Nixon's body was transported to the Nixon Library and laid in repose. A public memorial service was held on April 27, attended by world dignitaries from 85 countries and all five living U.S. presidents. I remember asking myself, "Has everyone forgotten?" I hadn't.
I've visited Vietnam for 32 years now. Wars are complex, and tragic as the war was, there's certainly no one perspective but let me give you one from a friend in there: "We look at Japan, Korea, and Thailand and understand Ho Chi Minh set our country back 50 years." Let's not forget most of the south did not want the ending they got.
Back In 1970 I took the other fork, the one toward college, but much more as a sleepwalker than from any sense of conviction or ambition. Of course I didn't want to go to Nam but I had already won the draft lottery (#303) so the issue was pretty much settled. In a serious failure of imagination, I wasn't even a protester. The war first came home for me, really came home, when I made the acquaintance of a vet, my age and newly returned. He was a nice guy but his eyes were different and there was a distance there that I didn't know how to bridge. In fact, I was pretty sure I didn't want to bridge it. Cowardice I've always regretted.
I had a buddy who went. Bill was about 6' 2" in eight grade. But timid and fearful. The bullies in the school yard used to torment him, surrounding him and punching him. He never cried out but he never fought back either. He was a good friend in high school, quiet, seemingly introspective, and intimidating-looking to the occasional bully that came our way. He was drafted about six months after me. Bill came back a year later, changed. He was now bitter and mean, almost psychotic. He'd drove a grader over there in an engineering company. Don't know what happened to him. Last time I saw him he had bought a new Harley Davidson Sportster and was attempting to join Hell's Angels. It's funny how we turn out.
Highly recommend Paul Clayton's book Carl Melcher Goes To Vietnam. It's great storytelling that takes us to a place the USA would rather forget.
Nixon's body was transported to the Nixon Library and laid in repose. A public memorial service was held on April 27, attended by world dignitaries from 85 countries and all five living U.S. presidents. I remember asking myself, "Has everyone forgotten?" I hadn't.
I've visited Vietnam for 32 years now. Wars are complex, and tragic as the war was, there's certainly no one perspective but let me give you one from a friend in there: "We look at Japan, Korea, and Thailand and understand Ho Chi Minh set our country back 50 years." Let's not forget most of the south did not want the ending they got.
I read some of Paul Clayton's work here and found his book, Carl Melcher Goes to Vietnam, on Kindle. Finished in around one day.
I'll be reading more of his excellent work
Back In 1970 I took the other fork, the one toward college, but much more as a sleepwalker than from any sense of conviction or ambition. Of course I didn't want to go to Nam but I had already won the draft lottery (#303) so the issue was pretty much settled. In a serious failure of imagination, I wasn't even a protester. The war first came home for me, really came home, when I made the acquaintance of a vet, my age and newly returned. He was a nice guy but his eyes were different and there was a distance there that I didn't know how to bridge. In fact, I was pretty sure I didn't want to bridge it. Cowardice I've always regretted.
I had a buddy who went. Bill was about 6' 2" in eight grade. But timid and fearful. The bullies in the school yard used to torment him, surrounding him and punching him. He never cried out but he never fought back either. He was a good friend in high school, quiet, seemingly introspective, and intimidating-looking to the occasional bully that came our way. He was drafted about six months after me. Bill came back a year later, changed. He was now bitter and mean, almost psychotic. He'd drove a grader over there in an engineering company. Don't know what happened to him. Last time I saw him he had bought a new Harley Davidson Sportster and was attempting to join Hell's Angels. It's funny how we turn out.