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The River

(2,615 posts)

19. Self Absolution is Easy

Reply to MrScorpio (Original post)

Mon Dec 29, 2014, 12:21 PM

Dec 2014

if you can fool yourself into believing it.

I did 3 tours in 'Nam and although I didn't have to shoot anyone
in person, I played a direct role in sending 10's of thousands of tons
of bombs against the "enemy". I'd look at individual bombs,
waiting to be loaded and launched, and wonder who they would kill.
Some enemy soldier or an innocent civilian
in the wrong place at the wrong time? A child?

No, I never had to kill anyone in person.
I was just a cog in the machine.
I was just following orders.

I'm still drenched in blood.

Click here to purchase valentine hearts!

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25 replies

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Out of my 22 year military career, I never took another person's life... [View all] MrScorpio Dec 2014 OP

Proud to be the first rec Mr Scorpio riderinthestorm Dec 2014 #1

Bravo! and thank you. marym625 Dec 2014 #2

Good for you, Mr. Scorpio.. whathehell Dec 2014 #3

Yes to all. Orsino Dec 2014 #4

Many combat vets took the lives of others pinboy3niner Dec 2014 #5

Plus 100000 JustAnotherGen Dec 2014 #6

yes Tuesday Afternoon Dec 2014 #8

'Undeserved guilts' is the key phrase pinboy3niner Dec 2014 #12

+1 catchnrelease Dec 2014 #21

Good for you Victor_c3 Dec 2014 #7

I hope you will consider running for public office at some point. Our democracy desperately KingCharlemagne Dec 2014 #9

Another great post from one of DU's finest posters. Thanks MrScorpio. Scuba Dec 2014 #10

human indecency DustyJoe Dec 2014 #11

As an Infantryman, I still feel remorse at the loss of life pinboy3niner Dec 2014 #14

perhaps you ought to learn the history of the involvement of the US in indochina--it isn't pretty. niyad Dec 2014 #15

I dislike the contests over "right views" HereSince1628 Dec 2014 #16

and thank you for your reasoned response. but I can certainly comment on smugness when I see it, niyad Dec 2014 #17

As a helicopter driver in Vietnam, GGJohn Dec 2014 #18

That was my point DustyJoe Dec 2014 #24

I also feel more sorry for the ones who went and did their job. Hoppy Dec 2014 #13

Self Absolution is Easy The River Dec 2014 #19

Well said, Scorp... N_E_1 for Tennis Dec 2014 #20

"I have no blood on my hands" I beg to differ. Just because you were removed from the actions you masmdu Dec 2014 #22

When I joined the Army, I avoided all the MOS that killing was its job description JonLP24 Dec 2014 #23

k&r... spanone Dec 2014 #25