General Discussion

kpete

(72,895 posts) Mon May 25, 2015, 07:54 AM May 2015

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I didn't serve in Vietnam for freedom... [View all]

by Z. Woof

I didn't serve in Vietnam for freedom...

or liberty, or the flag.

I didn't serve for the reasons people think of when they tell me, "Thanks for your service."

I knew that this war was not about any of that stuff.

I served for 365 days and a wake up, as we called it.

I served so I would not be imprisoned by my government.

I served because my father asked me to. Later, he admitted he was wrong and apologized.

I served with these guys.

I served to save them and myself for 365 days and a wake up.

I failed.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/05/25/1387471/-I-didn-t-serve-in-Vietnam-for-freedomI failed.

181 replies

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Highlight:

I didn't serve in Vietnam for freedom... [View all] kpete May 2015 OP

Thanks for your good work to keep safe the man next to you. discntnt_irny_srcsm May 2015 #1

Couldn't have said it better myself. GGJohn May 2015 #2

I didn't understand why we were there erlewyne May 2015 #114

I enlisted because I then truly believed that we were helping the S. Vietnamese govt. GGJohn May 2015 #117

Stop the spread of communism erlewyne May 2015 #126

My brother, rest his kind soul... malokvale77 May 2015 #137

Ain't it a tragedy that those that voted to send us to war GGJohn May 2015 #139

They never do GGJohn... malokvale77 May 2015 #142

Earlier I pulled out some of my old photos of friends I served with, GGJohn May 2015 #143

I share that downer with you. malokvale77 May 2015 #152

This a great post, and maybe the saddest great post I've ever read. man4allcats May 2015 #138

Recommended. H2O Man May 2015 #3

Until most of its veterans have passed, sarge43 May 2015 #18

Slight disagreement and that is by degree nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #77

This right here nadin... malokvale77 May 2015 #140

Exactly, Hubby retired from the USN as a Chief nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #144

Mitt Romney comes to mind. GGJohn May 2015 #145

And so does W nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #146

And W also. GGJohn May 2015 #147

Two movies that are worth watcing that sort of explain nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #148

You failed no one. Your nation failed you. The Vietnamese are a beautiful people. America's loss. Fred Sanders May 2015 #4

Fred Sanders, I totally agree with you. Bet you never thought you'd see me say that. rhett o rick May 2015 #103

I rarely agree with you, GGJohn May 2015 #104

Well said! nt City Lights May 2015 #108

John Fogerty said it best: KingCharlemagne May 2015 #5

I sent this to my brother TNNurse May 2015 #6

Day of Shame dpatbrown May 2015 #7

For me, it's a day of remembrance, GGJohn May 2015 #8

Well said. H2O Man May 2015 #13

Agreed dpatbrown May 2015 #26

Thank you, and I agree, GGJohn May 2015 #27

I'd rec your post if I could. nt cwydro May 2015 #39

Memorial Day began as a day to remember the Union dead who died to free the KingCharlemagne May 2015 #9

If you're talking about how corps. have used Memorial Day to sell their goods, GGJohn May 2015 #10

You and I may disagree on many matters large and small, but on this I believe KingCharlemagne May 2015 #46

GREAT POST!!! GGJohn May 2015 #47

Again GGJohn... malokvale77 May 2015 #149

My heart goes out to you and your family. GGJohn May 2015 #153

I thought that military service would end with my children. malokvale77 May 2015 #155

my lifetime dpatbrown May 2015 #29

The draft Rolando May 2015 #124

83, wow, welcome to DU! steve2470 May 2015 #128

No shame to those who served. Those who sent them, however... malthaussen May 2015 #11

Thank you!!!! eom. GGJohn May 2015 #12

The battle interlude in the long version sets up the impact for the last two stanzas. John1956PA May 2015 #55

I alluded to that in another thread. malthaussen May 2015 #57

No shame here.. My husband enlisted in 1969 mountain grammy May 2015 #14

Government dpatbrown May 2015 #35

agree.. mountain grammy May 2015 #37

Reinstate the draft, and we just get more warm bodies to throw into stupid wars Scootaloo May 2015 #90

I am 20 years old, and would be the first of the first to be drafted. F4lconF16 May 2015 #132

So us old combat vet farts wouldn't have a say on going to war or not? eom. GGJohn May 2015 #133

