Ok, on some of the posts, I really agree with some of you. But for the conspiracy theory idiots, and for those of you who speak about the horrors of war without ever having left your hometowns, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!!! All the Vets know what I said. I have been around the world, projecting the image of military supremacy, and I have been part of the force to demonstrate it in Iraq. If you are against the war. Great, be against it 100% and don’t back down, but don’t pretend to know what your talking about when you speak of the “horrors of war” Please leave that to those of us who have seen it, lived it, and survived it. And if for any reason you ever feel the need to doubt any veterans patriotism, just try and fathom how many times that vet may have pulled the trigger on some sorry mother fucker who was hell bent on killing you, or at least trying.

I don’t know if I would call myself an activist. Hell I may not even be totally against the war. After seeing all of those kids. With their eyes full of hope every time we passed. Maybe it was hope, or maybe they just were waiting to see if any of us disapeared into a little pink and white cloud. I like to think it was hope. Hope that they might go to school, learn to read, or better their country in some way. I remeber most of all the plain stupidity of the Iraqi military, always asleep, or not on post at all. Almost as if they didn’t care if they were attacked. As I sat behind a .50 cal. machine gun, looking through my binoculars, watching the Iraqi soldiers smoke at night, each drag lighting their faces, making perfect targets for snipers, or a mortar crew hoping for a lucky shot. I thought to myself, why should I be willing to fight for these people who don’t even want to take the chance to fight for themselves? I can’t seem to get my head out of the past. I think that if I volunteer to go back, maybe my experience will save one more AMERICAN life, I have a wife and son now. But I can’t get out of the past. Is it normal to WANT to go back? Not for Bush, not for Hillary, sure as hell not for the Iraqi people. But for the guys that were next to me, for the guys that could be next to me. Is that normal?

Flight home from Nam
I served time as RTO for the great Tom Furgeson.
Alpha Company 2n Bn/327/101st Airborne (June 1966 -1967)
And was the 7th man out the door of the 1st Plane during Operation Junction City Feb. 22nd 1967 {NO SLACK}!

Here are a few notes from my diary on coming home from the Nam.

