I have told myself to visit the WALL many times – never went – was supposed to go with Army friend who we bantered with each other for over 30 years – families were friends – kids played together too! Well, my buddy Jerome – had issues after he came home from Vietnam – had medical issues and demon issues too! He is no longer with us and I still intend to visit wall eventually- to see others as well who never made it back either. May their souls rest in eternal peace- AMEN
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I have been to that grid square on three occasions…once actually reaching the Lincoln Memorial…sat on the steps and cried like a baby. Never thought a piece of rock could have such an effect on me…at least not since a time long ago near the Rock Pile. My son is a Major now at MARSOC and my grandson is on his way to boot camp. I think it’s time to face that demon…I think we should all face that demon…Semper Fi
My Family and I visited the wall in the late 90’s . Mainly to visit one of my closest Marine buddies from K/3/2 Cpl Jim Brock. My Wife and Children stayed back a little,and I found Jim’s name with the help of a Ranger. It was high, we needed a ladder, but even though I was a lineman and capable of going up, the young Ranger insisted that he would go up to get a rubbing,I asked for two,one for Jim’s Family,he was more than happy to do that. I have heard folks say,that if you have Family or brothers on the wall you feel like you are at thier wake, I definitely did, and weeped for my platoon mate. Jim was the 7th Marines when he was KIA in 1966,the year we were both supposed to get out. He was older than most of up ,22 , we called him the “old man”. Now he will be 22 forever. Our birthdays were 10 days apart. In 2005 we visited the wall with another buddy, and we both weeped,for the loss of our friend. By all means Visit your brothers and comrades,you need it,and they deserve it. Semper Fi.
Served with K 3/9. Been making the same promise to myself for the same amount of time. Now I’m an old marine, just turned 70, so I have actually made a plan to go up next month. Going to the Marine Corps Museum and the wall. Went home after Nam and stayed for two days. Left and haven’t been back since. That will be my third stop. Go to Pennsylvania and see what’s left of the family. Haven’t told anyone I’m coming. Should be some trip. Mentally as well as physically. Driving, Florida to Virginia, D.C. then to Pa. and back. Haven’t been this anxious since A Shau!!
Make the trip time to face those demons
Make it a point to go ASAP! It’s a lot of closure to say goodbye to old comrades.
I thought that I was a tough guy, and that names, on a black wall, could not affect me. I can tell you that I was wrong. The Vietnam memorial has the power, to make us “feel” things that we had hidden inside of us. I was younger then, and probably bawl my eyes out visiting it at 69 years old. Vietnam 67, 68, 69.
Visit the Wall. The one thing that we think we have a lot of is Time. But actually Time is something that we never have enough of, so take the Time now. Vietnam 66,67.
I’ve been to the wall 2 times. Both times with another person or persons. I need to go again by myself. There are many friends and acquainances there and I need personal time to pay my proper respects to them. My only regret is that I did not go to the dedication. I hope a personal trip can make up for that. 2 tours 65-66, and 1968.
Go, now! You never know when you’ll be out of time. I was living in DC when the Wall was dedicated, and was present for the ceremony. Visiting the Wall is a must do for me when I’m in DC. While it helps smooth the wrinkles in my soul, it always drives me to tears – too damn many friends whose names are on the Wall. I was in DC shortly after 9/11 and went to the Wall one Saturday morning. Hueys and fixed wing were flying around the area. I sat down on a bench and closed my eyes. It was instant transport back to 1968 and Danang. Every Vietnam Vet should visit the Wall. — John Clary, SGT, 1st Recon Bn, A-2, 67-69
It took me 50 years to face my nightmares and, now, I’m glad I did. I can go almost a month or two without being awaken by my wife because I’m fighting that VC in hand to hand combat—again and again. Makes me wonder sometimes who really won that fight. I know you know what I mean. We all need to say our goodbyes to our friends/brothers—go!! Golf Co. 2/5, 1970
That’s 47 years. And I went to pay my respects to my friends a few years ago—it did a lot to help me.
