Wednesday, September 19, 2001 1:33:38 AM
Still Fighting on the Home Front
http://www.spintimes.com/vasquez/vasquez1.shtml
SpinTimes Exclusive Commentary
By Robert Vasquez
04/30/2001
Former Senator Bob Kerrey’s recent revelation regarding a mission he led in Viet Nam which resulted in the deaths of supposed civilians is tantamount to picking an old scab. While he may have felt the need to do is, for whatever reason, it has effected the entire generation of soldiers who fought in Viet Nam.
Listen up, America, as a combat disabled veteran myself, I can attest to the fact that it was doubtful that there were any civilians in that conflict. The methods employed by the North Viet Namese, and their Southern counterpart, the Viet Cong, often made it impossible to distinguish between friend and foe. Villagers would sometimes be used as a screen for snipers to fire on U. S. Troops as they passed either on foot patrol, or in vehicle convoy. The Viet Namese knew Americans were prohibited by order and conscience from firing on "unarmed civilians". That was a definite disadvantage to the grunt in the field.
To us, they were all "Chuck, Charlie, Chinks, Gooks, Slopeheads, Slanteyes, or Zipperheads." They were that for a reason; a man finds it difficult to pull the trigger on another man, knowing you are about to snuff out the life of the individual in the cross airs of your sights. Thus, they are dehumanized, the "enemy."
That was why in basic training, as the Drill Instructor asked "What is the purpose of a bayonet?" one was repeatedly trained to thrust their bayoneted rifle into the air, and scream "To KILL!, Drill Sergeant!" That is why the uniform is more than an identifying piece of clothing, but rather a unifying article of training. Everyone has their head shaved, everyone wears the same clothing, everyone eats the same food, sleeps in the same location, manner and with the same type of bed and bedding.
The military’s purpose, when unleashed upon the enemy, is to kill as many as possible, destroy as much materiel (spelled correctly) as possible, and capture as much territory as possible (tactic’s in Viet Nam not withstanding). For someone to step forward twenty or thirty years later and whine that they feel so bad ‘cause this or that happened serves no useful purpose.
No, this writer and soldier does not condone the killing of innocent civilians, but as has been often and by many said, "if you weren’t there, you don’t know." It is convenient for the Bill Clinton sycophants, draft dodger’s and America’s many cowards to now sit back and smugly say "Uh Huh. See I told you, they were all baby killers and murderers. They should take Kerrey and put him on trial, and anyone else that was with him. All those Viet Nam vets are the same way!"
Shakespeare wrote "We sleep soundly in the night, knowing that rough men await to visit violence upon those that would harm us." For the past twenty or thirty years, these same Viet Nam war protesters, the cowards that went to Canada, the Bill Clinton draft dodgers, have sat back and enjoyed life’s bounty because of the men who went and fought in Viet Nam. The legitimacy, purpose, or meaning of the war is not relevant to the soldier, who is trained, and does his duty to God and Country.
Most veterans, like Bob Kerrey, have readjusted to life in America, serving our communities, making a living, establishing careers in all the professions, the arts, movies, books and the trades. Veterans often have a difficult time after returning from an armed conflict, be it W.W.I, W.W.II, Korea, Viet Nam, or more recently Desert Storm. While I disagree with Bob Kerrey’s politics, and certainly could attack his comments on some veterans issues, I stand in support of him as a comrade in arms.
Unless you were in the field, receiving sniper fire from a "civilian village," or witnessed any of the horrific acts committed by "civilians" against our troops, how can you make a judgment of Bob Kerrey, or any of the Viet Nam veterans. Hollywood has given America its stereotype of the Viet Nam veteran, but it is no more accurate than that of the screenwriter’s fantasy and imagination.
You’ve gotten off your chest now, Bob, but maybe they’ll let you keep the Bronze Star anyway. Allons!
Robert Vasquez is a Viet Nam combat veteran, political activist, and a radio and talkshow host in Boise, Idaho. A conservative who pulls no punches, Mr. Vasquez seeks the facts on the right and the left of an issue.
