General Discussion

11 Bravo

(24,313 posts) Tue Jan 10, 2012, 09:22 PM Jan 2012

I have visited prostitutes, and I don't apologize for it. It was 1971, in a place called Vung Tau. [View all]

I was 20 years old and rated R&R after having just spent two months in the A Shau Valley as a part of Operation Lam Son 719. We had been in combat damned near non-stop for most of that time, and I had tagged and bagged friends of mine. I also knew that I would be headed back into the exact same fucking meat grinder after my week at VT. In short, I had no idea if I would ever see 21.
So what did I do? I got laid. Every fucking night.
Am I proud of it? No. But am I embarrassed by it? Again, no.
Have at me.

144 replies

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I have visited prostitutes, and I don't apologize for it. It was 1971, in a place called Vung Tau. [View all] 11 Bravo Jan 2012 OP

No. PDJane Jan 2012 #1

As a woman of color, I cannot condemn you for what you did Ecumenist Jan 2012 #2

I'm sorry you had to go through combat experiences, and I'm glad you came out alive. nt Fire Walk With Me Jan 2012 #3

Even if I weren't married, I've no desire for a prostitute. But people should have.... phleshdef Jan 2012 #4

Who the fuck "wants to be" a prostitute? Fool Count Jan 2012 #97

Just cause you couldn't fathom wanting to be a prostitute doesn't make it scientifically impossible phleshdef Jan 2012 #98

There are such people. I've known a few of them. Cleita Jan 2012 #115

This message was self-deleted by its author MineralMan Jan 2012 #5

After discussion, and advice from admins, I'm unlocking this thread, MineralMan Jan 2012 #6

I just want to thank you publicly for your PMs to me. 11 Bravo Jan 2012 #8

You're more than welcome. MineralMan Jan 2012 #20

Welcome back. rug Jan 2012 #7

Can't say I wouldn't have done the same in those circumstances. Glad you made it back Bravo! FarLeftFist Jan 2012 #9

Excellent point, because... pipi_k Jan 2012 #48

As a woman I wonder if those prostitutes Mojorabbit Jan 2012 #113

As I said in another thread, if you stop all prostitution... Zalatix Jan 2012 #118

Yep...And that's why pipi_k Jan 2012 #140

Problem with foreign factories is the pollution and land degradation Zalatix Jan 2012 #141

Well, since pipi_k Jan 2012 #139

This message was self-deleted by its author Bunny Jan 2012 #10

Who cares? to each his/her own book_worm Jan 2012 #11

My thought exactly. n/t RebelOne Jan 2012 #18

I imagine the women who sold their bodies to survive the war care. nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #22

Better than starving, no? Saving Hawaii Jan 2012 #25

Based on your last sentence you know nothing about prostitution. nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #33

Most women don't come to the conclusion that being a prostitute is better than Mickey Ds justiceischeap Jan 2012 #36

And every factoid in your post underlines the need to legalize it. TalkingDog Jan 2012 #45

When prostitution is legalized, these problems drop dramatically Major Nikon Jan 2012 #74

I would argue that most of the problems associated with prostitution justiceischeap Jan 2012 #78

So why not address that problem directly? Major Nikon Jan 2012 #82

sure, i'd just love to blow strangers instead of flipping burgers! Scout Jan 2012 #51

But they like it! redqueen Jan 2012 #62

Denial often works both ways Major Nikon Jan 2012 #76

Not an advocate of child rape, just of the idea that bodies are commodities, redqueen Jan 2012 #77

It's the same thing Major Nikon Jan 2012 #80

My problem with your argument Major is the following justiceischeap Jan 2012 #79

You've failed to understand my argument Major Nikon Jan 2012 #81

We can go in circles all day long :) justiceischeap Jan 2012 #85

I don't think that's going to happen Major Nikon Jan 2012 #87

So you'd prefer that they DIDN'T survive? EOTE Jan 2012 #38

Is that what you really got out of that? nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #47

What was I supposed to get from it? EOTE Jan 2012 #49

War made it necessary. No one seems to consider how these women may be scarred for life. nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #53

So prostitution didn't exist before the war? EOTE Jan 2012 #57

Would you be as supportive if one of these women were found to be under 18? nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #59

No, and that's what would be considered a strawman! Congratulations. EOTE Jan 2012 #61

Do you accept the fact that most of these women have been abused or come from broken homes? Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #67

No, not most. Certainly higher than the general population, though. EOTE Jan 2012 #71

Here's more women working to survive. Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #73

Congratulations, you've won the "Strawman of the thread" award. EOTE Jan 2012 #75

What if the pigs gave the woman gainful employment rather than using MattBaggins Jan 2012 #130

What if a magic wand eliminated all unemployment and gave people exactly the jobs they wanted? EOTE Jan 2012 #135

My son is exactly the age you were then. yardwork Jan 2012 #12

Yeah, me too...different part of the country, in 1970.... cliffordu Jan 2012 #13

No problem. Nobody can explain why it is illegal in this country sfpcjock Jan 2012 #14

Post removed Post removed Jan 2012 #15

Two thumbs down RZM Jan 2012 #16

Sex is extra productive when you don't pay the girl first. Saving Hawaii Jan 2012 #26

