I guess, as usual, I am in the minority. I don't need a Vietnam Veterans' Day.
We lost that war. Lost! Not on the battlefield, but here in this country. The majority of Americans despised us or, if they did not, they kept quiet and let a vocal minority including the then-major news media push that idea along with the unjustness of our actions. Killing babies, bombing innocent civilians, killing, killing, killing....
I've long since made peace with myself over Vietnam. But, for years I avoided the VA Hospital (yeah, I'm a cheerleader for VA health care now, but...) because of the folks out there running around in camouflage shirts, berets, boonie hats, etc., and who seemed to only want to talk about Nam and tell war stories of which I suspect most were baloney.
Today, I rarely see anyone there like that, and, if I do, they are generally residents of the psyc sections.
Once in a while I run into someone who still wants to talk about Nam, and, if it's about C-Rats, beer, maybe even girls, then great. But if the conversation shifts to the war, then I either change the subject or, as politely as possible, disappear.
I was 17 when I first set foot in Nam and I'm 65 now. I've had a relatively long, full life and don't live in the past. I think I understand why so many WW2 vets never talked about their war and I think I feel the same way.
I've seen the Wall twice and cried like a baby both times. As a matter of fact, it's the only time my wife has ever seen me cry.
I'd just like to continue with my life as long as God lets me stay here without constantly being reminded of a very bad place a very long time ago.
I still see men who are severely injured from that war, and there's a guy who shoots trap at my Club who has no legs after stepping on a mine. Not real glorious, not real pretty. But, for sure, real.
Bob
