It's a big difference from another war fought on foreign soil more than 35 years ago.

Still, the transition from battleground to hometown will not be an easy one for many returning veterans.

Two older Vietnam veterans are standing up for today's men and women returning from Iraq.

Their class is in session in Spenard at "Big Mitch" Tubman's studio.

Big Mitch, as he's known around here, has sung professionally for nearly 40 years. For the last 16 he's taught hundreds of kids how to sell a song.

Dan Mayhak is hardly a kid. At the age of 58, he's just beginning to find his voice.

As it turns out, Big Mitch and Mayhak have more in common than music. Both served tours of duty in Vietnam. Mitch spent four years there, while Dan spent two.

"I remember coming home from Vietnam, Mayhak said."I literally got down on my hands and knees and kissed American soil. It was such a blessing to be alive and be home."

Since they are brothers in arms, Mitch gives Dan the voice lessons for free. And a few months ago, Dan gave Mitch something even more valuable - a song.

"He read it to me and the words just got to me, right there," Big Mitch said pointing at his heart? "We're both Vietnam vets, disabled Vietnam vets, and the words just grabbed me."

"I said in the first lines of the song, 'There's a lot of people talkin'. Nothin' to say. Lookin' real busy at lookin' the other way. Cost of freedom still remains the same,'" Mayhak said.

The song is more than a tribute to America's new generation of soldiers. For Mayhak, it's a wake-up call for everyone else.

"You better remember to never forget
'Cause they're still out there
And it ain't over yet."

"There's people that came before us, World War II, Korea, that paid a price with their life," Mayak said.

Mayhak says the young soldiers fighting in Iraq have shown tremendous courage so we can be free.

"That really rings true in my heart and that's what this song is about, this is not free. Amen. There's a price paid," he says.

The musicians, studio time, and video production are all donated.

Big Mitch gave voice to the song, but its heart is that of Dan Mayhak, a Vietnam vet who came back from the war an alcoholic with post traumatic stress disorder.

He's a survivor of clinical depression and suicide attempts - married four times and unable to hold a job for the first 20 years back home.

Mayhak is a survivor who doesn't want to see history repeat itself.

"When I came back I asked for help and I got shuffled around but I got no help. It was just the same old bureaucratic shuffle," he said. "Years later you go through the same thing and see it happening again. And if we can spend money and billions of dollars on wasteful government stuff, why can't we take care of our GIs?"

Big Mitch and Dan Mayhak are now hoping their song becomes a hit. The proceeds of the song will go toward building homes for the returning wounded.

Earlier this month, Big Mitch sang the song at a vocal competition in Los Angeles that he sends his students to every year.

As he hoped, the song caught the ear of a producer, who told Mitch he has the perfect artist to make the song a hit -- Pat Boone.

They're veterans of a war that's been over for 35 years, who are still fighting for their brothers.

And through a song, perhaps they're finding their way home.

Dan Mayhak used to work out at Powerhouse Gym in Anchorage, Alaska. Mayhak, in his 58, says he used to suffer from severe alcoholism and depression and that bodybuilding helped him recover. He had hopes to win a national master's championship and become a motivational speaker.



pics from 2004

Dan Mayhak served in Vietnam. He went through hell, many guys did that part of Dan’s story isn’t unique. Dan returned home to a country that didn't much love him at the time. Injured, physically, exposed to severe levels of Agent Orange, (due to an accident at his barracks, that is still causing trouble to this day) and injured mentally.

Dan couldn't have dreamed that coming home was only the beginning of the trouble. Severe alcoholism and depression, anger and God knows what else haunted Dan for quite some time. Several failed marriages, bouts with cancer and other health problems brought on by his service to his country seemed only too heavy the burden. Poor treatment from his fellow citizens, from the DAV, VA and Government as a whole didn't help the matter.

You would think Dan would've given up a long damned time ago. You would think Dan wouldn't be of much use to society today. Well, you'd be thinking wrong.

Dan overcame alcoholism...overcame cancer, being homeless, severe depression and too many other obstacles to mention. Dan's country owes him thanks for his military service that is true. Yet, that service isn't what makes Dan a hero. Perseverance in the face of seeming futility and failure, determination, love of country, faith in God, a sense of brotherhood with his fellow man and a deep desire to give back are what makes Dan Mayhak a hero. Those are the things that Dan's country ought to thank him for.

I wouldn't mind telling you Dan's entire story...and maybe some time in the future I'll get together with Dan and do just that. It's a story that many other veterans share with Dan . . . it’s a good story despite it all.

