"Vietnam War Stories" on PBS Thursday, 11/10 at 9pm EST "The night before Veteran's Day, more than 100 Vietnam vets from all branches of the US. Armed forces share their emotional stories of triumph and loss on the battlefield." A war? A military action? What political difference does it make? It created American veterans average age 22, whereas WWII average age was 26 with draft numbers like traffic lights lurking overhead. College students postponed or prevented going. Peer conflict. Protest marches in DC. Conscientious objectors off to Canada or taking alternative assignments. Sons of the wealthy acquired 4Fstatus. POW/MIA bracelets. Returnees: drug addicted, or home in body bags, or MIAs and POWs forever, or homeless, [The largest percentage of homeless in NYC are VN vets, usually living in streets or floors below the subways, or Veterans Hospitals.], or unexpressed atrocities resulted in more suicides first five years post war, alcoholism, divorces, cancer from Agent Orange. 1975: USA 0, Viet Nam 1. Final results, 50 American lives lost daily in SE Asia. Viet Nam vets have their own special camaraderie, often misunderstood, maligned, neglected, and overlooked by Veterans Affairs, and even by veterans of earlier wars. What was diagnosed as "shell shock" in WWI, became labeled Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome after Viet Nam. Medically today, wives of men exposed to agent orange, are at risk for specific cancers. Every veteran exposed to shipping, handling, or on-ground exposure to Agent Orange must update their military records to include where and when they were exposed, and include supportive medical documentation, now! Welcome Home - Vietnam Veterans Memorial 1982 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy7a83WGstA The Vietnam Veterans Memorial---The Wall, Washington DC (searchable) Dedicated Novermber 1982 http://thewall-usa.com/ Wife, friend, sister of Vietnam Veterans of America. WWII Veteran's daughter, niece of 5, 2 died in Europe WW I grand niece of one, to date US Civil War great, great granddaughter, of one to date Barb