Photo Courtesy of John Perez
Survivors of the Vietnam War have started talking about what happened. The time for silence is over, and the time for healing has begun. John Perez, who served in the infantry in Vietnam during 1968 through 1969, remembers it all too well, but it took him years to speak about it. It has been said not to ask a Vietnam veteran about his experience because very few can talk about it, but that is changing.
On November 10, 2011, the College of the Sequoias Veteran’s Society held their 3rd Annual Veteran’s Appreciation Day on campus. In attendance were representatives from the Armed Forces, state and local law enforcement agencies, and several veterans’ organizations from the central valley. Students had an opportunity to meet and talk with the representatives and learn more about what is involved in a job that required courage, strength and especially, according to Perez, mental strength.
Times have changed for service members returning from battle which has a considerable effect on them according to Perez.
“Now when a soldier comes home, they are thanked,” Perez said.
That wasn’t the case in 1969.
“When I got back home, I put my uniform away and didn’t talk about what happened in Vietnam with anybody, not even my family. I don’t even know what happened to my dog tags,” Perez said.
Perez had a brother who also served in Vietnam, and when his brother returned in 1970, they didn’t talk about “it” either. 15 years later, his brother committed suicide. Perez regrets that he did not talk to him and lives with the thought that his suicide could have been prevented if maybe they had talked about it. According to Perez many Vietnam veterans commit suicide and most are divorced because of the inability to talk about it.
“I married a strong woman who was able to handle all the years of silence,” Perez said.
In Vietnam, Perez served as an RTO (radio-telephone operator) in an infantry unit. His job was to carry the radio used to communicate with other units. Perez’s company landed in a helicopter packed like sardines with legs hanging out.
“One small tap on a shoulder, and someone would fall out,” Perez said.
When he jumped from the helicopter, he didn’t know what to expect. His unit hiked through the dense jungle until reaching the top of a mountain where they set up camp. Guard duty was the number one priority, especially at night when the enemy attacked by crawling up the densely forested mountain. Noise discipline was key.
Perez used his radio to “click” to the guard every hour to make sure he was awake. If the guard “clicked” back, it was all clear. But those many nights waiting in fear forever changed Perez.
“In 1970, I tried to go backpacking in the Sierras, but when it got dark, I had a hard time,” Perez said.
His doctor determined it was anxiety. Perez can visit the mountains now, but still cannot stay after dark. There is a wave of Vietnam veterans who are seeking help, and have learned that talking about it is actually therapy. The silence and inability to talk about “it” has caused many veterans to have psychological problems which have led some of them to commit suicide.
The mystery of what happened in Vietnam is being solved as more and more veterans join discussion groups and tell their stories. Many have overcome the barrier, and like Perez, can talk about it.
The Department of Veteran Affairs handed out stress balls, which read, “It takes the courage and strength of a warrior to ask for help.” Their goal is to reach out to veterans who suffer from psychological problems they have endured and to let them know they can be helped.
According to Wikipedia, over 500,000 American troops fought in the war. Of them, 58,220 died, 1,687 are missing and over 300,000 were wounded. Overall, on both sides, it was estimated that there were 1.5 million casualties and over 2 million wounded. Also, it was estimated that between 2 and 4 million civilians died.
The heaviest American casualties were between 1967 and 1969, while Perez was there.