I talked with Dan the other night on the phone...we talked for about an hour. I could've talked to Dan for a couple more no doubt. I had heard his song and a lil' bit about him and wanted to talk to him.

30 some odd years after Vietnam, after all of the other troubles Dan are still thankful. Dan still loves his country more than most people you'll get the chance to encounter. Similar to having a visit with John McCain you come away from a conversation with Dan feeling obligated to help your neighbor, to help your country and well...you feel God Damned Proud.

I am proud I met Dan. I am proud of what Dan has done and accomplished. I am even more proud of what Dan is trying to do. Dan has goals, Goals to help others, Goals that embrace the true meaning of Honor and integrity.

Dan’s life experience and the current situation in the USA and the world at large inspired Dan to begin writing songs, songs from the heart. Songs that reverberate the sentiments of what it means to be an American.

Dan needs help my friends. He is humble and brave enough to seek it out. Dan wants to share his story, share his music and his message with the entire Country.

Dan recently moved from Alaska to Washington. There in an empty apartment, sleeping on a mattress on the floor . . .Dan works on his message of hope and unity for America. Happy to simply have a dry place to crash after a long day, Dan works on helping other Veterans. (his CD’s are handed out for free to returning Vets in Alaska). Dan works on helping the future of our Nation.

Dan was inspired by John McCain. Senator McCain’s service, integrity, honor and message to America have brought Dan to the conclusion that John McCain must be our next president. McCain said “I feel confident that I can inspire people to believe they have a sense of duty greater than their own self interest.�

Dan Mayhak feels the same way. Dan knows his message will help others. Dan knows his songs will inspire people. Dan knows his story is shared with veterans of all era’s and that the telling of it will help them help each other.

Dan plans on donating a large portion of any proceeds from his songs to homes for veterans. Dan has also plans to donate portions of his proceeds to help the McCain effort and help elect republicans around the country. But again, Dan needs our help. We need to get Dan’s songs, Dan’s message out to as many folks as we can. Get it in front of the eyes of folks that can help Dan spread it around the country.

Too many simply take for granted their duty to their Nation, not Dan, not John McCain. Too many feel they are owed something. Too many feel they ought not contribute unless they see how they can benefit personally. The Democrats play deeply on these feelings. They pick and poke and take advantage of them at nearly every turn, creating a divisive campaign built on fear and false hope with no meaning.

Dan, like I is concerned that there are generations of Americans that do not understand their duty or debt to their country. That being said, we are still without a doubt a proud people, with every reason to be so. There are people in power in our Nation, people vying for power that feel that pride in ones country is inappropriate, or out of fashion. These are the same people that want to have Tea with ruthless dictators. If we give in to these forces, if we let these liberals and their agenda manipulate our government, ruin our place in the world, destroy our allies faith in us, destroy the faith in those that may seek us out in need, destroy the fiber and moral of our honorable military men and women . . . then we surely are allowing a minority of misguided ideologues to write off those hopes and dreams of America. What would be the result of that, world wide my friends? The thought makes me shudder.

John McCain understands there are areas of this world that require our presence, our attention, our assistance and our monitoring. They are absolutely essential to preserving any type of world peace. John McCain will send a message to those Democrats. John McCain will send a message to the world my friends. There will be no abandonment of our ideals. There will be no abandonment of our morals. There will be no abandonment of our pride, and there will be no abandonment of friends by America.
John McCain will shine the tarnish from our shield, hold it up to the world and make sure every Nation on earth knows why it’s there.

If we are to inspire true hope, hope based on substance and actions and a sense of purpose then we need leaders like John McCain and Dan Mayhak to continue to STAND UP.

Slainte’

Mad


History teaches us many things. Hindsight is always 20/20. In the summer of 1954 a young man began his first year at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. In March of 1973 - That same young man and nearly 600 fellow POWs were released from the horrors of the Hanoi Hilton in Vietnam, ending the longest wartime incarceration in U.S. history. In September of 2005 The Eisenhower Institute awarded that same man the Eisenhower Leadership Prize;
recognizing an individual whose lifetime accomplishments perfectly reflected Dwight D. Eisenhower's legacy of integrity and leadership! That man is our first and best line of defense in these battles our nation faces. Once again that man is touring around this country to rally public support before entering in yet another battle on our behalf . . . That man is Senator John McCain

PLEASE VISIT THIS LINK TO BUY THE CD OR DOWNLOAD THE SONG FOR A BUCK!!!!  ONLY A BUCK!