The Vietnam War was a military struggle fought from 1959-1975. Communist North Vietnam wanted to overthrow the government in South Vietnam. The United States and 40 other countries supported South Vietnam with weapons and military trainers. Finally, in December of 1961, the U.S. sent its first troops, 400 soldiers, into South Vietnam. By 1965, there were 200,000 American soldiers there, and within the next three years, there were 500,000. Vietnam was divided into two types of government - the Communist North and Democratic South. By the war's end, the democratic south fell to the commmunist north. For the U.S., 57,685 soldiers died and many more were injured or missing in action.
Neil Conden, a friend of mine, is a 49 year old veteran of the Vietnam War. He remembers the horrors he faced there at the young age of 22. He fought there for two years beginning in 1968. His story follows.
Chrissy Sullivan
I remember the two years, 1968 and 1969, as the longest, the most scary, and the most depressing years of my life. Wherever you looked, you'd see men wounded, missing body parts, or dead. They were everywhere.
You could never relax there. You were always frightened by bombs landing near you at all times.
I was a few miles outside of my cabin where I was stationed, trying to relax, when all of a sudden a huge mortar shell landed near me and shrapnel went flying all around me. I tried to duck but it was too late. Much of it landed all around me and in my head. I went to the medical station covered in blood. When I got there, I was unsure of what to expect. I asked the doctor if my injury was Purple Heart material (Purple Heart is a medal awarded to a soldier for an injury received in war.). However, he easily removed the shrapnel from my head and replied, "Your head is not going to earn you one but your leg sure as hell will." As I looked down at my leg, it was all destroyed. I hadn't even noticed. Later I received a Purple Heart for my leg. I still have shrapnel in my leg and it's difficult for me to walk, but I thank God everyday for allowing me to live through it.
I was at such a young age when I fought. I didn't have the worries of a normal 22 year old - like girls, jobs, and dating. But instead, I had to worry about staying alive and having a place to sleep in the middle of the war. Once I was out with my comrades for two weeks fighting. We were tired and depressed since we had lost some of our men. On our long journey back to our station, we couldn't wait to lay down. When we reached our cabin, all there was was a crater. It had been blown up while we were gone. All I could do was cry. It was a terrifying experience.
My mother went into a state of depression while I was gone. She worried every night and prayed every week for my letter to come saying that I was still alive.
I still remember everyday the horrors of the war, the men that died and my friends that were injured or died. I am proud to say that I am a veteran of the war and to say I fought for what I believe in. I pray every night to God thanking him for helping me survive those two long years.
Neil Conden
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