M1/M2 Carbines in Ken Burns "Vietnam" on PBS

[imarangemaster]

Yep, same here. I was briefly in the American Legion, but drifted away. Lots of looking back instead of forward. A friend wanted me to join Vietnam Vets as they were accepting all Vietnam Era veterans at the time. I declined for two reasons. One I was never in country and two, the old looking back instead of froward. After 22 years in law enforcement, including being a homicide investigator, I had enough horrors to remember of my own, I did not need others.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Likewise, I've never participated in veterans groups. I did that, it's past. This is now, try to move on.

Agree, even though a Life Member of the VFW, I've only been to one of their posts once. But I do try and make the yearly Memorial on Coronado my old unit does to honor those we lost in Vietnam.

Dave,
I wrote names on the back of pictures to remember who our guys were. Being only 16 men and replacements it wasn't too hard.

[browningautorifle]

But I do try and make the yearly Memorial on Coronado

Likewise I attend our Remembrance day...some shape of another. But, incognito, no medals. Just an old guy. Then over to my past unit remembrance close by the downtown service...

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Thanks to all of you who served for your sacrifice & for sharing here.

[F4Rio]

I must respectfully disagree with the notion that film maker Ken Burns has provided a "Fair and Balanced" non-revisionist account of the Viet Nam War. I recommend reading, for starters: The Ken Burns version, contd | Power Line
This article includes a quote from Mackubin Thomas Owens, a Marine platoon commander '68-'69 and recipient of the Silver Star. He writes,
"I was stuck as well by the downplaying of the patriotism and sense of purpose that fortified the resolve of many of the Americans who served in Vietnam—including the two-thirds who volunteered. Absent too is any sense that the war might have been right to fight, even if, in the end, it was fought wrongly. Nor is there any real allowance that the war was fought wrongly in primarily strategic—rather than moral—dimensions."
I agree.
Semper fi,
Bill -- F4Rio

[DaveHH]

I was there for 365 days, I cannot recall a single conversation about the war being right or wrong. Everyone just wanted out of there. I do recall many conversations about the French war and WW2. A lot of guys from the Korean war and WW2 were still in the Army. One of the best days I recall was getting drunk with a British ship captain. He was quarantined at Nha Trang because of a bubonic plague epidemic. He was an amazing guy and had some great WW2 stories.

[imarangemaster]

I agree, Dave. It was just understood in those times that patriotism and service was a motivational force and was expected of us. Ours dads and uncles all fought in WW2 and Korea. My oldest brother enlisted, was in 6 years, and was an O-3 in Vietnam, my next brother did Peace Corps, and my sister was a nurse with the Tom Dooley foundation in Laos. My cousins were Marines, and one was KIA on his second tour. I never heard any discussions of moral rectitude from them or my senior NCOs when I did go in, it was more understated and understood that what we were doing was right.

My draft number was 322, but I enlisted in the Army at 22 (1974), even though my brother had threaten to shoot me if I enlisted - he did not want me going over. By 74 the threat had worn off, though and I went in anyway, even though I was married and had a one kid and another on the way.

BTW, though I never went over, I "enjoyed" the animosity of the anti-war crowd stateside (in the California Bay Area) as well. I was spit on in Oakland while making a stop on my way to Oakland Army Base (first duty station), and called a "baby killer" at a gas station in Alameda when I made the mistake of still wearing my uniform on the way home from the base. Even after the war, when I was stationed at Fort Ord, CA, and lived off base with my family in Watsonville, I covered my uniform shirt because if I didn't I would be verbally smeared. In California, during the entire 70s, being in the military was like "The Scarlet Letter" and almost like being a leper. I remember at a wedding of distant relatives, I told someone I was a garbage collector....

[painter777]

Anyone read "About Face" by Col David Hackworth ?

[browningautorifle]

during the entire 70s, being in the military was like "The Scarlet Letter" and almost like being a leper.

With us too. Shows how ignorant people were, the RVN issues bled over on us.

[DaveHH]

Anyone read "About Face" by Col David Hackworth ?

Yes sir. Hack and I used to exchange emails when he was still alive. I sent him an SLA Marshall Book "Battles in the Monsoon" that had his photo and some stories in it, somewhere around here I have a personal letter from Hack on his "Twin Eagles" letterhead thanking me for the book. He was one cool dude I would laugh out loud as some of his emails. He had 8 purple hearts and 11? silver stars, 3 or so DSCs. He had balls the size of grapefruit. He told the truth and the Army didn't like honesty.