33.3% Return in 10 Years

[Guest]

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Birch, If you don't mind, could you explain what Ronald Reegan had to do with anything you went thru?

 

[Birchtree]

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Wonder Woman,

Ronnie was the first or one of the first prominent politicians to state that serving ones country in a time of war was an honorable cause. He was talking specficially about Vietnam and the pain that most of us felt - remember he beat Yellow Back Jimmy. I used to be a democrat for many years - it was a liberal democrat war - save the world kind of thing. I did what I was asked to do and didn't complain much. But when Jimmy gave all the draft dodgers amnesty That is where I drew the line - and from that point on I became a born again REPUBLICAN and proud of it ever since. There are probably thousands of my compatriots who have experienced the same emotion and changes. Hope this helps you to understand - I will never vote for a democrat.

I remember one time after being back when I was standing in line to renew my drivers license. There was a local politician walking the line shaking hands and on occassion subtely castigating some who said they weren't going to vote - you dip wad it's your american duty. When he got to me he asked the question - was I going to vote - I told him no and when he didn't have sense enough to walk on decided to ask me why not. I told the dumb shit head that I had earned the right not to vote if I didn't want to - and then he said what did I mean- I told him I was a Vietnam Veteran - and the skunk turned and walked away. Peace be still.

 

[Guest]

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[Mike]

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Vietnam is a prime example of what happens when the military is used / abused as an exercise in "ticket punching" / managed by politicians and bureaucrats.

If you want the full story, just read "About Face" - I cannot recommend that book strongly enough.

 

[cowboy]

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Mmmm interesting post Birchtree? I basically vote because of hard ticket people such as yourself. Thecold war started the Vietnam era and was brought to the front of attention by a Republican by the name of Joseph R McCarthy, a flambouyant hollywood type who loved attention in the 50's. Although the war didn't start until 1965.No one wantedto beknown as a Communist or soft on them. The press and politics took it from there. Maybe that is why ironically it took anotherhollywood type in Ronnie to correct the situation. To discriminate against someone because of political party is basically the same as discrimination because of religion, color and race. Yet it happens all the time in government, maybe this is why government can not seem to get on track.

 

[Spaf]

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rokid wrote:

P.S. Did you ever read Neil Sheehan's A Bright Shining Lie, John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam? Apparently the politicians knew we couldn't win the war before Tet in 1968.

I see this same madness happening again.

End of my last rant on this subject.

I served under John Paul. He knew what it would take to win, they listened, but then went about their merry way of lying and deception. The VN locals were pissed at everybody. Gradually, the media turned against the war. The bad things made dailynews, along with the body count. The media turned against the war.
The draft to a combat unit was very close to a death warrant. The collage crowd could see the writing on the wall. The anger against the warboiled over to everone in uniform.Those that served paid a terrible price. Being ostracized at home was no fun. It was better to stay in the closet. At least you wouldn't be spit on. They had served their country, only to return home to be mocked.

Excuse me, every once in a while I have to open the closet door, and declare that honesty is needed, along with some compasion for those that serve. After VN some honesty took hold, after all the lies. I'm glad to see that there is compasion for those that now serve.

May G_d protect them!