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coming home
I was an Army Specialist 5 (E 5) stationed aboard the Army ship the USNS Corpus Christy Bay anchored in the Saigon River Delta in South Vietnam. In WW2 this ship was a Navy sea plane tender. The Army rebuilt it with hanger decks for the purpose of repair of helicopters in the war zone. It was named Corpus Christy Bay because we trained for duty to serve aboard this ship at the Army Depot situated on the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas.
I left for Vietnam in early 1969 from SanFrancisco and returned there on December 18, 1969 However, we could not land at SanFrancisco because protesters had broken through barrier fences were on the runways to stop soldiers and marines from returning.
March 1969 - The day I left for Vietnam. Mom & Cadet Brother Gary took me to Rochester Airport.
Boot camp Jan 1967 Fort Lewis Washington State. They took my hair.
My first day in Vietnam. Aboard the USNS Corpus Christi Saigon River Delta with pal Foster Baker.
Most of us returning vets had no idea how organized and violent the war protest had become.
We knew towards the end of '69 that the public had turned against the war but not to the extent that was evident in SanFran' on our return. We wanted to get out of our uniforms but we had no civilian clothes in Vietnam.
We were eventually cleared to land at Oakland but my flight back to Minnesota was from SanFrancisco. In those days we flew using Military vouchers on a standby basis.
We were not allowed to return to the SanFran' terminal as servicemen were being confronted violently and spit on. We were supposed to feel ashamed of our service. I never felt ashamed of my service.
Later in college I did realize in that it was a mistake to have conducted that war. Early in college I hid my status as a vet-not out of shame but to avoid controversy.
After several hours in the small Oakland terminal - no protesters - I was able to use my voucher to fly from Oakland to Seattle and then the next day on to Minneapolis.
I am also grateful and amazed at how things have changed and the respect servicemen and women get at airports now. All the best to my brothers in arms.
No one spit on me in Minneapolis but some people stared at me and it was not out of respect. Needles to say this was a sour homecoming for this proud soldier.
I am active in the VFW and I am proud to wear my honor guard uniform with my "brothers in arms". I am especially grateful to hear people say to me "thank you for your service". I am also grateful and amazed at how things have changed and the respect servicemen and women get at airports now.
All the best to my brothers in arms.
Biographical Details
Submitted From: northfield, MN
Primary Location During Vietnam: Vung Tau, Vietnam 
Story Subject: Military Service
Military Branch: U.S. Army
Dates of Service: 1967 - 1969
Veteran Organization: VFW
Unit: First Tranportation Corps Bn Seaborne
Specialty: Metallurgical Technician
Story Themes: 1967, 1968, 1969, Army, Brotherhood, Coming Home, Craig Redalen, Dissent, Northfield, Read, Saigon River Delta, USNS Corpus Christi Bay, VFW, Vung Tau
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