IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT INNOCENT PEOPLE WERE DYING AT THE HANDS OF TYRANNY.

IT WAS BETTER TO BE SELF-RIGHTEOUS AND NOT BLAME OURSELVES.

BUT THAT MINDSET PUT THE BLAME ON YOUNG WARRIORS WHO WERE SENT TO DO THE JOB.

Wake up, Marine. This Phase Three: "The personal readjustment for returning Vietnam combat veterans."

Each war had a message for returning combat vets. After World War II, Americans held out open arms to tell them: We all struggled together, let's rebuild. The iconic photo of a sailor kissing a young nurse on the cover of Life magazine, the parades in the streets, the patriotic movies – all these symbols of appreciation gave the combat warrior a sense of pride, welcome and understanding.

Then Korea made its mark. Vets were seen as faithful heroes who did their jobs, contained the enemy and established a perimeter that exists to this very day. They were treated with a cosmetic-like measure of compassion. It was not the "Big One," but it was another battle that called American soldiers to active duty, and our heroes answered the call. Yes, they faced their own inner struggles, but the country's arms were open and proud.

Fast-forward to the 1970s and Vietnam. Americans shared a day-to-day disdain for not only the conflict of war, but also the political aspects of it. As a country, we had graduated and succumbed to our own uninformed political opinions. TV war dramas, drugs, free love and spoiled kids of the '60s dominated the news and opinions. The country was rich and powerful, and couldn't be bothered by the messy, dirty, bloody aspects of war. It didn't matter that in one far-eastern land, a government fueled by cruelty and greed was trying to overtake and dominate another. It didn't matter that innocent people were dying at the hands of tyranny. It was better to be self-righteous and not blame ourselves. But that mindset put the blame on young warriors who were sent to do the job. Vietnam was too far away to understand. The

Russians and ballistic missiles were easier to fear. It was a nuclear era, considered to be more modern then it really was. The world was still a place of aggression and barbarism. But the comfortable, spoiled youth – many in academia and falsely led – labeled themselves heroes. They were able to turn the country against the soldiers, especially the Marines, who did the dirty work.

There are too many suicides every day, committed by maladjusted combat vets from all wars. But the trauma of combat and war is magnified by immeasurable exponents when the warrior is scorned, ignored, labeled and forgotten. This is the case of the Vietnam vet. While "Thank you for your service" finally includes them, they still suffer the effects of a nationwide rejection that persisted for too many years. For those veterans who did return home, the scars will not go away. Fifty years later, they deserve a salute to their service, their sacrifice, and their brave response to the call of duty. •

This article was first published in the Washington Times in 2015.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dominic Certo, author and businessman, served with the 7th Marines in Vietnam and is an advisory board member of Operation Home Front. He has since served as an advisor and Chairman of the Advisory Board for Operation Homefront. Certo has served as President of Hillside Publications, and Chairman of The Certo Group. The Certo Group is a food services company founded by Certo in 1985 which went public in 2004. Certo was knighted by the Royal Family of The Reigning Order of St. John in Russia. He has also received two Presidential Volunteer Service Awards.