Tomorrow we are burying my brother Michael. Mike served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He came home after serving his country to be reviled and spit upon. He had trouble finding a teaching job because no one wanted a Vietnam Vet to teach their children. Mike was a Chaplain’s Assistant. He and the Chaplain had adopted a stray mutt they named Sin Buster Boom-Boom Junior. Mike earned a bronze star but we don’t know for what. He never talked about Vietnam. All he would say was that he wanted to go back to visit because he loved the people. He talked about visiting the Vietnam Memorial but never went.
Vietnam ruined his health. He developed amebic dysentery. He had operations for neurological conditions on both arms and one leg. He was moody but hated to be alone. He made two marriages that didn’t work out. He was a devoted Dad to his only daughter and three grandchildren and tried to spend as much time with them as he could.
It was the demons inside that killed him. I moved down to North Carolina after Mom died to be near his daughter and grandchildren. He was supposed to join us as soon as we got the house sold. He told us there would be no problems. I came back up once to work on cleaning things out and getting things ready to sell. He kept putting me off coming back up again. Arriving here after his death I know why. He had turned to drink. Friends tried to help but he refused to admit he had a problem.
Vietnam destroyed my brother. He never recovered his health from being there. It turned him from a liberal to an extreme right wing Republican. He went from being opened to being closed up. He could never talk about Vietnam. It just ate away at him inside. Eventually the demons became too much.
Tomorrow I give the eulogy for Mike. I will try to remain upbeat and talk of his good points. I won’t mention the demons. I will always know they were there and took him from us. War kills and sometimes it is many years later. For those people who think we need to get involved in more conflicts I tell you this. No we don’t. You have no idea what war does to a person. It is a lifelong nightmare. It takes a brother, a daddy, and a granddad away from the people who love him. War kills and leaves the survivors and their family in pain.
9:03 AM PT: I just found out how Mike got the bronze star. His camp came under attack and he rushed out and carried two wounded soldiers to safety. He didn't realize until later in the day that he had been hit in the leg. He refused the Purple Heart but was awarded the bronze star. He was a true hero.