The biggest lump in my throat and a total numbness in my body . when I viewed the wall . my eye lids are sweating thinking of it today cpl Edward libby 1962 1967
Time is short for all of Us….do it , I am 69 yrs old, Vietnam Vet (Tet 1968-1969) Just had a Acute MI just minutes from passing.I was already enjoying my life with my wife and family members. Made myself a promise to see the Vietnam Wall and did so, have also seen the traveling wall…Get with it or you will never do it…
Every one of the previous comments ring true to our hearts. I have been to the wall twice and the traveling wall twice. I cannot leave them with out crying like a baby. Even though many on that wall I did not know personally they are still my brothers and I miss them as such. I have the picture “REFLECTION” hanging up in my Marine Corps room right behind this computer. Even typing this brings tears to my eyes. My wife has been with me for all my visits and she knows a warm shoulder and plenty of tissues are a must. Unfortunately I am the only survivor from my home town out of the three of us that went to Vietnam. The other two were in the Army and one was my next door neighbor. And upon my home return from Nam, my home town turned their backs on me. So my FAMILY was and still is the Marine Corps Family. I keep telling those names on the wall to be patient, I will be with them shortly. Our time here is running out so if you have not gone to the WALL in DC or the traveling WALL go now do not wait. It will be scary at first but those ills and hurts of the soul will be lessened 1000%. SEMPER FI brothers and sisters.
Went to the wall in 84′ and felt them speaking to me, even though I wasn’t very spiritual at the time. I only knew of four names, since I was only involved in the evac in 75′. My tough part was those in my hometown turning their backs on me, along with those at the university I attended after the corps. Go see this sacred place before time runs out. Your brothers-in-arms want to connect with you. Semper Fi & God bless all of you.
I visited The Wall in the 90s. I too was a tough guy. I wanted to show my respects especially to a friend and fellow Marine who did not make it back. After being there for about 10 minutes I felt it. You all know what I mean and I do not know if those who were not there with us feel the same things. It was strange, surprising, yet I felt comfortable with it. It seemed to bring out unspoken feelings in me that I understood and was glad to be feeling. I felt a kinship with those on the Wall and I was glad I was there to be with them. By all means, GO if you have not. It will be meaningful. I promise. Semper Fi!
Visiting wall made a big difference in PTSD suffering, ground my teeth at night for many years,after marriage it woke my wife up and she would use her elbow to wake me up. Doc at VA said it would help and it did. Go see it. An alternative might be the “Traveling Wall”- 1/2 size replica if it is near you sometime. It can evoke the same kind of healing response. Semper Fi, brothers.
I had a similar know a few names on the wall. It took years, finally went 3 years ago. Spent my time there found the names, cried a little. It was all a relieving visit, weight was lifted off my shoulders. Pay a visit, it will help in the healing.
As a corpsman, I served with 1st Recon Bn at ChuLai 9/66 – 9/67. And then served with Marine Corps for 13 out of my 30 year career in the Navy. While stationed at the Naval Hospital, Okinawa, the wall was built and dedicated. Returning from Okinawa in the fall of 1985, one of my primary destinations was The Wall. Not know exactly where it was on the mall, we parked near the Washington Memorial, my wife, son and I walked down along the reflecting pond towards the Lincoln Memorial and then turned right to where I thought it might be. Over the slight rise, we came down into the apex of the memorial. Upon seeing it, I was overcome with emotion and fell to my knees with my wondering what had happened to his tall and strong dad on knees crying like a baby. My new duty station was NNMC Bethesda and I made the trip to The Wall numerous times over the 4 year period before being transferred to New Orleans. After repeated visits, I was able to control my emotions, but always was humbled by the mere presence of that memorial. HMCM (FMF), USN, Retired
know how you feel buppy ,I cant go either.semper fi
Went to the “Traveling Wall” When it was down here in Griffin Georgia during the Memorial Day weekend in 2011. The only time I have ever felt so much emotion since Nam was the birth of my first son. I wasn’t quite the same for two weeks after. Rest In Peace my brother’s. RVN 69/70
THE WALL: The closest I’ve came to it was at a fair when a scale was taken around the U.S.. I got within 20 feet of it but couldn’t walk up to it. Would love to see the real thing but can’t, I would not be able to hold me emotions in. Although I was in the motor pool in Nam I flew missions as a gunner on a schnook chopper wile in country. Did a lot of medevac’s but the war set in when I had to bring the dead in body bags out of the jungle to be processed and set home. I missed one flight and my stand in was killed, so it should have been me, my name should be on the wall and not his. People sometimes ask me “what was the worse part of being in Nam, my reply has always been the same. Coming back to the states. Part of me died there and with Agent orange the rest is dying here. So be it, I don’t regret my time there and would do it again if need be. Although I don’t have a lot of great Memories about the Marine Corp I do have some good ones and it is true ‘once a Marine always a Marine”.