Leaving Home                                                                                                                            

The next day after the gut-wrenching goodbye to my Grandfather my parents drove me to Connecticut to my buddy and a fellow Marines house in Strafford. The following day we would be boarding  a flight out of New York to San Diego California for jungle warfare training. When we arrived at Al’s house I grabbed my sea bag out of the trunk of my parent’s car, hugged my folks and said not to worry, I was a Marine...I would be all right. My mother pleaded, “wouldn't you like to come home and spend one more night”, she was in tears and being held by my Dad. I turned and said “I love you, but one more day will not matter, I have to go”...Sadly and in tears they got into their car and drove away. My heart was broken twice in two days. This was not the way I had pictured the moment. I learned this, and this being that, parting is in no way sweet, and sorrow hurt like hell.

I had no Idea what  was in store for me. My Father and my Grandfather had some idea as to what War was like. I saw it in their eyes. They knew in their hearts what I was in for. I had not yet stepped foot in Vietnam but I had experienced the heartbreak of war without firing a shot. Family's separated, hearts torn, Tears flowing and always expecting the worst. I cannot even imagine the hell they went through daily, waiting for the letter they hoped they would never receive from our Government. Grief flooded my soul and I thought to myself, this is only the first step of a long and dangerous journey. I had thirteen months to survive and dwell on the departing of my youth. I have never forgotten those moments where the two simple words "Good bye" turned into an oxymoron. There was nothing good about it at all.

We, the youth of our nation were saying goodbye every day now, here at home and in the rice paddies, hills, jungles and killing fields of Vietnam. To many good-bye would be the last thing they heard from their folks, or from the soldier holding them while they gasped for their last breath. In Vietnam good-bye took on a whole new meaning. From that moment on, it meant separation and death and, the absolute possibility of never hearing hello again from those you love.

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