http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/31/support-from-the-sky-a-veterans-story-2/ Illuminate Everyday Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:02:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/31/support-from-the-sky-a-veterans-story-2/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Michelle at Scribbit Sun, 03 Feb 2008 07:51:52 +0000 http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/31/support-from-the-sky-a-veterens-story/#comment-20 Thanks for the recommendation, I was so young during that time and we never studied it in school (I think the history was too fresh to accurately teach) so the Vietnam Era is a big void in my historical knowledge. Thanks for the recommendation, I was so young during that time and we never studied it in school (I think the history was too fresh to accurately teach) so the Vietnam Era is a big void in my historical knowledge.

]]> http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/31/support-from-the-sky-a-veterans-story-2/comment-page-1/#comment-18 DoD Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:00:20 +0000 http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/01/31/support-from-the-sky-a-veterens-story/#comment-18 I too was a Vietnam "era" veteran. I was in Germany waiting to go vanquish the foe. I was almost disapointed when the war ended early. Although I never saw a combat zone, I was close enouth to enough returnees to understand the story. I knew every battle and heard every story. And, yes, the stories stopped after I came home. It was difficult to get men to talk about their experiences. I did have some success. So I did draw some conclusions. These men felt they were doing the right thing. they gave their hearts and lives to prove that point. I used to believe that the protestors and draft dodgers were simply cowards. I still believe that. I served proudly as an infantry officer. I later served proudly as an intelligence officer. The men I served with were some of the most intelligent, honorable men I have ever known. They knew the cause they defended. It was just that the cowards belittled them so they shut up. I learned how the media [read cowards) distorted the stories to drive their point. One friend was sitting in a bunker in the middle of a fire fight listening to the radio telling the story about how we better not be in Cambodia. His problem was that he was commanding a large unit in Cambodia and they were in the fight of their lives. The media denied the presence of communist country support when I know men who were overrun by battalions of Russian and Chinese tanks. Vietnam was a real cause. Millions died when we abandoned them. Although I never saw battle, I was proud to serve at that time in history. Too bad I have never worn that honor with pride. I too was a Vietnam “era” veteran. I was in Germany waiting to go vanquish the foe. I was almost disapointed when the war ended early. Although I never saw a combat zone, I was close enouth to enough returnees to understand the story. I knew every battle and heard every story. And, yes, the stories stopped after I came home. It was difficult to get men to talk about their experiences. I did have some success. So I did draw some conclusions.
These men felt they were doing the right thing. they gave their hearts and lives to prove that point.
I used to believe that the protestors and draft dodgers were simply cowards. I still believe that. I served proudly as an infantry officer. I later served proudly as an intelligence officer. The men I served with were some of the most intelligent, honorable men I have ever known. They knew the cause they defended. It was just that the cowards belittled them so they shut up.
I learned how the media [read cowards) distorted the stories to drive their point. One friend was sitting in a bunker in the middle of a fire fight listening to the radio telling the story about how we better not be in Cambodia. His problem was that he was commanding a large unit in Cambodia and they were in the fight of their lives. The media denied the presence of communist country support when I know men who were overrun by battalions of Russian and Chinese tanks.
Vietnam was a real cause. Millions died when we abandoned them.
Although I never saw battle, I was proud to serve at that time in history. Too bad I have never worn that honor with pride.

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