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ReeseDog · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 26

There are myriad stories about American veterans of the conflict who stayed. Has anyone ever run into anyone claiming to be a veteran?

poet13 · Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 17

There are some. A few of my fathers friends (he gave it up there) stayed there, in Thailand, and Cambodia. Some went a little native, others opted to stay in the shell of what they knew, PTSD plays a role with many, and some carry tremendous guilt. Still others opted to stay because they have an angle and are staying by their money. The guy in the bar bragging the loudest is usually the guy most full of crap. The guys who were there are both the easist and the hardest to spot.

poet13 · Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 17

"Many good respectable vets stayed and made a life for themselves. "

Yes, and it's a shame that after it ended that they were in large part derided by civilians who couldn't ever have any idea of what happened there for the choices they made.

poet13 · Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 17

I agree.

ReeseDog · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 26

It might be interesting to run across a few of those fellows and hear what they had to say. I feel the same about veterans from the other side. I wonder what they'd have to say?

Kirkpatrick · Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 205 Location: China

Yes, There are quite a few of us Vets teaching ESL.Personally I am a Vet having served in Korea from 1986- 1987. Not a war zone, but a lot of shit was going on. It gives us an edge on the local language, however we also carry a lot of baggage. We are less likely to take the crap from a local boss. Also we tend to drink a little to excess and have local girlfriends.

Like it was said before,, we go native.. I personally know of 2 Vietnam Vets teaching in other Asian countries, Taiwan and Korea. If you get them really drunk you might be bleesed to here their story.

Warning!! If you are not a vet you wil probably be told to blank yourself... I have live in Asia now for damn near 14 years, Korea, Tiawan , Thailand , and Japan.

I love it over here and find it culturally impossible to go back to the world..
I can promise you this any Vet from asia can go anywhere over here and blow the doors off any TEFL jerk in the class room. I only got my Uni degree and do just fine. Also I now speak 3 asian languages fluently, Thai, Korean, and Chinese. I am sure any military Vet that served over here is probably the same. Hello from alpha company 44th Engineers, 8th Army Korea.. Old Camp Mercer....

ReeseDog · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 26

Thanks for the intel, brother. HQ, 7th Army, out of Germany here.

I just wondered whether I'd find someone over there with whom I might be able to have a few and swap some story.

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita