Uncle, you're the real deal. All I can say is that your experience was different from mine. The fact that you never ran across those that did the kinds of things related in the cites I gave Cobalt and the "Hue" book, or that were related to me by others, at least not in the form that you consider "proof," does not disprove the accounts of those that did. Knowledge of such acts were widespread among enlisted "grunts" in the army during my tour of duty.
But then I was never in a setting where we were "building schools." Where I spent my time anything that moved and wasn't one of ours was, in every instance, an enemy soldier with an AK47, and trying to kill me. My war in Vietnam was, therefor a little different from yours.
So, without doubting you, I assume you won't doubt me either.
And yes, there were acts of great kindness. And yes many, in fact most, of us did live by a code of conduct that was admirable.
And no, Kerry did not "wrongly accuse all of us of the most hideous war crimes." When he said such atrocities were occurring I never thought he meant me. Did you? Do you have some information that he said that ALL vets were guilty of such acts?
As for me, I'm glad he spoke up. I think it helped shed light on a subject that was so distorted by the government that we would have continued there in our fruitless attempt to control a proud nation that wanted us out while other good men died wasted deaths.
I know that for me Kerry wasn't my enemy. In fact in one sense the NVA weren't my enemies either. My enemies were Johnson, Nixon and all the others who sent us to kill and die without good cause. Them and the men who, in pursuit of medals and promotions, lied and sent us to do impossibly fatal missions knowing that we'd die and it woulnd't mean spit. Anyone who opposed those men was my friend and I still feel that way today.
So, with respect, I disagree with your position about as strongly as I could. Ed |