No. F4lconF16 May 2015 #159

That's bullshit. GGJohn May 2015 #160

I fully admit I could be approaching this the wrong way. F4lconF16 May 2015 #161

I didn't take it as disrespect. GGJohn May 2015 #162

I suggest an alternative. malthaussen May 2015 #172

Soldiers and innocent civilians who die so as to make rich people richer. nt valerief May 2015 #56

Welcome to DU, dpatbrown! calimary May 2015 #75

Thanks very much dpatbrown May 2015 #122

My Father was MIA Feb.1942 off Java WHEN CRABS ROAR May 2015 #97

I tend to agree with you Brainstormy May 2015 #118

Memorial Days and Veterans Days always make me feel weird. Jackpine Radical May 2015 #15

+1000!!! eom. GGJohn May 2015 #17

Well said. truebluegreen May 2015 #19

Spoken from the heart malaise May 2015 #20

I don't think you need to be forgiven... malthaussen May 2015 #28

Exactly 7962 May 2015 #168

"When Will We Ever Learn?" nt Duval May 2015 #36

Someone gave my husband a ballcap mountain grammy May 2015 #40

A few years ago My Favorite Wingnut took me to a wingnut restaurant Jackpine Radical May 2015 #45

That sounded so familiar Populist_Prole May 2015 #83

Was he an actual combat vet? GGJohn May 2015 #84

Helicopter pilot Populist_Prole May 2015 #86

That's weird. GGJohn May 2015 #88

You helo pilots were as crazy as they come. Jackpine Radical May 2015 #105

Luck my friend, pure luck. GGJohn May 2015 #106

My husband was a crew chief on a Huey.. mountain grammy May 2015 #123

Do you know what outfit he was with? eom. GGJohn May 2015 #127

1st Aviation Division, Army. In Vietnam 1970-1971 mountain grammy May 2015 #129

A Co. 101st AVN Bn. for me. GGJohn May 2015 #131

He says thanks mountain grammy May 2015 #151

I saw a TV documentary about a helicopter pilot, who took out a helicopter Joe Chi Minh May 2015 #167

I've always heard door gunners were even crazier. malthaussen May 2015 #174

There were always a lot of openings for that position. Jackpine Radical May 2015 #177

When I was driving slicks, GGJohn May 2015 #178

My dad was a rear gunner on a Mitchell (B25) bomber during WWII dflprincess May 2015 #156

You're very welcome. eom. GGJohn May 2015 #157

Sounds like mad Walter in The Big Lebowski. Joe Chi Minh May 2015 #113

That made me cry, Jackpine Dont call me Shirley May 2015 #42

Thank you for your service to the least among us JR. nt raouldukelives May 2015 #66

Thank you. Jackpine Radical May 2015 #69

+1 you hit all my spots. n/t jaysunb May 2015 #101

Thank you so much for writing this post. I have never felt comfortable telling vets "Thank you for rhett o rick May 2015 #109

If you have the time, why not stop & talk? Jackpine Radical May 2015 #110

I would love to stop and talk. Thanks again for the post. nm rhett o rick May 2015 #130

If you saw me in a store, on the street, at a function, GGJohn May 2015 #112

You do not need anyone's forgiveness jackpine. But, yes, thank you for serving in a movement to stop merrily May 2015 #164

I have been trying to say this ewagner May 2015 #16

I dunno, ewagner, but my impression is that a whole lot of the people Jackpine Radical May 2015 #23

Is it your impression that most combat veterans do not indulge this feeling... malthaussen May 2015 #59

The short answer is "Yes." Jackpine Radical May 2015 #60

REMFs... ewagner May 2015 #74

REMF GGJohn May 2015 #80

REMF a very unfair term DustyJoe May 2015 #85

Sorry, but I don't equate chopper pilots with rear area clerks, we were in just as much danger GGJohn May 2015 #89

Misunderstood Sir DustyJoe May 2015 #91

My apologies, I read your post wrong. GGJohn May 2015 #92

Definitely no Apology needed DustyJoe May 2015 #94

Thanks for the link. GGJohn May 2015 #95

... GGJohn May 2015 #93

.... DustyJoe May 2015 #96

And don't forget the mortuary guys. That was a tough job, too. MADem May 2015 #99

Ive heard it said it takes 10 in the rear to support 1 on the line 7962 May 2015 #169

yeah and while heaven05 May 2015 #175

I am in agreement... malokvale77 May 2015 #154

My dad joined for that reason - TBF May 2015 #73

My husband is a vietnam veteran donnasgirl May 2015 #21

I don't believe you need permission from the OP for your hubby to write GGJohn May 2015 #22

