Vietnam Veterans Bob and Scotty Dick say they finally got the recognition they never had, thanks to an Honor Flight and VA employees who help Veterans in and outside of work.
When Bob Dick came home from Vietnam in 1972, no one clapped. No one cheered. No one shook his hand.
“I was spat on at the airport,” he said. “If it hadn’t been for a sergeant stopping me, I probably would have gotten in a fight.”
His wife, Cobena “Scotty” Dick, served in the Women’s Army Corps from 1970 to 1973.
As a stock control and accounting specialist, she kept things moving behind the scenes. Like other Veterans of her era, her service wasn’t consistently recognized.
Unexpected homecoming
Over 50 years later, in October 2024, they stepped off a plane in Washinton, D.C., to something they never expected—cheers, applause and people lined up to thank them.
“We just stood there, looking at it all,” Scotty said. “They clapped for us, had signs and balloons. It was overwhelming.”
Bob had always wanted to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. When he and Scotty were invited to join an Honor Flight with fellow Veterans, they finally had the chance to visit the war memorials built in their honor.
From the World War II Memorial to The Wall, Bob reflected on his father and father-in-law’s generation and their struggles.
“It made me realize how much our dads went through in World War II,” he said. “It also showed me that time really does change things. People appreciate service now in a way they didn’t back then.”
A path to healing
Honor Flights are more than just sightseeing. For many Veterans, especially those who served in Vietnam, the experience brings long-overdue recognition and closure.
Making the trip isn’t always easy. Some, like Bob and Scotty, have to push past health concerns and the emotions of revisiting the past.
Bob took in the names on The Wall at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Scotty watched him reconnect with other Veterans, sharing stories he had locked away for decades.
“I think it gave him a sense of peace,” she said. “For him, it was closure. These new memories replaced the old ones, which made it worth it.”
Bob agreed.
“The camaraderie was the best part,” he said. “Being around other Veterans, knowing they understood.”
VA employees serve in and out of uniform
These Honor Flights are partly made possible by Suzy Stevenson, a program specialist with Nursing Service at Oklahoma City VA.
A Veteran herself, Stevenson began volunteering with Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight in October 2024, helping organize send-offs, fundraise and welcome Veterans home.
Stevenson said serving Veterans is deeply personal to her.
“I wish my dad, a U.S. Navy Seabee and Vietnam Veteran, could’ve attended,” Stevenson said. “I didn’t learn much about his time in Vietnam until the day of his funeral. I wonder if being in the same room with others with similar experiences might have allowed us to connect and share our stories as Veterans.”
Stevenson’s dedication to Veterans extends beyond the doors of the VA medical center. She encourages other VA employees to help honor Veterans at every stage of life through volunteering.
“A special project in this state that lets people like me give a little back to the ones that gave so much,” she said.
For Bob and Scotty, the trip was a long-overdue moment of recognition.
“We were finally welcomed home,” Bob said. “That’s something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.”
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I, too, went on an Honor Flight. It was on June 14th of 2023. I went with my best male friend as my Guardian (my wife is my BEST friend!). It was spectacular! I was wounded in RVN on 20 Feb 1970. After surgery in Saigon, I was flown to Camp Zama, Japan, on a flight that had only wounded vets. Most of us were still on stretchers. After another surgery and a week or so “on the economy” in Japan, I was flown home and to this day, I cannot remember where we landed. If it was California, we were not exposed to the public so we didn’t have to endure the horrible reception that so many VietNam Vets received. The Honor Flight was the “frosting on the cake”. so to speak. Then the return back to our airport, way later on that special day, was so heartwarming. All these people, a brass band, confetti, American Flags everywhere, and my wife was there to welcome me home…just like it should be done! It was wonderful!!!!!
I took a night flight to avoid the spitting and name calling. Didn’t work. Six of us were attending Palm Beach Jr college when we were call to the office. The lady said the VA was no longer paying for our education followed by,” Get the hell off my campus!”
I was refused a voter registration and had to wait 30 yrs. for my citizenship certificate which OPM said couldn’t be used as proof of citizenship. Then refused to hire me due to hearing loss which they awarded me 10% disability because I had a copy my original
records from Ft. Jackson. The DC park police told me I couldn’t go to the wall! I never tell folks the I’m a vet, unless I can get a discount. or that I served in Vietnam. I will not wear green or a baseball cap. My son wanted to join. I told him, “No you don’t” He joined ROTC. He was up for a scholarship, but at the last meeting, he was told that he was being written up for refusing to obey a direct order. He asked what the order was. She said, “I told you to get a haircut!” No you didn’t he replied. Her girlfriend got the scholarship. He did NOT join the military.. I’ve been expelled from the VA hospital. OH WELL!
