A Minnesota PBS Initiative
A VFW Welcome
I served in the infantry in northern South Vietnam. There were no nightclubs or city girls in the A Shau Valley.
Upon being lucky enough to return to the USA and discharged, I was not too surprised to be advised to remove my uniform as soon as possible at the nearby West coast airport to diminish chances of assault by anti-war activists. What I did not expect happened a few years later.
In response to my inquiry, there were no open arms, but instead I was escorted to a small basement office. I was informed that by charter the VFW must accept me, but that really "we don't want 'your kind' in our group".
After graduate school and a new job in a state just a bit south of here, I sought to join the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post -- I liked its food and thought I would enjoy its activities. In response to my inquiry, there were no open arms, but instead I was escorted to a small basement office. I was informed that by charter the VFW must accept me, but that really "we don't want 'your kind' in our group".
"Your kind" is an exact quote, for I remember it all too well. No, I am not black, red, or yellow, but lily white -- so, race wasn't the issue of "my kind". It was perfectly clear to me that the VFW post preferred not to have anyone from that (dare I now say) FAKE war. It can't be a real war like WWII and Korea if you lose it and kill babies at the same time. I better go someplace else.
Biographical Details
Submitted From: Maple Grove, MN
Primary Location During Vietnam: Phu Bai, Vietnam 
Story Subject: Military Service
Military Branch: U.S. Army
Dates of Service: 1969 - 1971
Unit: 101st Airborne Div.
Story Themes: 101st Airborne Division, 1969, 1970, 1971, Army, Camp Eagle, Coming Home, Discrimination, Hue, Infantry, Lee Sundberg, Maple Grove, Phu Bai, Read, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW
Show Comments