TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – In Vietnam, Americans from all walks of life landed in a strange land. They banded together, many putting aside their differences to fight for their country. <\/p>\n
Alex Vega was thinking of that patriotic fight as he sat inside a hangar at the Tallahassee airport, one of 72 veterans whisked away on a whirlwind trip to Washington, D.C. <\/p>\n
Vega served as a Navy Corpsman in Vietnam. He was among the first to triage the wounded in the heat of battle. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou learn that you\u2019re a little bit more resilient than you thought you could be,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
On this day, he was prepared to remember fallen friends and reflect on what it meant to serve. <\/p>\n
\u201cI just got the job done,\u201d Vega said.<\/p>\n
Vega\u2019s humble approach to his journey through life extends to his thoughts on his Native American heritage. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a hidden pride, because we don\u2019t dwell on it,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Vega was one of thousands of Native Americans who served in Vietnam.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud of my heritage, I\u2019m proud of it,\u201d he said. \u201cPersonally I think that you got to consider where you\u2019re at and what you\u2019re doing at the time. For instance, when I was in Vietnam, I was an American citizen and fighting for my country.\u201d <\/p>\n
Professor Andrew Frank leads Florida State University\u2019s Native American and Indigenous Studies Center. He said native people have fought alongside the U.S. for generations. <\/p>\n
\u201c[They are] quintessential patriots when it comes to the U.S. military,\u201d Frank said. <\/p>\n
While talking about his heritage, Vega was quick to mention the Navajo Code Talkers<\/a>, who helped confuse the enemy with their codes during the Second World War. <\/p>\n \u201cThe Japanese would hear everything, but they didn\u2019t know what the heck they were saying.\u201d he said. <\/p>\n Vega continued that legacy, serving nearly three years in Vietnam.<\/p>\n \u201cThen I get home and we\u2019re not welcome, to say the least,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n His not-so-warm welcome was a familiar tale that carried extra weight. <\/p>\n \u201cSo, you know, and not only was [I] an American serviceman, I was an Indian in that. so, you know, double whammy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNative Americans, African Americans, they came home to a separate but unequal world, right?,\u201d Professor Frank said. \u201cSo they\u2019re overseas fighting in one way. They come home with sometimes the stain of being a Vietnam vet, as well as not coming home as an equal.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, as the years passed, Vega said he learned an important lesson. <\/p>\n \u201cA lot of people now are saying \u2018thank you for your service\u2019, and being a Vietnam vet I didn\u2019t know the answer until somebody told me the proper response would be, \u2018thank you for your support\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n And on this day in D.C., Vega got plenty of practice saying that response, as he heard plenty thanks from a now grateful nation. <\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n