I was flying back to safety in some rear area airfield to catch my ride home. The long nightmare was over. Or so I thought. How could I have known that when I got back to America, It wouldn’t be there?
Soon I was standing with hundreds of other service personal waiting to be processed at a huge airbase near Saigon. The shock of going home was so overpowering, I really can’t recall just what my reactions were at that time except that I was not at all that sure that I wouldn’t be pulled out of this process and sent back into the Hell I just escaped.
I remember that it was a long wait however, because nothing in the military moves along swiftly, combat situations being the exception. Even waiting to board the civilian Continental 707 seamed to be a mind-numbingly slow event. Anticipation mixed with apprehension, hope with prospect, fused together into unwelcome feelings of not making it off the runway, overpowering the reality that I was in fact finally homeward bound. The line finally started moving, and we waddled aboard in a promenade like hot penguins heading for a refrigerated flying refuge.
I was fortunate enough to find a window seat. Even though the most popular saying in the NAM at that time besides “Sorry About That,” was, “Don’t Look Back.” Nothing was going to stop me from watching this little corner of Hell disappear from my field of vision. We settled in and waited for takeoff. And waited and waited and waited. Gazing out my window, I recall thinking, “oh, this is great.” Come on, come on! Let’s go! I can’t, breath! Why aren’t we moving? I was beginning to hallucinate and I wasn’t even on any drugs.
There’s probably VC on the runway! I’ll never get out of here. What if I’m here the rest of my life? Maybe I’m dead. And this is my Hell! Stranded in Vietnam! I envisioned lifting the plane off the damned ground with my bare hands, flinging it into the air, and jumping back on board as it gained altitude. Anything to get this fucking aircraft into the air and out of this place! We were all frozen in our seats with anticipation and all silently pondering the same thing. When the Hell were we going to move? Knowing we’re not out of here yet and still smelling and tasting this place. Jesus Christ, I’m leaving Vietnam, but it’s not leaving me.
A lifetime or two passed before we began to move and taxied into position for takeoff. Everyone on board seemed simultaneously to take a deep breath. The air was thick with tension, all of the passengers willing the plane into the air. We were moving faster and faster, but we were still on the ground and still holding our breath. There was a deathly calm in the cabin now. I started to move up and down in my seat, pulling on my hand rest to help lift us into the air. Maybe if I yelled for everyone to do the same, we could help get this bird airborne. Then came that exhilarating feeling of takeoff. Still, we were paralyzed in our seats. Sweat was now running down my forehead; my eyes felt as though they were popping out of their sockets as I peered out my window. Yes! Everyone is getting smaller. I’m screaming on the inside to those little Asian people wearing those black pajamas. Good-bye you slope-headed, slant-eyed, rice eating, fish-breathed GOOKS! Fuck every one of you! Do hear me? (I really didn’t feel that way but had to say it anyway)
Shortly after we were airborne, the captain made an announcement over the intercom I. “We are now leaving Vietnam air space and heading for home.” An explosion of cheers cut through the plane like nothing I’ve experienced before or since. Pandemonium broke loose for a time. Then I only remember sinking back into my seat and drifting off to incredible daydreams of Disney girls in Disney worlds. And thoughts of HIM, the warrior in Vietnam who had made me rethink my life, my actions, and my future.
It was in June of 1967 when that 707 touched down on American soil. Even as the plane came to a stop and the men were disembarking, even then I couldn’t accept the fact that I had made it home from Vietnam, that place of unspeakable horror, sorrow and regret. My experience wouldn’t let me forget the carnage I had left behind.
As my foot touched the tarmac, I fell to my knees and kissed the very soil I had been propagandized into believing I had been protecting. Mind you, it wasn’t a peck-on-the-cheek kind of kiss either; I laid a big wet juicy one on her. I had given up all hope of ever seeing her again, and I had missed her so much. She never did forsake me; it was my country’s leadership that fell from her grace.
Even though I was surrounded by hundreds of soldiers, I felt all alone, for I knew not a single face, much the same as my flight into Vietnam had been. What a long, strange trip it had been; however there was nothing about that war that wasn’t strange.
As significant as my homecoming was, I really can’t recollect much of it. I do recall holding my duffel bag and standing in lines, waiting once again on orders, this time for my 45-day leave. Hurry up and wait. Standing in line was by definition synonymous with life in the military.
There was no homecoming party for us; none was expected. We were, however treated kindly by the military personnel, which at least made an effort to make this process go smoothly. They had set up a 24-hour mess hall, fixing us whatever we wanted. Steak and eggs, hamburgers and fries, milkshakes and coffee were the most requested, I recall. The food looked and smelled wonderful and I was running on empty, but I couldn’t eat anything. How was that possible? Many times not so long ago while I had been walking patrol in the boonies of Nam had I dreamed of French fries and all of the other tempting food now surrounding me in abundance. I had promised myself that if I made it home I would never take anything in the real world for granted weather it be toilet paper or a glass of clean tap water

for I did my time….

At Missouri Western State University, in St. Joseph, I am scheduled for the fall semester to teach three sections of College Writing and Research. I plan to have students conduct research regarding veterans.

I would like students to divide their research into two primary areas: groups (using library sources) and individuals (getting stories from veterans). I want students to concentrate on issues pertaining to experiences of coming home. They will be able to choose areas of concentration, such as: benfits, health services, social and political activism, friendships, family life, race, gender, notions of heroism, mementos and souveniers, cultural insights, and so on.

For the first area, they can look at American veterans from any conflict. For the second area, they can interview any surviving vets they know or meet. To that end, I am making contact with local veteran organizations to develop lists of vets who would be willing to meet with students, answer questions, and tell their stories. It occurs to me, however, that students need not be limited to face-to-face meetings.

Therefore, I wonder if anyone out there would be willing to correspond via e-mail with students.

Your response and feedback would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Meredith Katchen
mkatchen@missouriwestern.edu

I can’t believe there are no posts on this site concerning Ron Paul the presidential candidate extrodinaire. He is the only candidate who has the goods on why we are in this war. And, he’s against our involvement there. Just like you and me. I urge all to go to www.ronpaul2008.com to see what he is all about. You will be pleasantly surprised to find him totally constitutional. You know, that piece of paper that each vet took an oath to protect and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I took that oath 6 times and I have never been releived of the duty to follow it.

