Remembering Vietnam Veterans

[Steinhauer]

I wasn't sure how to title this thread. I just wanted to share something very personal.

Several years ago, my mother came to visit me while I attended Gallaudet, and one of the places she wanted to visit was the Vietnam Memorial. While we were there, my mother had a specific name she wanted to see.

The name was Ricky Estrada. He was one of my father's best friends when they were in jr. high and high school.

These were things my parents never told me when I was growing up.

My father used to play basketball with his friend almost every day after school. Ricky's family were all refugees from Cuba, and my father became his friend even before Ricky could speak English.

Now, for, I think, the point of this thread. You see, Ricky Estrada, as I understood my parents to tell me, fled communism. His family came to America so that they could have a better life. They came here legally.

When Ricky graduated High School, The Vietnam War was raging halfway across the world. Ricky wanted to help defeat communist regimes, much like the communist country his family fled. He signed up for service, and died defending freedom in Phuoc Long, Vietnam. Fled from Cuba, became an American and died defending her.


Anyways, I came across my father's tribute to his friend and thought I would share it here:

VVMF

 

[Reba]

Thank you for the link. That was a touching tribute.

My dad was born and reared on a Depression-era Indiana farm, and attended a one-room schoolhouse there. Probably similar to your dad's community.

One thing that confuses me. Ricky's birth town is listed as in Puerto Rico, not Cuba. Did his family emigrate to the USA via Puerto Rico? I know that some Cuban families didn't arrive directly onto mainland USA.

Your dad is two years older than me. I too, remember the Cuban missile crisis. My dad was a civilian technical expert who was sent to Cuba shortly after to verify that the missiles were removed. I can relate to the mood of that era.

I salute Ricky's memory and his service to our country.

 

[Tousi]

Reba, I, too, echo your sentiment. About the question you pose, Steiny mentioned that the family came here legally so I'm thinking they might have done this via P.R.???

 

[Beowulf]

I have the utmost respect for Vietnam veterans, even if I no longer want to hear their stories because they make my blood boil.

 

[rockin'robin]

God bless our Vietnam Vets!...My brother served several tours over there and so did my ex-husband....Goodnight, Vietnam and Forrest Gump are 2 movies that I'll never forget, either.

Thank you, Stein, for this thread....brings back so many memories also....

 

[whatdidyousay!]

My dad came over here from Russia and when he been school for awhile and knew some English his teacher would have him translate what she said in English to Russian to the students and dad would say things about the teacher! Your dad sound like a very caring person.

 

[SilentRider]

Nice! Add my dad to the list of Vietnam vets .. he went when he was 15, lied on age to enlist. Served 2 tours in navy and 1 tour with marines. He's a tattooed and heavy bearded tough fellow. Goes to happy hour everyday and goes fishing every weekend. The war messed him up but he did his best. Thx for the post on vets.

 

[Steinhauer]

Thank you for the link. That was a touching tribute.

My dad was born and reared on a Depression-era Indiana farm, and attended a one-room schoolhouse there. Probably similar to your dad's community.

One thing that confuses me. Ricky's birth town is listed as in Puerto Rico, not Cuba. Did his family emigrate to the USA via Puerto Rico? I know that some Cuban families didn't arrive directly onto mainland USA.

Your dad is two years older than me. I too, remember the Cuban missile crisis. My dad was a civilian technical expert who was sent to Cuba shortly after to verify that the missiles were removed. I can relate to the mood of that era.

I salute Ricky's memory and his service to our country.

I noticed the birthplace too. I asked my father about it and he told me they were Cuban citizens.

On another note, my best friend (when I was a little boy) was the son of a shrimper. His father owned several shrimp boats as well as support vessels. I used to spend the summers with him and his dad out in the Gulf of Mexico.

Anyways, his dad told me a story about how Fidel Castro had allowed refugees to leave Cuba only if they could provide their own transportation. So, many sailors went to pick up refugees, and my friend's father took his fleet. He had all of his boats seized and spent 7 years in a Cuban prison.

 

[Steinhauer]

My dad came over here from Russia and when he been school for awhile and knew some English his teacher would have him translate what she said in English to Russian to the students and dad would say things about the teacher! Your dad sound like a very caring person.

He is, I wouldn't trade him for the world.

 

[DeafBadger]

I visited the Vietnam Memorial in '99 when I was in D.C. It was sobering to see the long wall filled with so many names.

My father served on a U.S. Navy supply ship during President Nixon's term. He told a story about bombs stacked on the deck of the ship and someone wrote "Nixon's Peace Plan" on one of the bombs. The writing was removed by the next morning.

To hear my father tell it, while these were confusing times and probably a mismanaged war, the sailors and other military servicemen and women did their jobs. Nothing angered my father more than to hear of the Navy radioman who passed secrets to the Soviets, during this same time period.

Respect for those who went and served our country.