Awards Ceremony in the Central HighlandsMy father passes out awards to the top graduates of a political indoctrination class. I wonder where these men are today and what the last 43 years were like for them. These thoughts conjure up lots of others. Most not good. But today is for memories. Good and bad. It's helpful to remember all veterans and not just ours.
10 comments:
Small soldiers, big bravery. A simple ceremony goes unnoticed by anyone far, far away in a safe and prosperous country, in front of their TVs, watching Walter Cronkite, who was about to stir the waters. For the better? Maybe. I don't know.
Today is indeed, for memories.
-DB
Well said, DB. And still the beat goes on. The complaint among the troops coming home today is that we are clueless about what's going on over there. Recordings taken from the Marine Recon platoon by the author of Generation Kill and played over the final episode of the HBO series of the same name describes the zombie state of folks at home who care more about their Lattes at Starbucks than what's happening to them.
Isn't it odd how no one is protesting these wars? I think if there were a draft it would be a very different story.
Those were "Chieu Hoi." Enemy NVA and Viet Cong that had come over to our side. They were fine soldiers. Lots of experience, tough fighters, more loyal than many of our own Viets. They were, to some extent, "playing the odds." (We won all the battles.) Neither they (nor we) knew politicians
(ours) would then lose the war itself.
Some ended up escaping from VN. Most ended up in NVA "Reeducation" Camps and didn't last long. Some, with needed talents, were "retreaded" into North Viet govt. (Which is what South VN did in '54 with former Viet Minh who booted the French out and chose to remain in the south.) Sad story.
They deserve to be remembered.
I can understand how 'playing the odds' would make sense. I'll never forget what you told me about interrogation of NVA/VC prisoners..."Put them in room with a 1/50,000 map, a pack of cigarettes and a cold coke and you couldn't shut them up.
Just another military brat checking in, to thank you for the work and let you know I hope you keep posting.
MHG- Thank you! You're just the motivation I need.
The web is wild. Searching on Hermes belts, find your most insightful and entertaining blog post stating - which I'm sure is 100% true - that you are the first to mix a Hermes belt with Old Overholt and I'm suddenly thinking I'd like to be sitting in the venerable decay of Napoleon House drinking an Old Overholt sazerac. That post linked me to this site and I'm further entertained with a photo from your father handing out citations just days before my birth on on April 19, 1966 and I too wonder - what the hell was going at that place of the world during those days and where these men are today. I'm going to add you to my web reading list.
Peace.
anon 7:40-
It's always a surprise to see a comment over here. Many thanks for not only tracking this down but for your time and thoughts. The Trad is a contrast to the Brat. I need to get back to work over here but it ain't easy.
I'm late to this particular party, but I hope you keep posting. I came to the Trad site via ADG, but as an Air Force brat who must be near your age, I was particularly drawn to your posts here. I love the back and forth between you and your dad. Hope to see more.
Kathy- Thank you. I'm working on this but it's hard. Thank you for stopping by and I hope to add to this soon. My father's contribution here means more to me than anything. And that's what makes this so hard sometimes.
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