Those that have read my book will recognize the name Chad Spawr. Chad and I worked together on Civil Affairs and Psyops missions in Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry Division. Maybe it was because I returned home to my wife, baby daughter, and job with IBM that I was able to bury almost all my Vietnam memories. They were buried so deep it was hard to remember even being in the army. Apparently that’s why I didn’t remember Chad when he called me 16 years later. He was in town on business and wanted to get together, but I had absolutely no recollection of him, or any of the guys he said we worked with. It was obvious he was upset about it, and so was I. In fact, all I thought about over the next few months was Chad, and why couldn’t I remember him.
After constant sleepless nights and non-productive days at work, I finally did remember, along with many of my other buried memories, often in the form of nightmares and flashbacks. I had developed an acute case of chronic PTSD, and my life took a major downhill spiral. But after getting into the VA system and undergoing a lot of therapy, I learned how to lessen the severity of the symptoms. And all through those years Chad has been on my mind, wondering how he was, what he’s up to, and does he still remember me. Never, however, did I think of trying to contact him.
This past Friday evening, just killing some time on the computer before dinner, I logged onto Facebook and got the shock of my life – staring me in the face was a message from Chad. He saw my picture on Facebook, recognized me, and decided to contact me. After recovering from the surprise, I replied back, which led to more back and forth messages and a one hour conversation on Sunday. Not only did we bring each other up to date, we talked about meeting at next year’s POVA Reunion (see below), or even sooner if we can work it out. It was absolutely amazing how our conversation went from a little tentative at first to a comfort level as though our 45-year gap never existed.
I sent him a few pictures from our unit, including one of the two of us sitting in a Psyops chopper behind a 1000 watt speaker system, and a copy of an article that appeared in The Cavalair paper about us and our Psyops missions that he never knew about. I wasn’t surprised that he downloaded my book, but I was very surprised that he stayed up all night Sunday reading until he finished it.
I can’t wait until we get together in person. Welcome Home Brother!
POVA (Psychological Operations Veterans Association) is a private non-profit organization co-founded by Chad in 1988 to reconnect and reunite veterans of US military Psychological Operations, provide philanthropic assistance and support when possible, and to serve today's PSYOP units and soldiers as representatives of the historic traditions and service of PSYOP veterans.
After constant sleepless nights and non-productive days at work, I finally did remember, along with many of my other buried memories, often in the form of nightmares and flashbacks. I had developed an acute case of chronic PTSD, and my life took a major downhill spiral. But after getting into the VA system and undergoing a lot of therapy, I learned how to lessen the severity of the symptoms. And all through those years Chad has been on my mind, wondering how he was, what he’s up to, and does he still remember me. Never, however, did I think of trying to contact him.
This past Friday evening, just killing some time on the computer before dinner, I logged onto Facebook and got the shock of my life – staring me in the face was a message from Chad. He saw my picture on Facebook, recognized me, and decided to contact me. After recovering from the surprise, I replied back, which led to more back and forth messages and a one hour conversation on Sunday. Not only did we bring each other up to date, we talked about meeting at next year’s POVA Reunion (see below), or even sooner if we can work it out. It was absolutely amazing how our conversation went from a little tentative at first to a comfort level as though our 45-year gap never existed.
I sent him a few pictures from our unit, including one of the two of us sitting in a Psyops chopper behind a 1000 watt speaker system, and a copy of an article that appeared in The Cavalair paper about us and our Psyops missions that he never knew about. I wasn’t surprised that he downloaded my book, but I was very surprised that he stayed up all night Sunday reading until he finished it.
I can’t wait until we get together in person. Welcome Home Brother!
POVA (Psychological Operations Veterans Association) is a private non-profit organization co-founded by Chad in 1988 to reconnect and reunite veterans of US military Psychological Operations, provide philanthropic assistance and support when possible, and to serve today's PSYOP units and soldiers as representatives of the historic traditions and service of PSYOP veterans.