free trip to vietnam

[Trigger Mike]

At the end of Jeopardy they advertised a free trip to exotic Vietnam. Ride the Mekong and see Cambodia as well. All expenses and then it would tell you how to win it. I recall my father once won a free trip to Vietnam. All expenses were paid, they even provided free clothes to blend in with the luscious scenery. He still dreams about his trip that he took long ago in 67.

 

Since he still dreams about it, he sometimes sees faces from back then, partially due to all the meds he is on. When he told the VA that they no longer bother him since he shot them, they immediately told my mom that he is a mass murder or suicide risk and asked her if they had any guns.

 

So much for a free trip. Everything has its price in the end.

[BONEYARD BILL, SASS #39,030]

Yup - I was there (1968 -70) and I have NO DESIRE to return.

I am 100% disabled according to the VA - 50% for PTSD and 50% for prostate cancer caused by Agent Orange.

 

- BB

[Henry T Harrison]

I can’t understand why I can travel to Nam but not to Cuba.

[Duffield, SASS #23454]

They promised me a tour of Southeast Asia.

 

We were winning when I left.

 

Duffield,

Soc Trang Tiger 1966-1968

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

My sister and her husband went to Vietnam and Cambodia last year and were shocked....SHOCKED!!!... to see a communist flag and relics of the war in Hanoi depicting us as terrible invaders. they were equally shocked to see the Hanoi Hilton much as it was then and to see poor peasant people working in substandard conditions and still living in novels in the beautiful, exotic communist workers' paradise.

 

My sister asked "why didn't you ever tell us?" God knows I tried, but no one wanted to hear it back then and damned few do today. I stopped trying to explain or describe it many years ago.

 

That's why people are giving away these kinds of prizes.

[twelve mile REB]

Yup - I was there (1968 -70) and I have NO DESIRE to return.

I am 100% disabled according to the VA - 50% for PTSD and 50% for prostate cancer caused by Agent Orange.

 

- BB

Sorry but that's not how VA benefits work you don't add 50 +50 and equal 100. So in your case the 50% that was awarded first is a true 50% and you would have 50% in remaining benefits. When any other VA benefit is awarded it is awarded as a percentage of the remaining benefit. So in the case described the remaining 50% would be multiplied by the next award in this case .5 and with the VA's wonder math that equals 75%. I was there as well, my Purple Heart carries a palm leaf and that is how my VA benefits are calculated.

Semper Fi

12

[Caliope Cupcake #13981]

My sister and her husband went to Vietnam and Cambodia last year and were shocked....SHOCKED!!!... to see a communist flag and relics of the war in Hanoi depicting us as terrible invaders. they were equally shocked to see the Hanoi Hilton much as it was then and to see poor peasant people working in substandard conditions and still living in novels in the beautiful, exotic communist workers' paradise.

 

My sister asked "why didn't you ever tell us?" God knows I tried, but no one wanted to hear it back then and damned few do today. I stopped trying to explain or describe it many years ago.

 

That's why people are giving away these kinds of prizes.

 

 

WOW it's partially capitalist like China. thanx for telling us

Dateline or 20/20 did an episode, a few years ago on Nam, trying to purvey it as some kind of vacation paradise. it showed a few seconds of at least one American now in his mid 60s who stayed with his VN family. he did not talk to anyone and quickly went out of sight. there must be others.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

If it's partially capitalist, it's also partially communist...and that's like being partially pregnant.

[Dirty Redd]

I took the trip 67-68 , i'm never leaving the US again, i don't care what they offer.

[Harvey Mushman]

Not interested in going back.

 

4TRod, have had same dialogue as you - they do not listen until they see it for themselves, and unfortunately, most never will - till we have it here..........

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

Already got that trip and the side trip to Cambodia Feb 69 - Dec 70. Not only that but they Paid me $215 a month for the first few months then 249 and I actually got $396 a month for about the last close to a year of the 22 months. Thought I had come home without a scratch or any problems. Fast Fwd about 40 years and Agent orange has taken its toll.

 

I would do it all over for my Country but do not want to Vacation there. Parts are quite beautiful, but still not where I want to vacation.

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

Sorry but that's not how VA benefits work you don't add 50 +50 and equal 100. So in your case the 50% that was awarded first is a true 50% and you would have 50% in remaining benefits. When any other VA benefit is awarded it is awarded as a percentage of the remaining benefit. So in the case described the remaining 50% would be multiplied by the next award in this case .5 and with the VA's wonder math that equals 75%. I was there as well, my Purple Heart carries a palm leaf and that is how my VA benefits are calculated.

