Ricky In The Vietnam War

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My great uncle Rick or Ricky was in the Vietnam War. He’s family but I’m grateful that he told me about the darker moments of his life. It’s not every day when someone will talk to you about things that are that personal. I am lucky to have been able to broaden my perspective toward the Vietnam War via Ricky’s generosity and willingness to share his story with me. It goes something like this: It was 1997 Ricky was 19 and ½ years old. He was into building cars and racing them with his friends. He had hoped to make an enterprise with a few of his friends. He was excited for what the future had for him until one day he got a letter in the mail. The mail stated that he was being drafted into the Army for the Vietnam War. Then and there, he …show more content…

He knew all about Vietnam before the draft and knew the dangers that were there. He was extremely nervous and scared like never before when we got the draft letter. He didn’t know if he physically, mentally, and emotionally make it wherever he was going to be stationed in Vietnam. He was sent to boot camp which was no doubt one of the hardest experiences he has had in his life. Every day and morning he had to run, crawl, swim, and train in rough environments. He needed to be ready for whatever hell was awaiting him in the foreign …show more content…

However, he didn’t know how lucky he really was until a few months later as the war started to sink in. He had made many friends. Some of them lived and are still alive to today. But like every war there are always going to casualties. In late July of 1967, his best friend Thomas died due to a gunshot wound to the chest. After watching his best friend die next to him he wasn’t ever the same. He struggled with PTSD for the next decade. He would picture his best friend next to him screaming for help and crying for his mom. That image is still scared into his mind. It got so bad that he tried committing suicide. Luckily, his son came in and stopped him. He was able to get help and treatment. He is very grateful for the people he has in his life to help him along the way. He will always remember his best friend and will always bleed red, white, and

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