i have this thing, i'll be doing something, and something else purely unrelated, will pop in my head. well yesterday, i was working, and for some reason i had a childhood memory come to the surface. when i was young, my neighborhood was hit hard by the vietnam war, and one of the things some of us did to show support, was get a p.o.w. bracelet.

i know it was kind of corny, but i saved my paper $, and raised the (if i remember right) $9.95 for the bracelet. i was proud to wear it, and would run home every night to see if my guy had been found, or released. the years went by, and the bracelet broke, and somehow other things took precedense.

well yesterday, the bracelet popped in my head, i remembered his name, and was able to find some info, on the internet. he's alive, living in california, and i was able to find a address.

heres the part i need some opinions. i was thinking of writing him, and telling him even after all these years, i still remember, and i appreciate what he did for our country, and what a big part of my childhood he was. do you think i should let it go? or do you think he'd appreciate people still remembering what he did, and stood for? i wouldn't want to upset him or bring back terrible memories, but would like him to know, that even after all these years, some still think of his sacrifice, and hope he's doing well.....

Go for it!

If you can still find the bracelet....send it to him, with a note to contact you if he wants.

I'm torn...even the best intentions could cause him to think about that which he may want to forget. I'm sure he would appreciate the gesture...but it may come with a price.

I guess you need to ask yourself if you are contacting him for his benefit or yours?

I think he would benefit, even if he is against what the war stood for now. I am sure he would think it was nice that someone, albeit a little boy with a paper route cared enough to do what you did. I would be interested in the outcome.

I think posting it here is as far as I would take it ....
you may very well open old wounds that have taken YEARS to put to rest :sad:
many of the people I know still have not come to grips with this time of their lives an even tho you are trying to be helpful ...
you memory's of this are not his
an being reminded of it might not be the right thing to do ... IMO

one of the reasons i was thinking of writing this gentleman, was because i found an article, and he seemed well adjusted, even though he spent five years as a prisoner, his thoughts were with others.

"I would like to use this forum to thank the citizens of this country for their
support and particularly for their actions in helping to obtain better
treatment for us and our release. Also to remind the reader that there were
significant casualties in the war, leaving 75,000 children fatherless. These
American children deserve your thoughts and support".

i thought this was a very intense, insightful, and thoughtful statement, by somebody who incurred great hardship and prevailed. in the few things i've been able to find on him, there isn't one iota of self pity. he seemed to have been strengthened from the expierence....

A braclet isn't going to haunt him, or the thought of someone keeping him in thier thoughts. Belive you me, he's thinking of what happened to him everyday, no matter what you do.

I strongly urge you to contact him. I belive that when we listen to our 'gut feeling' ,'our inner-selves', our 'angels' or the little guy on our shoulder, what ever you want to call it, you are following destiny and fulfilling some of your purpose here on earth.

Yeah, I know it sounds all touchy feely, but if we all acted on these thoughts of kindness and caring toward others, we'd all live in a better world. I know many veterans very well and a few POW's, and not a single one of them would shut out someone that took a genuine interest their well being.

Absolutely, without question, DO IT. Just write a simple letter explaining your braclet, don't ask for anything, but leave the door open for return communication.

Make sure you let us know what you decide to do and how it turns out.

I would do it. I would write him and tell him that you completely understand if he's not interested in meeting, but that it was a great thrill for you to find him. There's plenty of guys the war REALLY affected, but there's also many that don't mind remembering it, for themselves and other survivors, as well as their fallen bretheren. I work with several, and am related to several. All of them are not bothered when I ask questions. I also understand how many wouldn't want to be reminded of it as well.

If you have the address, I would send it to him, tell him of your support, and include your contact information. Then leave it up to him. US Marine 70 thru 76.:cool:

The one thing the Vien Nam vets were denied during their service was the respect of (some of) their fellow citizens and the 'intelegencia'. The fact that you thought of him back then, and now, would in my opinion, mean much to him. Go for it!

heres what i'm going to send. it has nothing specific in it, hoping not to open wounds. just to let him know, he was appreciated...

Dear Sir,

I hope this is finding the intended recipient.

