Memorial Day is a day that’s set aside to remember with gratitude and pride all those who served and died for Our Country and Our Freedom.
However for Robert Leonard, it was a bitter sweet end to a very long journey. Seventy-three year Leonard served in Vietnam from June 6, 1966 to June 6, 1968. During those two years he was injured twice… and today still has shrapnel in his knee. He suffers from symptoms of Agent Orange as well as PTSD.
On June 6, 1966 Leonard was shipped to Fort Leonardwood and then on to Fort Polk where he was prepped and readied for his overseas tour.
Leonard never talked about his service much. His daughter, Amy, had a short conversation with regards to his army duty as part of a high school research paper. This was the first his service time was ever talked about “It was just something we never discussed,” she shared. Not many details were shared during the conversation. She learned about where he served, the people he served with and some of the work they did. Amy inquired as to what it was like in Vietnam in which Robert replied, “I will tell you the truth, it was like hell.”
Amy thought about that conversation for some time. She learned more about the war and the fact how little respect was given to the veterans who served during that time.
