Veterans Day seems to come and go each year without a whole lot of hoopla. We’re so caught up in our daily lives that we forget to honor those who served God and country, including those who fought for a right to do something we (Americans) just did the other day — vote.
There’s something special about ‘home.’ When we’re not feeling well, we say we ‘just want to be home.’ When we’re having a bad day, we say the same thing. When we’re away from home, we long for some ‘home cooking.’
Yesterday, while building an infographic at work, I realized just how far away Vietnam is — and it made me think of my father, a Vietnam Veteran.
Vietnam isn’t exactly close to home. In fact, it would be a challenge to get much further from. I can’t fathom being so far from the comforts of home — while facing a war, illnesses and the plethora of less-than-desirable living conditions that soldiers endure.
I’m proud to say my father is a veteran. I’m proud to say he fought in Vietnam. I’m proud to say he’s my father.
What I feel makes my father even more admirable is that he had a choice. He was college educated. He was young and had a world full of opportunities ahead of him. Enlisting is one thing. Enlisting, knowing you’re certain to be heading off to war in a foreign land, is a whole other thing. That takes courage. That takes patriotism.
2 responses to “MY FATHER, THE VETERAN”
😭 Bro, that is just so sweet. Mom and I are cried as we read it. You’re such an eloquent writer! Enjoyed the visuals as well!
Our fathers were in Vietnam together. I spoke with your dad on December 31, 2019 and he was able to share a lot of detailed information about their time together. Now…many years later…I am going through all my dad’s stuff, and I found a letter your dad mailed him on Feb 4th, 1970. My dad was known as “Goose” Robert (Bob) Gosnell.