Owens

About Owens

I am a Veteran of the Vietnam War. Ever since Desert Storm, everyone calls me hero. I really do not see myself in that role. I was just an ordinary person, 18 years old in an extraordinary environment and time. I was born on the island of Okinawa almost 9 years after the battle in 1953, adopted by an American serviceman and his wife in 1956 and brought to the states where I lived in many different but interesting places. My adopted was a WWII vet along with his two brothers, one being a paratrooper on D-Day with the 82nd AA, 508th paratroop infantry regiment and the other was a Marine Sgt and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions against enemy fire on November 1, 1943. Both the paratrooper and the Marine were KIA. They were my heroes as I grew up. I joined the USAF in September 1971 after I graduated in May of 71 at the ripe old age of 17. I wanted to join while I still knew everything about the world. I am 70 years old now and have lost many friends and Vietnam vets from Agent Orange and suicide. I don't need Memorial Day to remember them because they are with me constantly. That is why I help those suffering with regret, shame and self loathing.