Hey everyone i am a junior in high school and i am writing a paper on why we should not be in iraq and i would like to use any opinons from veterans in my paper so if i can send me your opinion and name i would greatly appreciate it thank you

The American people are entirely gullible and easily hoodwinked and bamboozled and it has always been so, according to the history books I have read and studied which included a compendium, a virtual library full of tomes and volumes detailing our History from the beginning to the present day! I would hope it could be different, but time bears out my assertion for anyone who considers themselves a serious student of History! The present predicament and endless grind of Viet Iraq just proves that the people get what they voted for, and the sad thing is they deserved better, but it takes digging, diligence and devotion to determine what a mess WE THE PEOPLE have allowed ourselves to be drug into this time! WAS there ever a WAR that solved anything or resolved the basic human issues over territory, power, and money (resources and goods and services) It’s a rhetorical question that every person of conscience eventually has to ask themselves.

How is it that you can sign on the dotted line, go to war and then decide Oh well forget it they actually asked me to work and do my job so I don’t like them anymore. It sounds more like a case of DON’T ASK DON’T TELL then a case of oh we don’t believe in America and helping others. What do you think we got here all by ourselves with no one helping us. Do you remember that not all of us wanted to be or own country some of us wanted to remain loyal. However other came to our aid and hell we weren’t even being put to death beheaded or killed for no reason at any time of the day. How selfish are you guys to say that we shouldn’t be over there helping others now, we got help others came to our aid, but now we seem to be to selfesh to help others in need screw them we already got helped, I cannot believe that there are people like you in this country it makes me sad to have served for people like you, they deserve the same help (if not more) than we did It is people like you that lack the courage and strength to help others to care about others when really only u and u only count to YOU how does that sound you you you how pathetic you are! If you do not like the US by all means there are other countries please popsmoke I can’t even believe CNN put people like you in the news Your service was worthless and those after you will always know that. We do not need people like you here hell no one needs people like you here but on a funny note if you lived somewhere else, saying this would probably have you put to death what are the odds.
“”
Because I did my time I can speak out on an illegal war… inforanger@yahoo.com

I disagree with Bush sending more troops over to Iraq , because I think It is a waste of human life .I think alot of parents would agree that their war is none of our bussiness.Bush just likes to be a bully, he thinks he can push other countries around , because he thinks he is more important than them!!

I put this post on Jersey Girls site, but I’d like these ideas to get kicked around a bit by the Vets :- I want to suggest to the Jersey Girls that they make contact with the USS Liberty Survivors site; the USS Liberty was attacked by Israel in a 911-type ‘False Flag’ operation; LBJ had sent the Liberty in as a ’sacrificial lamb’, arranging with Israel to sink it and leave no survivors (that was why the Israeli’s shot up the liferafts); Egypt was to be blamed, the US would enter the Six-Day War (in 1967) and take over the whole middle east. Nuclear armed planes were actually on their way to bomb Egypt from the Sixth Fleet and Libya, and were recalled with three minutes to spare (according to Admiral Geis, Commander of the Sixth Fleet, quoted in Peter Hounam’s book ‘Operation Cyanide’). The plan had to be aborted when a Soviet spy ship came on the scene, observing the Israeli attack; Israeli forces then backed off, and Israel apologised to the USA for their ‘mistake’. The survivors were threatened with imprisonment or worse if they disclosed any info on the attack. The survivors have been trying unsuccesfully since 1967 to get a Congressional investigation, just as the Jersey Girls are trying to get a proper investigation into 911. The two campaigns will complement each other, and may get the Vets Against the War on board as well. !A Luta Continua! (The Struggle Continues!) Paul, London

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I’m an Iraq War Veteran and I am ashamed of my service for a government that lied to get us into his war. I served a government that carried out the 9/11 attacks on the WTC and Pentagon. That’s right - I said that our government carried out the attacks. I have plenty of evidence if anyone would care to challenge that statement. The question is why. Why would our government feel the need to do such a thing? Why would they kill our own people? Well, the answer is the same as it has always been when it comes to corruption – money and power, power and money. What were the results of the 9/11 attacks? A war in Afghanistan and subsequently a war in Iraq. What else? The patriot act, the creation of the department of Homeland Security, and the concentration of more power in fewer hands than in the history of the United States. It is clear who has benefited from the War on Terror and the War in Iraq.
KBR - or Kellogg, Brown and Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton is making billions over in Iraq. Make no mistake about it - we attacked and murdered some of the poorest people in the world in order to make some of the richest people in the world even richer. Follow the money. Who is benefiting from the war in Iraq most? Could it be U.S. Defense contractors? Could it be Oil Contractors? We also have no intentions of leaving Iraq. It doesn’t matter that the democrats won this most recent mid-term elections. They take money from the same people that the Republicans do. Neither party is any good. They are all lying scum-bag opportunist that are not serving in congress for the betterment of the country, but for the betterment of their wallets.
That’s all I say for now - if anyone would like to respond to my comments please do - but don’t go spewing the party-line bullshit. Do your homework first, because believe me, I have.

