Remembering Swannee and All Vietnam Veterans

A niece, Felicia DeLappi remembers 

her dear Uncle Swannee.
A good man....
On this Veteran's Day weekend
AND every day....
THANK YOU Swannee.

On December 1, 1969, the Selective Service System of the United States conducted two lotteries to determine the order of call to military service in the Vietnam War for men born from 1944 to 1950.

The Draft in Context

The military draft brought the war to the American home front. During the Vietnam War era, between 1964 and 1973, the U.S. military drafted 2.2 million American men out of an eligible pool of 27 million.  Although only 25 percent of the military force in the combat zones were draftees, the system of conscription caused many young American men to volunteer for the armed forces in order to have more of a choice of which division in the military they would serve. While many soldiers did support the war, at least initially, to others the draft seemed like a death sentence: being sent to a war and fight for a cause that they did not believe in. Some sought refuge in college or parental deferments; others intentionally failed aptitude tests or otherwise evaded; thousands fled to Canada; the politically connected sought refuge in the National Guard; and a growing number engaged in direct resistance. Antiwar activists viewed the draft as immoral and the only means for the government to continue the war with fresh soldiers. Ironically, as the draft continued to fuel the war effort, it also intensified the antiwar cause. Although the Selective Service’s deferment system meant that men of lower socioeconomic standing were most likely to be sent to the front lines, no one was completely safe from the draft. Almost every American was either eligible to go to war or knew someone who was.

Without a doubt, Swannee's life was
cut short due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD.  

The Vietnam Veterans were not welcomed home

with open arms, in fact they were disrespected 

in almost every way imaginable. 

That disrespect caused so many of them to 

shut down, to close it off, to stuff it inside

as there was no way to process it all within

the mental health system, the military horriably

failed those who returned.  They were left on

their own to deal with the trauma of being in

a war zone.  Death of friends, the taking of lives

as is such with war.  The constant fear and

anxiety of being in danger.  Unimaginable

fears that most of us will never know. 

We can not let Swannee AND so many

thousands of others EVER be forgotten. 

Also the families who were and continue to be 

perhaps the only form of support for these

brave soldiers... we must not forget about them. 

IF you happen to see someone wearing Vietnam 

military gear, PLEASE extend your hand

and THANK THEM for their service.

GOD knows it's long overdue.  

 

Some Gave All 

 Written by Billy Ray Cyrus - Cindy Cyrus

1993

I knew a man, called him Sandy Cane
Few folks even knew his name
But a hero, yes was he
Left a boy, came back a man
Still many just don't understand
About the reasons we are free
I can't forget the look in his eyes
Or the tears he cried
As he said these words to me

All Gave Some, Some Gave All
Some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some Gave All

Now Sandy Cane is no longer here
But his words are oh so clear
As they echo throughout our land
For all his friends who gave us all
Who stood their ground and took the fall
To help their fellow man
Love your country and live with pride
And don't forget those who died
America can't you see?

All Gave Some, Some Gave All
Some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some Gave All

And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Yes recall
Some Gave All
Some Gave All