marines in vietnam
Joe McDonald (borneo@mail.dnai.com)
Tue, 23 Sep 1997 03:44:23 +0100
i noticed that recently marines have entered the verbal fray on the list
as concerns the Vietnam war. And so it should be.
Knowing a bit about marines i feel the need to say some things that the
Vietnam Era Marines will not feel free to say about themselves:
Just for starters in general: The Vietnam War combat soldier saw more
intense combat for each 12 month tour than the average US combat soldier
saw in WWII; but in WWII the average age was 25yrs old while vietnam
combat veterans were only teenagers, 19yrs old; But there was more
mental breakdown in WWII during the war than in Vietnam. Now on to the
marines. Marine tours were one more month than other services: 13
months; most duty was in I Corps up by the DMZ where casualties were
80%, higher than the battle of the Phillapine Islands during WWII; all
the other services got hot meals in the bush but not the marines; in the
early years the Thai Soldiers got M16's but the marines fought on with
old WWII rifles until someone raised and stink and got them M16's AND
then they jammed! dead marine found besides their stripped weapons. And
everyone tells stories of the survivors returing to base camp singing
the marine hymn! betrayed by their government and their leaders they
died and fought in the best tradition of american fighting forces.
Blaming soldiers for war is like blaming fire fighters for fire.
Maybe it is time to listen to those who have borne the battle for they
understand sensless violence better than any of us and perhaps have the
wisdom to save us from depressing chaos.
country joe mcdonald USN
--
"When his head had been blown off and it was rolling down it still went
on shouting: "Never mind if death is near! Do your job and never
fear!"", Jaroslav Hasek, The Good Soldier Svejk
country joe Hm Paje <http://www.countryjoe.com>
Berkeley Vietnam Veterans Memorial <http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us>