He doesn't need permission! MoonRiver May 2015 #24

I was in the BRO from 2003 - 2006 Victor_c3 May 2015 #25

. deutsey May 2015 #32

Just know that you're not alone. For one thing, there are a lot of combat vets on this board. Jackpine Radical May 2015 #33

My heart goes dpatbrown May 2015 #38

This probably won't help much, but I spent two-three times\week from 2001-09 KingCharlemagne May 2015 #50

Thank you for your contribution to trying to bring our service people home from an unjust war. GGJohn May 2015 #52

I was as much or more a failure as anyone on this thread, but I do appreciate your KingCharlemagne May 2015 #58

... stage left May 2015 #63

why the eff are they locking you up? redruddyred May 2015 #68

You're right, they usually don't. Victor_c3 May 2015 #98

I don't feel taken out on tho redruddyred May 2015 #181

may your heaven05 May 2015 #81

Heartbreaking to hear of your experiences. Dems to Win May 2015 #107

While Nixon opened up US trade with China while they were supplying weapons to the North Vietnamese. EndElectoral May 2015 #30

The main difference between conscripts and volunteers... malthaussen May 2015 #31

Anybody know if Zwoof is our old DU compatriot Jackpine Radical May 2015 #34

And I didn't take part in all those anti-war demonstrations to spit on soldiers. Paladin May 2015 #41

I don't think there were many actual, documented cases Jackpine Radical May 2015 #49

BTW, GGJohn May 2015 #51

Back atcha, Bro. Jackpine Radical May 2015 #53

For all who died from war... Dont call me Shirley May 2015 #43

If I could, I'd rec. this a million times. eom. GGJohn May 2015 #44

Me too Dont call me Shirley May 2015 #176

Thank you Dont call me Shirley. GGJohn May 2015 #179

My story is very nearly the same as yours rock May 2015 #48

Proudly Anti-War since 1967...when I went to college. Whittier College, Nixon's alma mater, libdem4life May 2015 #54

Thanking former military for their service started after 911 treestar May 2015 #61

You were more honorable than the country that sent you sir workinclasszero May 2015 #62

I would change "country" to "politicians," or possibly "government." malthaussen May 2015 #64

I see no honor in what this country did in Vietnam workinclasszero May 2015 #65

Then we differ. malthaussen May 2015 #67

No shit! Of course the vets are honorable! workinclasszero May 2015 #78

My point, which I shall retiterate... malthaussen May 2015 #170

I can agree with you that there was no honor what our country's politicians did in Vietnam, GGJohn May 2015 #70

Recent attempts at revisionism have challenged that. malthaussen May 2015 #71

I can only rely on my unit's experience and those we supported in the field. GGJohn May 2015 #72

I agree. Just as in any other war. Vietnam just got the most exposure. 7962 May 2015 #173

It all depends salimbag May 2015 #87

Celebrating Memorial Day does not mean embracing war. Buzz Clik May 2015 #76

neither did I heaven05 May 2015 #79

Pretty much the same for me, GGJohn May 2015 #82

I served for all the same reasons. jaysunb May 2015 #100

. GGJohn May 2015 #102

Wow! To me, that reads like a classic of war poetry. Joe Chi Minh May 2015 #111

K&R woo me with science May 2015 #115

You weren't alone, brother. There were thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of us.... Hulk May 2015 #116

... GGJohn May 2015 #119

Yup. Every day, every week, every month, until it was time ... 11 Bravo May 2015 #120

That big ass freedom bird sure did look good. GGJohn May 2015 #121

In Remembrance pinboy3niner May 2015 #125

+1000. GGJohn May 2015 #134

Didn't go to 'Nam but was drafted during the mess. Elwood P Dowd May 2015 #135

I feel that young people sent to fight in Vietnam were misused by the government, but Arugula Latte May 2015 #136

To a point I agree with you on the current military dflprincess May 2015 #158

That's true. I guess I have mixed feelings. Overall I understand the incentives to join. Arugula Latte May 2015 #163

I agree completely with you on that "thank you for protecting us" dflprincess May 2015 #180

Abbie Hoffman was right. Major Hogwash May 2015 #141

Thanks for trying. Glad you got back alive. Ken Burch May 2015 #150

Let's remember those who bravely chose to Not serve and Oppose the Illegal war billy_j2 May 2015 #165

My stepfather (when I as growing up) said he thought the bravest men were Joe Chi Minh May 2015 #166

I enlisted in the Navy in 1969 to avoid the draft and Vietnam. It worked, I B Calm May 2015 #171