Vietnam Vets Welcome Home Soldiers
“Great job! Welcome Home!”
In the sea of hugs and camouflage is Paul Spence.
Since the start of the Global War on Terrorism Paul's been at just about every Third Infantry Division homecoming.
“I think I have missed about 5 or 6 in the last 6 years, all hours of the night o’ dark thirty, we are here,” says Spence.
It's a far cry from the homecoming these men received when they returned from Vietnam.
“There were protestors all over the place and obviously they didn't care for us. We were in class A uniforms and they spit on us and degraded us,” recalls Butch Hemingway the President of Chapter 789 Vietnam Veterans of America.
So these veterans are on a mission.
“My true feeling is these guys deserve all they get and we want to make sure they get it from us,” says a proud Spence.
Having not received a thank you until many years after he returned from war, Paul knows the importance of a pat on the back and being told job well done.
“Oh my goodness my hearts bursts wide open,” he says through a smile.
Welcoming thousands of soldiers at hundreds of ceremonies, they say it never gets old.
“It gets very emotional at times,” says Spence.
“When they come around the corner, and they are home,” Butch stops as he holds back tears.
He says he and the others will be here until they all come home.
“We will be here at every single one till the day I die; we will put it that way.
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