I recall reading books by Dr. Tom Dooley when I was in school.
They were about the Communist insurgent
activity in South Vietnam from North Vietnam.
He was a Navy doctor stationed in Asian waters
when Indo-China fell to the Communists.
They built a hugh refugee camps in Viet Nam
for the hundreds of thousand of escapees from Communist terror.
They were seeking a passage to freedom.
It was heart breaking to read what those refugees went through.
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In 1959 Major Dale R. Buis and Master Sargeant Chester M. Ovnand
become the first Americans to die
in the Vietnam War when guerillas striked at Bienhoa.
In 1962 US Air Force begins using Agent Orange.
It was a defoliant on the jungle so our soldiers could see the enemy.
Presidents from John Kennedy to Richard Nixon left our military
in a war they were not allowed to win.
From 1976 to 1980 Jimmy Carter was President.
He extends a full and unconditional pardon to nearly 10,000 men
who evaded the Vietnam War draft.
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After the war started I was appalled to see
the way our soldiers were treated here in America.
I still find it hard to remember and think that
Americans could be so cruel to our military.
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When I started to write this I intended to write on "WHAT IF".
As I was thinking on what to say this is what I came up with…..
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WHAT IF: Agent Orange had never been used?
WHAT IF: Our soldiers were not suffering
from the effects of that poison now?
WHAT IF: Our soldiers were allowed to win that war?
WHAT IF: What if Lyndon Johnson had never been president?
WHAT IF: Our elected leaders cared as much
about America as they did and do for their page in history?
WHAT IF: The news media had reported the truth instead of slanting
it in the way they did then and now?
WHAT IF: John Kerry had told the whole truth when he testified
before the Senate For Foreign Relations Committee April 22, 1971?
WHAT IF: Voters had been more careful of the ones they voted into office?
These are only a few of the "WHAT IF" I thought of.
I am sure you have some you could add to this list.
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I wrote this to let our Vietnam Veterans know
not everyone in America felt the way those ungrateful few did.
I pray God's richest blessings on the past and living Veterans.
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ALL OUR VETERANS PAST AND PRESENT
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2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray,
and seek my face,
and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land.