Health
ThirdAgers Debate Vietnam War
ThirdAgers debated the rights and wrongs of the Vietnam War online recently and voted on the topic. It wasn't even close. Two-thirds of the 1,188 respondents said the United States was wrong to send American troops to fight in Vietnam. Only one-third of respondents said it was the right thing to do.
Herb Kantrowitz sums up the feelings of many when he says, "The war may have been wrong but the GIs that fought it were doing their duty. They should be respected and admired by all Americans."
The responses came from Vietnam Vets, some wounded in the fighting, their wives, mothers, sisters and protestors who fought against the war. Mythicalman said that after he was drafted into the Army and served in Germany, he "went back to college and demonstrated vigorously against the war."
Some still defend the decision to send in American troops to help the Vietnamese. Michael W. Paul says, "if we were in fact their allies and promised protection, then we needed to deliver, and do it with a mighty hand, not just nickel and dime operations."
Many blame Washington for tying the hands of the military. Vietnam Vet Tim Stefvens acknowledges, "I am bitter and I curse our political leaders for all of their lies."
But not all the memories are bad. Jimmy Brown says, "I still feel a closer kinship to my comrades who fell there than I do to anyone else in the world." Daroll Norris says, "It made a person treasure life more."
In the end, Earl asks, "What possible difference does it make, right or wrong? Put it to rest. Just let the vets know we love them for their sacrifice."
Herb Kantrowitz sums up the feelings of many when he says, "The war may have been wrong but the GIs that fought it were doing their duty. They should be respected and admired by all Americans."
The responses came from Vietnam Vets, some wounded in the fighting, their wives, mothers, sisters and protestors who fought against the war. Mythicalman said that after he was drafted into the Army and served in Germany, he "went back to college and demonstrated vigorously against the war."
Some still defend the decision to send in American troops to help the Vietnamese. Michael W. Paul says, "if we were in fact their allies and promised protection, then we needed to deliver, and do it with a mighty hand, not just nickel and dime operations."
Many blame Washington for tying the hands of the military. Vietnam Vet Tim Stefvens acknowledges, "I am bitter and I curse our political leaders for all of their lies."
But not all the memories are bad. Jimmy Brown says, "I still feel a closer kinship to my comrades who fell there than I do to anyone else in the world." Daroll Norris says, "It made a person treasure life more."
In the end, Earl asks, "What possible difference does it make, right or wrong? Put it to rest. Just let the vets know we love them for their sacrifice."