Why would our president start a war with a country that did not attack us first!The people of Iraq did not harm us in any way!Maybe there was a threat,but nothing else because of this war many inosent people have died both in Iraq and in the United States.This war has also made it so that the Iraqis people are boming many places not only in the US but in a lot of other countrys too.OUR PRESIDENT NEEDS TO STOP THIS WAR.In Iraq Americans are the terrorist we are the ones boming there buildings,we are the ones killing innocent people.we are the ones killing littel girls mothers, we are leaving children homless and with out parents.We are destroying cities at a time.
THIS WAR NEEDS TO END,TO SAVE THE CHILDREN AND THE INNOCENT PEOPLE LEFT IN IRAQ!

I am writing today to inquire about a protest against the war. I don’t know where to ask about this. I am interested in going to a rally and to bring my teenage children with me. I went to the million mom march several yrs ago in washington dc. I wish we could organize another rally like that in washington. I would be there… I live in massachusetts,if there are any coming up I will try to get there. I just listened to This Week With George Stephanopoulas and at the end of his show ,he has in-memoriums every week. This week they listed 26 soldiers!!! I can’t put into words how sick inside it makes med feel. I am a mother and my heart aches for all those families. I am proud to be an american,I believe we are the best country in the world, and most important I am sooooo proud of our soldiers!!!!! And because of just this,is why I have to either demonstrate or speak out against this war. Lastly if anyone can give me some direction on who to get in touch with about a march,I again would be there.
American Against The War

I am a vet, I have served for about 10 years in the Army/Army National Guard. I have read through the posts here, and I have to say that I am impressed and bemused. I have to say that some have interesting views about demonstrating and about war. I served so that people COULD speak there mind, that is a democracy folkes, or were a few not paying attention in your Government classes in Highschool? This is what it is all about. I also feel that as a moral person I can NOT stand by while civilians (women and children too) are burned to death using White Phosphorus; further that people are tortured in CIA Black Sites and that we continue to perpetuate a horrible war based on a lie (NO WMD’s, NO TIES TO AL QUIEDA, ETC, ETC). I find it hard to believe that anyone can stand still for this. It is my hope that more people rise up and speak up (in a non-violent, democratic way). It is each citizen’s right. I will continue to fight for my friends, I will not stand by and let Georgie kill more innocents for his little oil war. Just my opinion.

Veteran,sick of usless war. Regret the fall of Saigon,if we had not stopped the bombing in 1972 we could have had a better ending. Same here, I know those who served in Iraq want an honerable end to this mess. If that means we bomb the hell out of every hot zone then so be it. Personally at this point, I think we should kill every living thing in the entire region. Just another damn foul up thanks to stupid politicians. We need to go back to killing, in order to end this crap. To hell with nation building, turn our service personnel loose and make it clear they will not be brought up on charges if they wipe out an entire village and burn it to the ground.

I am currently serving on active duty as an officer and I ask one question. How many men do we have to lose to declare a victory over the insurgency in Iraq. I feel that the line between what is right and just and what is downright wrong are being strongly twisted. As a soldier it is our right to fight and defend the nation, but it would appear the politicians at home refuse to acknowledge the fact that their sons and daughters are dying for no reason. The cost of the war is far greater than any reward. The focus of our military should be to protect our homeland and not police the middle east. Sure we must also monitor and contol the fascist governments around the world, but I see the role in Iraq to be very bleak and will not amount to anything of value. We should instead devote all our efforts on international relationships to fight terrorism instead of wasting soldiers lives for roadside bombs. An american soldiers life is too precious to die for no cause, and no cause is greater than to do what is right. I feel that if the leaders had sons wounded they would abandon this ill planned holy war and focus on repairing diplomatic relations with the muslim world.
The only way to destroy the terrorists is to make friends with the mainstream muslims and make them buy in to fighting the terrorists. We as americans come off as crusaders and that is because of the leaderships views towards the muslim world . We would serve our country better if we would stop trying to kill everyone and instead focused on peace with legitimate allies. For example, Turkey and Israel come to mind.
The path to victory does not have to be death