Veteran returns to Vietnam for closure, perspective

[douglas9]

Patrick Johnston/Times Record News Vietnam veteran Carl Gustafson reacts to a crowd of family, friends, and members of the Patriot Guard gathered at the Wichita Falls Municipal Airport to welcome him home. Gustafson was returning from a VFW-sponsored trip back to Vietnam and was greeted with the hero's welcome home he never received in 1968.

When Carl "Gus" Gustafson left Vietnam in 1968, wounded so badly doctors doubted he'd ever walk again, the thought of going back seemed remote.

With time and determination, Gustafson beat the odds. He walked, married the love of his life, made a career and raised a family. Still, there were unseen wounds he and 10 other Vietnam veterans set out to salve when they recently returned to the country that changed their lives forever.

Each year the VFW-administered Robert Charles Kahle Fund provides Purple Heart recipients all-expense paid trips back to their battlefields. Everyone in Gustafson's group saw each sight with different eyes.

"His (Kahle's) hope was that some guys might heal, seek closure from their experiences," said Gustafson, who was a 19-year-old lance corporal with the 1st Battalion 9th Marines the day his platoon was ambushed by Vietcong during the Tet Offensive. "He never served in the military so it's pretty amazing he'd want to do that."

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2012/feb/06/veitnam_vet/

[Scuba]

1. Thanks for posting.

[white cloud]

2. Thanks

Let them never be forgotten and RIP. From one to another.

[BadtotheboneBob]

3. I know two guys that went back...

... and they were very graciously treated. The Vietnamese seem to be a very forgiving people. I watched a segment on MSNBC about Col. Jack Jacobs USA (ret) MOH receipient who went back to where he fought and earned the MOH and met the Vietcong Colonel, who was in his old dress uniform, that was his opponent that day. They had a very amiable meeting, as often old foes do after many years have passed. The Vietcong Col. held Col. Jacobs hand in the Vietnamese manner of friendship... Closure for both, I think...