Thursday, January 1: A Year in Review: Vietnam I arrived in this foreign, war-torn country on 6 January 1968, a Saturday; I left for home, after debriefing in Okinawa for three-and-a-half days, on 5 February 1969, a Wednesday . . . 395 days, in all, spent in the land that changed me forever. Knowing that the clock had ticked one second past midnight meant that I was now in the year of my homecoming. After 47 years, I still remember both the joy and the terror that I felt as we disobeyed our commanding officer and lit up the pitch black night with flares and tracers. I was a Christian, but I was haunted by the prospect of dying during those final days before departure. We all had heard stories of guys getting killed right before they rotated back to the States. I learned of a vet who was shot and killed by a sniper climbing up the steps to board his freedom bird the day before I left Danang. I stayed in a compound with a Marine I met in Danang after arriving from Dong Ha; we heard rockets going overhead that night that landed not far from where we were. I didnt sleep much, fearing that I would be late for my flight. Over there, I was on my own. As I write these words, other American warriors are away from home, getting ready to leave similar war-torn lands for home and loved ones. I will continue praying for them: (1) that they will be safe, and (2) that they will receive the support that I did not get initially, and (3) that they can return to those who love them dearly and not suffer from the nightmares, night sweats, unease, hypervigilance, and all of the other negatives that many of us did, and still do. As we enter into this new year, I will continue praying for peace, both inner and outer. Happy New Year; may Gods presence enable you to be whole in 2015. Blessings and peace, De Hillyer, battalion chaplain, Semper Fidelis Health & Wellness
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 16:39:09 +0000
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