Being the daughter of a Vietnam Vet has affected my life in many ways. My Dad never really talked about his experience in Vietnam while I was growing up, at least not to me. All I knew was that he went there, and that he had some slides he'd take out once in a while. There was one slide he would never let me look at, and to this day I still haven't seen it.
I didn't really become aware of the effect Dad's service in Vietnam had on him until my parents divorced in the late 1980's. My parents were high school sweethearts, and when Dad came back from Vietnam he was, understandably, a complete different person. I don't think my Mom really knew how much it changed him until years later.
Now, I'm not blaming my parent's divorce on Vietnam, but I think his time there was a factor. How could it not change a person? There's no way. Anyway, my Dad moved to Washington a few years after my parent's divorced, and I lived with my Mom. I'm a very lucky girl - my parent's are still great friends and I've been able to see my Dad relatively often.
But regardless of that, I still never felt too close to my Dad. I think deep down I knew there was a huge part of him I didn't know about. Then I went to Mills college and began to study American History as my major. I was inexplicably drawn to history, especially the 1950's to the present. I took every class on the Vietnam era that I could get into. I read books upon books in an attempt to get to know my Dad better. I think it's helped. This, my home page, is my latest attempt to honor my Dad and his service in Vietnam. It may be a small gesture, but I'm so happy to do it, and I hope it somehow helps others. Actually, I really hope that through this page my Dad will be able to find some of the guys he served with
... that would be the ultimate service I could give to him.
I will never fully comprehend the effect Vietnam had on my Dad, but I'm proud to say that I'm his daughter. (you too, Mom!!)
~Amy Janelle
Post Script: After seeing this page, my Dad called me to talk about it ... he thanked me and said that although helping me find the other members of his pathfinder unit is great, it isn't the ultimate service I could give him. He said just being interested in this part of his life and doing what I've already done is the ultimate service. Thanks, Dad ...
Post Post Script: Since I started this page and re-evaluated other aspects of my life, I've become much more aware of the simliarities between my dad and myself. It's amazing how many interests we share and how many traits he passed on to me. I think that working with him on this page has also helped me feel closer to him and enabled me to confide in him in ways I never have before. It gives me great comfort to know that I have two wonderful parents who support me even when they don't agree with what I'm doing (which isn't very often, anyway). ;o)
