Vietnam War Veteran Describes Precautions Taken When Returning to U.S.

Dan Gannon is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. He spent more than 300 days in combat, rising to the rank of Captain before leaving the military. In this segment from Iowa Experience: Vietnam, Gannon describes his experiences returning to the United States. The panel discussion was recorded at Iowa PBS in Johnston, IA on September 10, 2017.

Dan Gannon: When I came home from Vietnam I think we were flown into, I don't even know where we came into because you were kind of numb from your involvement in the war, you were kind of in a third person position because you're going from a hostile environment into a peaceful environment and you aren't sure whether you're going to get there or not. And we flew into California, again I don't know where we landed, we came in the middle of the night and I think that was designed for that reason so we wouldn't have that kind of treatment. I had one year left in the Marine Corp out at Twentynine Palms. Now, I had to go back out there so that kind of kept me buffered from some of the stuff because I was on a military base. But I had to, on Friday before they went on their liberty, we had as part of our safety briefing we had to make sure we told the Marines, do not wear your uniform when you're out and about because you're just going to create problems. Now, it's kind of hard to disguise a Marine who has got a high and tight haircut. In other words, they know you are but don't make it worse. So I think we had more issues then. But as far as coming home didn't have any issues, I think it's how I came home and where I went after I came home.