Hug a Vietnam Vet Today — and say ‘Thanks’

Do me a favor: Find an uncle, aunt, brother, sister, Mom, Dad, Pops or Nana who served in Vietnam. Give ’em a hug; maybe say, “Thanks.”

Why?

Because, depending on where you live, it’s “Celebrate Viet Nam Veterans Day.”

According to the National Conference of State legislatures, “Most states celebrate ‘Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day’ on March 29 or 30 of each year, the date of the final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam. The day commemorates the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and is part of a national effort to recognize the men and women who were denied a proper welcome upon returning home more than 40 years ago.”

Click here for details about your state.

I’m a Vietnam vet. Served in the Navy. Worked on radios. (Some I even fixed.) Not a glamorous job, but that’s what they wanted — so that’s what I did.

Met some fine people in Da Nang. Made some great memories — enough to fill a small book, which I did in “Orange Socks & Other Colorful Tales.”

I’ve few regrets for serving in Vietnam; I’ve a bunch about coming home.

How so?

Let’s put it this way: When you get called “baby killer” to your face, you feel less than welcome.

Enough about that . . .

I’m guessing that if you know a Vietnam vet, he or she probably did not hear “Thank you” many times when they got home. You could be the first. Know this: It’s never too late. Ever. Until it is . . . if you get my drift.

Jim Lamb is a retired journalist and author of “Orange Socks & Other Colorful Tales,” the story of how he survived Vietnam and kept his sense of humor. For more about Jim and his writing, visit www.jslstories.com.