If you are the same Lt. XXXXXX. that was shot down in Vietnam, in 1968 and held as a P.O.W. till 1973, I just wanted you to know, that you are an unforgotten hero, from my childhood.

My neighborhood was hit hard by the war, and as an 8 year old, about the only way I could think of to support our troops, was to purchase a P.O.W. bracelet. I, like many other children of the time, had a paper route, mowed yards, collected pop bottles etc. anything I could think of, to make money. I saved what was at that time (if my memory doesn’t fail me) the tremendous sum of $9.95. It was a great lesson for me. It was a large sum to save, and it gave me a connection to a time, and war, I was too young to understand. All I knew, was that there were a lot of brave guys, fighting for my rights and freedoms.

Even at that tender age, it was never lost on me what you guys meant, the hardships you endured for us. I would rush home everyday, flip on the news, and wait for the announcer to tell me, you were coming home….

The years passed, the bracelet finally broke, and my mind traveled to other things boys of my age think of, girls, sports, cars, etc. but I never forgot your name, and I never forgot your sacrifice. Over the years, I would think about you. Did you make it home? Have a family of your own? I wasn’t savy enough to know exactly how to find information on you.

Recently I was sitting at work. I’m decades away from that 8 year old boy, and our country is in the middle of another unpopular war, your name popped into my thoughts. I was in front of a computer, and was able to pull up a little info. It brought a great smile to my face, to see you made it home. I was also pleased to read a quote from you, that was inspirational in its thought and selflessness.

This is just to thank you, and to let you know what you did, wasn’t lost on a boy, who 41 years later, still hasn’t forgotten, the sacrifices Men have made for me.

Hoping this finds you healthy and happy,
Bill Myers

Bill, its hard to tell, some of us just want to forget it and go on and some of us still want reconition for what we did. I don't really it would cause any harm if you did contact him, but if he doesn't want to go any further don't push it. Thanks for thinking about him and buying the bracelet. Jb

I thought it was well written, and sincere. I think it would be read respectfully, just as it was written. If he wishes, he could contact you with a little effort, and if not, that's OK too.

Sometimes it is better to reach out than pull back.

Just a thought. I am a Vietnam vet, not a POW, put I would be thrilled to here from someone who had carried my name.
You could contact the local Veterans organizations (VFW, DAV or Legion) in the area to find out if he is a member or they know of him, or the Veterans Administration Office. But the VA may have some restrictions because of privacy issues.

guys, i'm leaving this completely up to him. i'm not initiating contact, just sending a letter to thank him. i wouldn't even know how to start comprehending what this guy went threw. i've seen what that war did to my friends and family. i don't even expect a return letter. just wanted the guy to know, he was a hero of mine, and that i hope things are well for him....

:thumbsup:

Just a thought. I am a Vietnam vet, not a POW, put I would be thrilled to here from someone who had carried my name.
You could contact the local Veterans organizations (VFW, DAV or Legion) in the area to find out if he is a member or they know of him, or the Veterans Administration Office. But the VA may have some restrictions because of privacy issues.

just to let you know, that the internet has gotten to a point that culling a little info from some of the articles i was able to find, that this guy is 99.9% the right guy. i was actually surprised, in this case, how easy it was to find him.

by the way, i don't want anybody to think this is a one man obsession, he is the name i carried, i dn't know if P.O.W. bracelets were anything more than a marketing ploy, and as far as i know, hundreds of 8 year old boys might have been carrying him on thier wrists and in thier hearts.

i want all you guys in the service, present and past, to know, that i truly appreciate what you do for us. i've seemed to bring up some things in some vets on this site, and i want you to know, you were, and are just as important to me as this guy, i just happened recieve his name on a bracelet, and want him to know, he is appreciated....

Ok, I guess I'm a big puss, but that letter made me cry. It would be a shame not to send it. I would leave out the "another unpopular war" part, that may not set well with him.

Ok, I guess I'm a big puss, but that letter made me cry. It would be a shame not to send it. I would leave out the "another unpopular war" part, that may not set well with him.

it doesn't set well with me either, but it's the truth. and popular or not, i want him to know he was supported.

sheeding a tear on this doesn't make you a puss. these guys deserve more than our tears....

