General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I said this last year and it deserves repeating. We didn't fight for your freedom. [View all]TxVietVet
(1,905 posts)I did what I had to do like many, many others. I graduated high school in '67. If you had the smarts and money, there was college. If not, there was the draft. I had a deferment at the time BUT in the industrial area I lived in, I couldn't buy a job with that type of deferment. I saw the Army recruiter and I was on my way out of Texas in early '68.
The first time I came home from Vietnam in '71, I ran into old high school 'friends'. More than one made comments that made me feel like I had been screwed because they found a way to beat the system, get good jobs and live happily every after. Many of those folks today are conservanazis. They have never know any hardship other than a divorce.
I joined. I served. I volunteered for Vietnam. I'd do it again. The part after Vietnam, I'd have done different.
I've listened to conservanazi idiots belittle draftees. Those guys did what they had to do. I think that took lots of courage taking chances to see where the Army and Marines placed you.
Many folks don't remember but some draftees were routed to the Marine Corp at the recruiting stations. Some "volunteered" and some "were volunteered".
The main thing I felt was that I had volunteered for a lost cause. I did my best. BUT, if the conservanazis at that time could have, we'd still be fighting there right now so their MIC bribers could be making lots of money.
To those that gave the ultimate sacrifice, RIP. My prayers are with you. Many veterans today have unseen scars that run deep into their souls.