On her way home: Kay Wilhelmy Bauer

Kay, 1966, after receiving the Humanitarian Service Medal.

Credit: Kay Wilhelmy Bauer

"Just before the team's yearlong tour of duty was over, the Republic of Vietnam decorated each of them with the Humanitarian Service Medal.

As they prepared to leave, they were given some chilling advice: travel in civilian clothes and don't tell any fellow travelers where you've been. American war protesters were targeting returning veterans with verbal and physical abuse.

So Kay made sure every aspect of her appearance looked unmistakably civilian before boarding her first plane. But on her second flight, a male flight attendant asked her if she had just returned from Vietnam. 'I was so surprised, I...quickly scanned myself to see if I looked military, but could find nothing amiss,' Kay said later. 'I was afraid to say yes, but worried about saying no.'

She told him the truth and discovered he had no intention of harassing her. quite the opposite: he wanted to honor her with steak and ice cream and a special seat assignment!"

From "Kay Wilhelmy Bauer: American Survivor" from Courageous Women of the Vietnam War.