country. On the same vein, i also respect the formidable adversaries who've fought against, no i dont respect cowardly tactics (like intentionally massacreing civilians) by terrorist groups, but i can respect both soldiers and freedom fighters/militias alike, not because of beliefs, but because they're willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their home, their family and their way of life.
Also. To those who were asking about the "chicom" pistol, Chicom is short for "chinese communist". Vietnam vets could bring back certain captured "trophies" if you will. The Chinese, and the Soviets as well, being communist, gave the North Vietnamese and Vietcom arms and equipment. Grenades, Armor, leftover weapons from WWII, AK-47s, SKS rifles, Mosin-Nagants, in rare cases even Dragunovs, which were a state of the art sniper rifle at the time. But the primary sidearm they gave out to the NVA and the Vietcong; is called a Tokarev, or a TT-33, the Chinese version is called the Type 54. Its similar in design to the American M1911 pistol, but instead of .45 Automatic, it fires a special very nasty high velocity bullet that can go right through those steel helmets with the added benefit of lighter recoil. Like all Soviet bloc designs, its inexpensive to manufacture, simple to use and extremely reliable. Many Type 54s were brought back by American GIs and i presume that is what this gentleman has.
I love you. Im glad you still have a huge heart after it went through war
Balls of Steel to be a tunnel rat, a TRUE HERO..I salute you sir, Semper Fi!
What. A. Badass
Bloody scary. In those tunnels all by yourself with a pistol and lamp.
@balisong209 most of the soldiers didnt want to fight at all, they didnt have a choice. this man is proud of his service and he deserves nothing but respect for it.
To take a life even in combat is a thing you never forget if you have a heart... just a piece at least.. it hurts to thr core to remember. No matter the years that have gone by.
you are a veteran? Taking the life of another would be nasty I never would like to be in that position.
I love this guy 🤩
RIP Rick Williams.
Kill or be killed. Love or be loved. I do both. I need a therapist.
Your a hardcore dude,my man.
a brother to marine 54 years a team Ooh Rah
mad respect thats all i can say
Do you know Hernonimo Lopez? He was in the 101st Air Borne Div 1964 to 1965. He'd be about 78 years old. He was married with two children. He was from New York City.
Holy Spirit loves you Sir!!!! Respect ne
respect
Self effacing: not claiming attention for oneself: retiring and modest..this description barely describes Silver Star tunnel rat Larry Rupp's heroics. Folks, this is what a man is in addition to the above description of being modest..imagine dropping into a tunnel, unlit, cramped, fetid air teeming with snakes and bugs and in enemy territory in a war zone facing an armed soldier trying to kill you..not many in any time would have the courage to do that..a tough hombre baned Larry Rupp did!...Bravo!