My father was in the Navy during the Vietnam War, in fact, his ship served
an observer function in North Vietnam in the late 1950's. Although he was a
dentist, and therefore normally a non-combatant, his general quarters
station was fire control officer on the forward gun turret. I have and
never will see my father as a potentially wrong and evil man for serving
during time of war; if ordered to combat area, he would have gone as a very
loyal sailor who had worked his way up from enlisted ranks and loved
(loves) his country.
Those who serve, serve for many reason. During my own naval career, I
learned that it was the military person who usually hated war the most,
because we knew the costs.
Marcella Ruland
formerly LT USN