Hopefully no censorship of factual comments/opinions here. Yahoo has mindless censorship.
Good story . Like most , our service was not appreciated then. Some do now, but it is rare for anyone to say thank you when I wear my Viet veterans hat. Those who do are mostly veterans. However, a little girl about 8 years old told me “thank you : as she passed me near a school. Must have patriotic parents.
I was drafted i 1968, sent to Nam for a year like most, and did my best as a artillery crewman. We were paid peanuts, even in combat.; not enough to afford a place for my wife. So she stayed with her parents. In recent years I have used the VA, and am pleased with their performance. Looks like con man draft dodger Felon T is determined to wreck the VA so he can buy more luxury 747s, and enrich himself and his family. .
This brought me to tears. To this day, community has done nothing to welcome home the Vietnam Vet However, when another Vietnam Vet sees my baseball cap, they stop me and say seven words “Welcome Home Brother – Thank you for serving”
I served in Vietnam 1969-70. It was a pleasant feeling getting on the freedom flight from there. That all changed when I arrived in America on my flight back home. Then in 2019 I was honored to be on Louisiana Honor Flight with other Veterans. What a great feeling it was to be an appreciated Veteran after so many years.
I was totally pleased when I went an Honor Flight in October of 2023. When we got to Washington, we were greeted by fire engine that shot water at the plane, it was telling us, WELCOME HOME. We were greeted the same way home, but my eyes were watering when the people came to greet us. There were probably 1000 people at the airport saying (WELCOME HOME) and cheering us. It still waters my eyes today thinking about that weekend. God bless all the people who put this together for us. Thank you.
I also served in Vietnam for 14 months and returned home in 1972, only to receive the same treatment that Bob and many others did. My older brother served in Vietnam with the Marines in 1969-1970.
welcome home brother. from louis a nieves. tan son nhut 1970-1971.
Brother, I was at Tan Son Nhut in 70-71, 460 field Mantinance, Aircraft Radio, repair, God Bless and keep James Burdette
I went to the VietNam Wall in DC several years ago and it was so overwhelming that I will not go back. It was too hard and brought back too man memories and faces of that time that were not as lucky as me as I made it home, even to this day I ask WHY did I come home and they did not. It is a burden that I will carry to my last breath. Returning to California was also very traumatic for me as we had to travel in our Class “A”s and we were a target at the airport upon arrival, I understand that this is 50 years ago but it still feels like yesterday!!Some of my family has told me to “just get over it” move on” I have but it is always there, in the dark waiting to sneak back into our minds again!!
Some people have asked me WHAT SHOULD THEY SAY TO A VIETNAM VETERAN, “thank you for your service” I say no reach out to us and simply say “WELCOME HOME” that is all we want, is that simple statement!!!
I served in the Navy, and I didn’t serve in Nam, but you members of the Armed Forces were spit on and called baby killers. I feel for all you Veterans who served in Nam and the horror you endured. I am with all of you and thank you for your service and “WELCOME HOME MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS”.
My Brother Served 2 Years In Vietnam To Try And Prevent His Other Brother’s From Having To Go, When He Returned Home He Wasn’t Welcomed By The People In The U.S. He Served With The 1st Calvary. The People Hated The 1st Calvary, Because Of What They Were Told About Them By The Press.
As a Vietnam Veteran I was honored to be on 2019 Louisiana Honor Flight. A Welcome Home for sure.
I also have an agent orange illness and have been under the care of the Louisiana Veterans Administration Clinic. I am very satisfied with all who work at the clinics in Alexandria and Lafayette, Louisiana.
WELCOME HOME my brother. I get mental Healthcare at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Rochester NY. It is very through if they could keep Mental Health Doctors. We have been lucky not to lose these people. They always say thank you for your service. It by far has been great for me and other Veterans.
I came home in 1969 after serving with 2/4, 3rd MARDIV. along the DMZ, as a Hospital Corpsman. That experience was burned into my memory. I didn’t serve to come home to a party. I didn’t expect anyone to thank me for doing my duty. It was a decision made for me, but I did my best.
Fifty something years later they decide to honor us combat Veterans shameful what took so long most of my brothers have passed from agent orange exposure ptsd suicide drank themselves to death died in the streets because of homelessness nobody backed us up the public government we had to fend for ourselves. Rodney Babin Combat Viet-Nam Veteran 1967-68-69 4th infantry Division Battle of Dakto was horrific.lot of my brothers died in Dakto . I got medivaced out of a hot lz we almost got overrun by the NVA.
WELCOME HOME my brother. They will all be remembered on the Wall in Washington DC.