A Correction

The other day on About Face, we talked about the lack of protest against our current war as opposed to protest against the Vietnam war. At one point, we mentioned that some protesters in the 60's actually sympathized with the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong. I know I did. Not because I hated America but because I recognized the difference between Vietnamese Communism and the Communist Menace. I didn't have a great regard for the South Vietnamese forces, primarily because I saw them fighting on the wrong side of Vietnamese history for a puppet government. Americans had little faith or trust in our South Vietnamese allies and I shared that opinion pretty much by osmosis and pre-existing prejudice. My only knowledge of actual South Vietnamese operations was the ill-fated Operation Lam Son 719, that tied up all of our helicopters and ended in a disastrous South Vietnamese retreat. During our discussion, that perception came out as "They wouldn't fight."

We had a call from a South Vietnamese veteran who didn't challenge my statement directly but he reminded us that many South Vietnamese fought against Communism and were proud of their fight, regardless of how it ended. The call made me realize that whatever I may have thought about the South Vietnamese regime, there were many who considered it better than a Communist victory and bravely fought with Americans to prevent that victory. The call also reminded me of how much respect I had for all Vietnamese because of their endurance and determination. The North was disciplined and tenacious. The South lacked that cohesion but had a LOT of drive and initiative. I thought at the time that even if the Communists won, the entrepreneurial drive of the South Vietnamese would change the nature of that victory over time, which is what happened. During my tour, I was always amazed at the Vietnamese ability to somehow manage to live in the midst of that chaos. In some cases that meant fighting, more often it meant enduring.

A more correct description of the South Vietnamese would be that they lacked a government that was worthy of their sacrifice.

Sunday on About Face

About Face, the Veterans For Peace program on the NovaM Radio Network will discuss "Coming Home From the War" this Sunday at 11:00 am on KPHX Radio (1480 AM in the large amorphous urban area known as Phoenix, Arizona and www.1480kphx.com on the web). Join me, co-host Dennis Stout and callers to tell what you experienced when came back from the war. Family members are welcome to tell their stories of spouses, children or parents who returned from war. Local isteners can call 602-258-8800, everyone else can call toll free at 800-989-1480.

Americans have returned from war throughout history. Our stories are as old as human experience. Yet most people don't know what it's like or how to deal with the returning veterans who come home different, if they come home at all. This Sunday's About Face wants to tell all stories. America needs to hear them.


Sunday 11 March 2007 11:00 am (mountain standard time; most of the nation will switch to daylight time that day, most of Arizona will not)

1480 AM local

www.1480kphx.com

602-258-8800 local
800-989-1480 toll free


postscript

Minstrel Boy, what you have written in the comments lately would be an amazing story. Even if you don't want to come on the air, you should call the station just to tell our engineer how I can contacct you. I am scheduled to exit this AO in May or June and believe that not meeting you in person before I go would be a missed opportunity, what with you living somewhere toward the edge of this Large Amorphous Urban Area and actually traveling within easy range of my own personal largely undisclosed geographic location.