As one who has been there do it! You will never know how much something like this means to a person. It will show him that someone besides family really cared about him and for that matter still does as you still remember his name! :thumbsup:

ok, letter on the way. i'll let you guys know how it goes. i hope he takes it as intended, and i don't insult him....

Bill, you've got a huge heart. I'm sure you've put lots of thought into this. I really hopes this puts a smile on someone's face when they read the letter. :D Daren

Bill, you're a good man. Excellent written letter.

VERY nice letter Bill!

Bill, I'm with Hmott and that letter brought a tear to me eye. It's well written and I'm sure he would appreciate, not only your sentiments but also you remembering his name after all these years. By your description he seems to have adjusted well after the ordeal he went through those many years ago so if I were in your shoes I'd send the letter.

P.S. I'm hopefully going to the Cruisin' for a Cure show in Costa Mesa this Sept and it would be an honor to meet you while I'm in the area hanging out with my Chevytalk buds. Not sure how far away Simi Valley is from Costa Mesa cuz this redneck ain't never been to California before. ;)

Regards
Mark.

If you can still find the bracelet....send it to him, with a note to contact you if he wants.

I agree!:thumbsup:

i wish i still had the bracelet guys, but you know how hard an 8 year old can be on things. it was made out of copper with a little chrome plating, it lasted about a year, and it finally succumbed to the beating it got, snapped clear threw.

red neck, i've seen that show on t.v. many times, it is absolutely brilliant, if anybody doesn't know, they have a show out here every year, and while the show is going on, they test as many men as they can for prostate cancer, and believe it or not, they catch many early cases every year. they should have these shows everywhere, they don't call it the silent killer, for nothing. keep in touch, and we might be able to meet up, or maybe figure out some way to hang out....we had one of your canadian brethen out here last summer for a b.b.q. it was a blast....

Good for you! I agree with Sid with regards of the crap so many vets had to take when they returned to America. This will make you a lifelong friend, in my opinion.

We are all better for knowing you.

'bear

Do it Bill. Last year on Memorial Day I looked online to see if I could find any of my shipmates from my stint in the Navy during our time in the waters of Viet Nam. I was able to find a name, I didn't remember this shipmate although we were aboard at the same time. I emailed him to see if he remembered me and I got a return email with quite a story. I am certainly glad I took the time to look and send that email. We email each other on a fairly regular basis.

Bill - I am glad you sent the letter, it should mean a lot to him. Your first feeling was to send it to him, so I think that was the right thing to do. Good for you for thinking of this so many years later, seems like most people today could care less howcome we have a lifestyle the way we do.I pulled behind a car the otherday who had a POW plate and it brought a tear to my eye, to think what this fellow went through and make it back all so I could have freedom...man , that is heavy.

Outstanding! Keep us posted.

I say send it as well. It is great that you though of him and went out of your way to see if he made it.

red neck, i've seen that show on t.v. many times, it is absolutely brilliant, if anybody doesn't know, they have a show out here every year, and while the show is going on, they test as many men as they can for prostate cancer, and believe it or not, they catch many early cases every year. they should have these shows everywhere, they don't call it the silent killer, for nothing. keep in touch, and we might be able to meet up, or maybe figure out some way to hang out....we had one of your canadian brethen out here last summer for a b.b.q. it was a blast....

If everything goes according to plan I'll be in Lodi a week before the show staying with a friend and then we'll be heading to the show from there a few days ahead of time in her 56 Nomad. If Simi Valley is on route to Costa Mesa it might make for a nice rest stop. I can drive for hours on end without stopping but my friend, not so much. ;) I just hope I can swing the trip this year. I have a lot of buds at that show and I don't know if I can live it down if I missed it in 07. They might string me up. :eek:

Bill,
As a Nam Vet, I can not encourage you enough, to not hesitate one second, in sending out the letter. It will not upset him in any way, and will mean more to him than you will ever be able to imagine. Please , please send it out to him without worry. And, I want to Thank You for the tears in my eyes.

Bill