Semper Fi

12

True. 50% and 50% total 75% may get rounded to 80% but once you hit 70% it is possible to receive compensation at 100% due to unemployability

Enough PTSD and Prostate problems could be enough to justify unemployability. It is really hard to get to 100% with multiple smaller disabilities.

[Dakota Rebel, SASS# 58412]

I hear you about how the VA computes the percentage. I'm at 70% for Agent Orange issues, a GSW and a fractured back. I contacted my VSO about unemployability and they are working it. I have no desire to return to SEA.

 

Funny thing with peripheral neuropathy: I can't feel my feet, and they hurt like hell. Figure that out.

[backshootin beauford mcgee]

Have not been to Vietnam, but it is on my schedule to visit on holiday. I spent a month in Phnom Phen at the university getting my teaching certificate. They have rebuilt a lot of the city, especially the riverfront where there is a huge new Casino. There are a lot of very poor people there also. Here is a video of a Tuk Tuk ride through the city.

or a temple

 

I go to Laos on a regular basis each year, as a foreign teacher, I have do leave the country of Thailand a night to get my visa reclassified from 'retirement or tourist' to a Non-B visa that allows me to work here. Laos is better than Cambodia, but still not as developed as Thailand.

[Smoken D]

Not interested in going back.

 

 

 

+1

[BONEYARD BILL, SASS #39,030]

Ok - just to set the record straight regarding VA disability payments:

 

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer (Agent Orange) and was awarded 40% disability. Then, my VSO started probing about my actual Infantry experience - based on that he suggested that I apply for PTSD evaluation. I then went back to the VA and was evaluated by Psychologist and awarded 50%. But -as previous posters have indicated - 40% plus 50% DOES NOT

EQUAL 90% - but - rather 70%. Then, the prostate cancer (which had been surgically removed in 2007) came back (treated with radiation)- I was re-evaluated - and, then, my total disability was bumped to 100%.

 

For the sake of convenience - I tell people that I am 100% VA disabled - 50% due to Agent Orange prostate cancer and 50% due to PTSD - rather than recite the whole above paragraph which necessitates a discussion of "VA math".

 

I am single and I receive $2,916 per month.

 

I hope this clarifies the confusion I caused in an earlier post on this same thread.

 

- BB

[Noz]

I took the trip 67-68 , i'm never leaving the US again, i don't care what they offer.

I was a resident of Long Binh Junction 1967/68. (corrected from 1867)

 

Some places just don't take as long as others for you to get your fill.

[Utah Bob #35998]

I was a resident of Long Binh Junction 1867/68.

 

Some places just don't take as long as others for you to get your fill.

Dang! That must have been pretty sweet back then, pre-Japanese. Were the French even there yet?

[Grumpy Old Man]

I was a resident of Long Binh Junction 1967/68. (corrected from 1867)

 

Some places just don't take as long as others for you to get your fill.

LBJ was the jail, wasn't it?

[Grumpy Old Man]

Actually, I wouldn't mind going back. I was there in 71-72 and it wasn't near as rough as earlier years. I was in Can Tho the last 8 months and lived in a hotel.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I can't imagine returning to a place where I was away from my family and concerned about their welfare, where I spent most of my time crusted with sand and sweat and fighting bugs, staying desperately tired, being sick about half the time, losing about 20% of my total weight to malaria, being somewhat cared about the same percentage and totally terrified some of the time, never totally trusting any place I was, eating terrible food...or not eating at all, all for about $1100.00 a month...

 

...and a few years later, after all the crap we got when we got home, watching my government throw in the towel, roll over on our allies, and walk away.

 

Thirty years later it's now become fashionable to "show us the respect we earned" and call us all heroes.

 

Sounds a little bitter.

 

Sorry.

[Utah Bob #35998]

I can't imagine returning to a place where I was away from my family and concerned about their welfare, where I spent most of my time crusted with sand and sweat and fighting bugs, staying desperately tired, being sick about half the time, losing about 20% of my total weight to malaria, being somewhat cared about the same percentage and totally terrified some of the time, never totally trusting any place I was, eating terrible food...or not eating at all, all for about $1100.00 a month...

 

...and a few years later, after all the crap we got when we got home, watching my government throw in the towel, roll over on our allies, and walk away.

 

Thirty years later it's now become fashionable to "show us the respect we earned" and call us all heroes.

 

Sounds a little bitter.

 

Sorry.

True, it's become fashionable.....but sometimes it's heartfelt. Like the little old lady who came up to me while we were passing out poppies last year and said, with tears in her eyes, that she was sorry and ashamed at the way we were treated and thanked us for serving.

[Grizzly Adams 3674]

Been there, done that. Lost the T shirt some time ago.....