On 5/11/2016 1:17 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 11 May 2016 12:47:48 -0400, Keyser Söze
wrote:

On 5/11/16 11:51 AM, wrote:
On Wed, 11 May 2016 08:07:13 -0400, Keyser Söze
wrote:

On 5/11/16 2:11 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 10 May 2016 21:27:20 -0400, Keyser Söze
wrote:


It's not my problem that you were so ignorant of what was happening and
going to happen in SE Asia. It isn't because you grew up in the midwest,
because there was plenty of news available there and nationally about
the horrors of the Vietnamese government we were propping up. Basically,
you "dumbed" your way into that war. Couldn't you get into an open
admissions JUCO?

I suppose you could just say LBJ lied us into that war but you would
be defaming a famous democrat.
In 1964 when I signed my commitment for the CG, this is what he was
saying
http://gfretwell.com/ftp/johnson%20vietnam%20lie.mp3

The fear of joining the army at that time was you would be stuck in Ft
Dix, painting rocks white outside the officer's club for 2 years. I
wanted something more interesting.
I was hoping for a Florida life boat station.


Translating that into "Greg-Think," you joined the coast guard so you
could avoid the army and the risk of being sent to Vietnam as rifle
fodder. So...you were a draft dodger.

That is not right at all. Remember, LBJ just told us he was not going
to send American boys off to war. It was the days of the "Elvis and
Sgt Bilko" army.
I tried to go to Vietnam twice on 1965. (Navy PBRs and GC 83 footers)
Both times the request was denied.


Why did you want to go to Vietnam? Do you think the North Vietnamese
posed any threat to the United States? Did you want to prop up the
dictatorship in South Vietnam? Were you hoping to shag Jane Fonda? (I
would have if I had had the opportunity.)

All I can say is "18 year old testosterone"
I had several friends there.
The idea of blasting up some little river on a PBR just seemed like
something that I wanted to do.
(the "Apocalypse Now" boat for the uninitiated)



Plus, for some of us, military service to your country was an honorable
thing to do based on our upbringing.

I always had it in my head that I would serve at least two years in the
military since I was about 14 years old. It was based purely on a sense
of patriotism, pride to be an American and a feeling that a couple of
years dedicated to the country wasn't much to ask of anyone. Ended up
doing nine years active and 2 more in the reserves. No regrets
whatsoever and proud to be one of the other "1 percenters".