Any documented proof Vietnam Vets was spit upon by either Left wing or Right wing?

Question

Any documented proof Vietnam Vets was spit upon by either Left wing or Right wing?
I've been reading a bit and from what I found if this is true was the reason was people calling them baby killers and that they never won the war. I hear anecdotes but is it even true?

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A answerer for instant says this:


Here is some documentation.

I was a veteran, in 1969, and was spit at by protesters during an anti war rally, in Blacksburg, Virginia. I was spit at by a pro government spectator, watching as I protested against the war. No one in the anti war movement ever spit at me. I was spit at again, in both the October, 1970, and November, 1970 Moratorium Marches, again on both occasions, by pro government spectators, objecting to my acts as I protested against the war.

The anti war movement was never militantly anti soldier. Many of the earliest organizers of the actual marches were veterans, like me. We didn't seek to belittle the common soldier for defending his country as he thought was his duty. We did seek to reveal the hypocrisy that allowed the civilian government to use the military to promote its own economic and political goals by pretending that military junketism in southeast Asia was in some way related to American security. The little tin pot dictator we supported was no less a despot that the one we opposed. OUR SUMBICH, as opposed to theirs.

War as a tool of political influence is always a matter of selective historical recall. We seldom bring up our past experiences in protecting the freedoms of the nations we invade. We have good reason not to. Without even considering the morality, or ethical standards of such a practice, it would be entirely to embarrassing to have to consider them in purely objective terms, like say, "Did it work?"

And just for those of you wondering just how long the Iraq war is going to last, consider this little tidbit: My father also served in Viet Nam. That's another whole generation. So, consider your own children, when you think about it.

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I've looked all over the web and not found any actual new sources or anything but anecdotes, yet it's still widely used.

Answer 1

I'm a Vitenam veteran. I served in the US Army from 1966-1974. I can say that I was never spat on by anyone nor was I ever called names. In the entire eight years I was in the army I never even knew a fellow soldier to whom such a thing happened. This is just my personal experience and I could not possibly know all of the soldiers. I think if it happened it was very rare. Oh yes, I was there in Vietnam during the 68 Tet offensive.

Answer 2

I did personally witness such an occurrence in Chicago, Illinois, but cannot attest to political affiliation of the spitter from the crowd of anti-war demonstrators. I was a "mascot" of sorts for the Marines while I was in the service and after, and in 1965 the wounded Vietnam active-duty Marines who were hospitalized at Great Lakes Naval Station were invited to attend a musical show at a prominent Chicago hotel, so they invited me to come along---the only female in the group. When we arrived, a large crowd of war protestors had gathered, mostly young (in their late teens or early 20s and 30s), chanting slurs and angry words, but the Marines stayed together with me in the middle, and moved foward as a unit, ignoring the crowd. Suddenly someone threw something wet that missed and landed by my foot, and a man with dirty long hair ran up and spit on the sleeve of the Marine guiding me toward the door, shouted "baby killer," and then ran back into the crowd. The Marines, some on crutches, some with visible bandages on wounds, did nothing but get steely-eyed and close ranks. I, on the other hand, wanted to confront the guy and a tall Marine behind me grabbed me around the waist TIGHTLY and said, "Let it go, Little Sh*t" (their "pet" name for me). At about this time, the Maitre'd appeared at the door of the hotel and denied us entry, saying that "Management has determined that the sight of so many wounded might upset the regular patrons." We got back on the bus to go back to Great Lakes, and I wanted to say or do something that would lessen the blow...but the Marines all did MARCHING chants and sang patriotic songs--they self-healed. I was so impressed by their commaradery and their strength. [It should be noted that in the early 1980s Chicago hosted a wonderful and OVERWHELMING "Welcome Home" for all Vietnam veterans---and I was honored to be included by the 3-9-3 who had been at Q'uan Tre...accompanied by "Slick" (Jim Etheridge), my "soul twin," who had been a point man for Recon.

Answer 3

What kind of documentation are you looking for? Anecdotes are valuable if there are enough of them. And especially if they are first hand by the ones that were spit on. especially National Guard troops here at home. Beleive me there is. I witnessed it both in college and after returning from Vietnam in Alemeda, Ca. The baby killer protest signs hurt the most.

Answer 4

It is true. I watched it on the TV news in Ca. My father was a career Marine.

I never heard of soldiers ( or Marines ) being criticized for leaving the war too soon. That would be just plain stupid. They did not choose when to leave.

Answer 5

My husband is a Viet Nam vet. He is 60 years old. Even after all this time, remembering being called a "baby killer" when he came home makes him cry.

Answer 6

I was spit at in Minneapolis, Minnesota while wearing a USAF uniform in 1969.

Answer 7

As a person from that era, of course the left or "hippies" spit upon them. The right never even protested the war- was a hippie thing.

Answer 8

Pro Government = Left wing.

Answer 9

Sorry, I served during that time, and know of no such incidents myself, or have not heard of any such incidents happening to any military veterans I know.

Answer 10

Yes there is proof. The vietnam vets who came home who told use that p eople spit on them. Do you think they liberal media would actually tell the truth

Answer 11

I know what I see son and I need no document to prove it to me.