:=) Gary Swancey
http://www.spintimes.com/vasquez/vasquez1.shtml
SpinTimes Exclusive Commentary
By Robert Vasquez
04/30/2001
Former Senator Bob Kerrey’s recent revelation regarding a mission he led in Viet Nam which resulted in the deaths of supposed civilians is tantamount to picking an old scab. While he may have felt the need to do is, for whatever reason, it has effected the entire generation of soldiers who fought in Viet Nam.
Listen up, America, as a combat disabled veteran myself, I can attest to the fact that it was doubtful that there were any civilians in that conflict. The methods employed by the North Viet Namese, and their Southern counterpart, the Viet Cong, often made it impossible to distinguish between friend and foe. Villagers would sometimes be used as a screen for snipers to fire on U. S. Troops as they passed either on foot patrol, or in vehicle convoy. The Viet Namese knew Americans were prohibited by order and conscience from firing on "unarmed civilians". That was a definite disadvantage to the grunt in the field.
To us, they were all "Chuck, Charlie, Chinks, Gooks, Slopeheads, Slanteyes, or Zipperheads." They were that for a reason; a man finds it difficult to pull the trigger on another man, knowing you are about to snuff out the life of the individual in the cross airs of your sights. Thus, they are dehumanized, the "enemy."
That was why in basic training, as the Drill Instructor asked "What is the purpose of a bayonet?" one was repeatedly trained to thrust their bayoneted rifle into the air, and scream "To KILL!, Drill Sergeant!" That is why the uniform is more than an identifying piece of clothing, but rather a unifying article of training. Everyone has their head shaved, everyone wears the same clothing, everyone eats the same food, sleeps in the same location, manner and with the same type of bed and bedding.
The military’s purpose, when unleashed upon the enemy, is to kill as many as possible, destroy as much materiel (spelled correctly) as possible, and capture as much territory as possible (tactic’s in Viet Nam not withstanding). For someone to step forward twenty or thirty years later and whine that they feel so bad ‘cause this or that happened serves no useful purpose.
No, this writer and soldier does not condone the killing of innocent civilians, but as has been often and by many said, "if you weren’t there, you don’t know." It is convenient for the Bill Clinton sycophants, draft dodger’s and America’s many cowards to now sit back and smugly say "Uh Huh. See I told you, they were all baby killers and murderers. They should take Kerrey and put him on trial, and anyone else that was with him. All those Viet Nam vets are the same way!"
Shakespeare wrote "We sleep soundly in the night, knowing that rough men await to visit violence upon those that would harm us." For the past twenty or thirty years, these same Viet Nam war protesters, the cowards that went to Canada, the Bill Clinton draft dodgers, have sat back and enjoyed life’s bounty because of the men who went and fought in Viet Nam. The legitimacy, purpose, or meaning of the war is not relevant to the soldier, who is trained, and does his duty to God and Country.
Most veterans, like Bob Kerrey, have readjusted to life in America, serving our communities, making a living, establishing careers in all the professions, the arts, movies, books and the trades. Veterans often have a difficult time after returning from an armed conflict, be it W.W.I, W.W.II, Korea, Viet Nam, or more recently Desert Storm. While I disagree with Bob Kerrey’s politics, and certainly could attack his comments on some veterans issues, I stand in support of him as a comrade in arms.
Unless you were in the field, receiving sniper fire from a "civilian village," or witnessed any of the horrific acts committed by "civilians" against our troops, how can you make a judgment of Bob Kerrey, or any of the Viet Nam veterans. Hollywood has given America its stereotype of the Viet Nam veteran, but it is no more accurate than that of the screenwriter’s fantasy and imagination.
You’ve gotten off your chest now, Bob, but maybe they’ll let you keep the Bronze Star anyway. Allons!
Robert Vasquez is a Viet Nam combat veteran, political activist, and a radio and talkshow host in Boise, Idaho. A conservative who pulls no punches, Mr. Vasquez seeks the facts on the right and the left of an issue.
:=) Gary Swancey
:=) Gary Swancey
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