Lynchburg, VA - Former members of the military say they remember a time when it wasn't good to be a veteran on Veteran's Day.  They tell us they were ridiculed and even attacked for having served their country.  

We spoke with Vietnam vets about the treatment they received. Thankfully, it's nothing like what we see today. 

These days our troops say there are plenty of perks to wearing the American uniform. But 30 years ago, that definitely wasn't the case.

William Picking admits he felt contempt, as soon as he returned from Vietnam.  "I got spit on my first day home," Picking said.

And his treatment only got worse

"This young man came out of his home with a red bandana and a peace symbol and he walked up to me and said how's it feel to kill babies, baby killer?" Picking said.

The abuse came in all forms.

Vietnam Veteran Marty Reardon said, "I was snickered at and whatnot in the airport by some young people that were there."

Vietnam vets call it the price they had to pay to support their country. And they're ever thankful modern troops don't bear the same burden.

PFC Demetrius Alexander, U.S. Army, said, "A man came up to us and thanked us for our service and paid for our meal and that's not uncommon."

"No siree, I didn't get anything free." Vietnam veteran Steve Bozeman said.  "But at least the veterans now get more respect than what they did, and what they definitely deserve."

"The support really helps the soldier and the Marines and everybody out there to do their job better and feel what they are doing is the right thing," Alexander said.

As for William Picking, he says it's a blessing no one else has to endure what he did.

"People started realizing it wasn't the warrior that serves the battle, they fought in it but we didn't start the war," Picking said.

The Veterans say now that our troops are accepted, the trick is making sure history never repeats itself.

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