How do you think the girls in a war torn country MattBaggins Jan 2012 #131

Post removed Post removed Jan 2012 #27

Alerting unionworks Jan 2012 #43

Been there. Done that. oneshooter Jan 2012 #17

all I'll say is I feel for the women Raine Jan 2012 #19

Thank you. WinkyDink Jan 2012 #28

This... Fawke Em Jan 2012 #30

+1. nt seabeyond Jan 2012 #40

But they chose to do it! redqueen Jan 2012 #65

+1 treestar Jan 2012 #88

+1 demmiblue Jan 2012 #106

that's more about the war than about prostitution Enrique Jan 2012 #21

That's not fully correct MattBaggins Jan 2012 #132

I think many of us have paid Upton Jan 2012 #23

at one time or another, in one form or another, for sex. seabeyond Jan 2012 #42

We all note your LACK of disagreement with the statement's truth. Occulus Jan 2012 #63

i understand you position, too. you have made it clear on numerous occasions. nt seabeyond Jan 2012 #70

I'll never support Comfort Women. nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #24

We all of us rationalize many of our actions. LanternWaste Jan 2012 #29

My partner did the same thing in Viet Nam and Thailand w8liftinglady Jan 2012 #31

I believe that was the same reason the Japanese gave. nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #35

For soliciting prostitutes? Well good for them. NT EOTE Jan 2012 #39

For the need for Comfort Women. nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #46

OK, so your post really doesn't say anything regarding the inherit good of the practice either way. EOTE Jan 2012 #50

The reasoning here is that soldiers need a release. nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #52

Wow, you sure are good at saying things without actually saying anything. NT EOTE Jan 2012 #56

It's all in the thread. Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #60

You still have yet to say anything of substance. EOTE Jan 2012 #68

Legalize it. roody Jan 2012 #32

Interesting Dorian Gray Jan 2012 #34

Glad you got that off your chest. Major Hogwash Jan 2012 #37

That's a shame MattBaggins Jan 2012 #133

From a woman... WilmywoodNCparalegal Jan 2012 #41

Should women who have been abused not have that option? EOTE Jan 2012 #58

No, I wouldn't. WilmywoodNCparalegal Jan 2012 #84

interesting contradiction lumberjack_jeff Jan 2012 #72

While a contradiction in fact, WilmywoodNCparalegal Jan 2012 #83

First of all... pipi_k Jan 2012 #44

Was her name Tuyet Bandit Jan 2012 #54

Nor should you be. tallahasseedem Jan 2012 #55

TMI Liberal_in_LA Jan 2012 #64

Instead of discussing whether the women would have been hedgehog Jan 2012 #66

As the child of a relationship between an Asian woman and a GI Generic Other Jan 2012 #69

God Bless You unionworks Jan 2012 #93

How did the women who serviced you JerseyMac Jan 2012 #86

Join the military unionworks Jan 2012 #90

Which doesn't appear to address the relevant question: LanternWaste Jan 2012 #91

They probably felt no better unionworks Jan 2012 #94

Being in combat JerseyMac Jan 2012 #95

Where did I say they were women? What are you, some kind of homophobic bigot? 11 Bravo Jan 2012 #99

Object Lesson unionworks Jan 2012 #101

That's why I say 'prostitutes'. redqueen Jan 2012 #103

Wow after 40 years JerseyMac Jan 2012 #104

Wow! 4 Posts unionworks Jan 2012 #105

Good for you JerseyMac Jan 2012 #108

Who's says they were forced? EX500rider Jan 2012 #119

I'm guessing she feels lucky to be alive, if she is DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2012 #126

I have read enough about war... DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2012 #125

Though I feel bad about you having the friends be killed treestar Jan 2012 #89

Your post unionworks Jan 2012 #112

Seems reasonable. HopeHoops Jan 2012 #92

I hope they loved you for a long time slackmaster Jan 2012 #96

Dear God unionworks Jan 2012 #100

Wish the women could have been armed.. girl gone mad Jan 2012 #102

Many of them were armed unionworks Jan 2012 #110

Why do you want to silence those who are concerned with the women.. demmiblue Jan 2012 #114

Why do you advocate that people soliciting a prostitute deserve to get shot? EOTE Jan 2012 #137

My older brother was there a a year or so before you liberaltrucker Jan 2012 #107

What exactly JerseyMac Jan 2012 #109

I have no right because I've never been there liberaltrucker Jan 2012 #122

I did serve MattBaggins Jan 2012 #134

It's the fundamental building block in our country's unwillingness to prosecute war crimes JVS Jan 2012 #129

You didn't do anything I didn't do - and they spoke english FreakinDJ Jan 2012 #111

I've never met a prostitute... NightTemplar Jan 2012 #116

None of my friends died in Vietnam unionworks Jan 2012 #117

Set him straight? EOTE Jan 2012 #136

was referring to unionworks Jan 2012 #138

You did. Much thanks. EOTE Jan 2012 #142

I thought the days unionworks Jan 2012 #144

Americans: noamnety Jan 2012 #120

O.K. 19 year old conscripts unionworks Jan 2012 #124

For the record (for the benefit of others) noamnety Jan 2012 #127

Subjegate South East Asians while on duty, Subjegate South East Asians on leave. JVS Jan 2012 #121

I love this thread unionworks Jan 2012 #123

The devil is in the details. Vattel Jan 2012 #128

You violently raped those women after they were victims of human trafficking. TransitJohn Jan 2012 #143