For some of us, there's no escape from the Vietnam War [View all]

[pinboy3niner]

The latest trigger for the war and its trauma is the news that chickenhawk Ted Nugent has accepted an invitation from an idiot RWNJ congressman to attend President Obama's State of the Union address.

I recently discovered that Ted and I reported for our draft physical the same year--1967. Ted's experience was more memorable than mine (http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/nugent.asp).

The Army didn't start out so bad. After Basic, Leadership School, Advanced Infantry Training, and training troops they sent me to Infantry Officer Candidate School for 6 months and I came out a 2nd Lieutenant at 19. At 20, as a 1st Lt., I was leading an Infantry rifle platoon of the 101st Airborne Division in the jungles of Vietnam. I'm only half-joking when I say that the instant hot chocolate my Mom sent me from home helped me face those challenges.

My war ended when I caught AK fire that blew away half my teeth and jaw and put a baseball-sized hole in my shoulder. The Army promoted me to Captain, and after 18 months in the hospital they retired me for partial disability.

Many years after the war I returned to Vietnam three times. I laughed--and cried--with former allies and enemies--ARVNs, VC and NVA. I have more in common with them than I ever will with chickenhawk wannabe-Rambos like Ted Nugent.

For my brothers--and sisters--who served, who may also be triggered by the latest news, just remember one thing and it wil be okay: FUCK Ted Nugent!