Topic: Vietnam War, lost or not. 21

Chief Bones · July 24th, 2006

You mention that the United States was blemished in the eyes of the world ... how about the GI's that came home only to have their own government and their fellow citizens spit on everything they had fought and died for? What about the hard feelings that were created when President Ford signed a blanket amnesty for all of the draft dodgers that had fled to Canada instead of answering their country's call to arms?

As one of those who faced condemnation from my neighbors and former friends when I returned home, I didn't give a damn what the rest of the world thought about Vietnam. All I knew was that our politicians and our citizens had let us down ... part of that anger exists even today and my return from Nam lies over thirty years in my past.

We have a 16 year old young man on a local forum who is a devotee of conspiracies ... he hinted that he was going to post declassified documents from the "Gulf of Tonkin" fiasco. I told him that it would NOT be a very good idea as I would cut him to pieces and that I was NOT the only Vietnam veteran that would respond in that manner. The angers from that era have not diminished just because of the passage of time. To demonstrate just how remonstrative I would be (even after thirty years), I told him that even today I would throw Hanoi Jane over the pier side of any ship I was on IF she were to come aboard and to hell with the consequences.

SORRY FOR THE RANT GUYS ...this is one issue I can NOT be calm, cool and collected about.

tomtom22 · July 25th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chief Bones

SORRY FOR THE RANT GUYS ...this is one issue I can NOT be calm, cool and collected about.

I hear you.
I feel and share your pain.

The Cooler King · July 25th, 2006

You guys that were there have every right to rant.

Chief Bones · July 25th, 2006

DTop, Cooler King and tomtom22 ... thanks guys - greatly appreciated.

WarMachine · July 26th, 2006

Forgot to mention the men who came home and received nothing but anger, i can understand since their predecessors in every war were cheered when they came home and vietnam happened and then everything changed.

Supostat · September 7th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Italian Guy

We have a certain number of threads on Viet Nam already, but one thing interests me as a civilian. Before joining these boards I had no doubts the US had lost the war in Nam. As I talked to the cool guys in here

though, I learned how different the general opinion might be from the actual truth of what happened on the ground. I heard many times that the US decided to withdraw only because the war was being lost at the homefront (universities, Hollywood, pacifists) and not really in VietNam. As I have some Vietnamese-American friends I'd be curious to hear your opinion on this, specially the veterans one.

I also enclose a poll. Thank you, I'm really interested.

War was not lost military or tactically. American decision to withdraw from Vietnam was political not because of military defeat.

bulldogg · September 7th, 2007

ITS ALIVE!!!!

phoenix80 · September 7th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supostat

War was not lost military or tactically. American decision to withdraw from Vietnam was political not because of military defeat.

Agreed!

FULLMETALJACKET · April 17th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whispering Death

Both statements are true. But as we have found out in the last 50 years all of America's enemies have attempted to win (and have succeeded at times) by targeting American popular opinion. Remember Somalia? Gulf War(1991) Saddam throught if he could just bloody our nose with a thousand or so casualtied we'd give into him. In terrorism, as a strategy, the objective is COMPLETELY non-millitary, it's to go after the hearts and minds and convince them that war is no longer worth being waged.

So even though the US won every major battle in Vietnam, it LOST the war because the strategy of the North only required funnelling money into American peace movements and parading POWs infront of cameras. For whatever reason, America is like a fortress with its gates unbarred and unguarded when it comes to 'propogandist' warfare.

Osama Bin Laden also said American people would rise up and protest the war in Iraq as we did in Nam

The Other Guy · April 17th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by FULLMETALJACKET

Osama Bin Laden also said American people would rise up and protest the war in Iraq as we did in Nam

It's starting to look like he was right... If there was a draft it would be a lot bigger...

View Poll Results :Please pick one of the two options.
The US militarily lost the Vietnam War.	36	46.75%
The US withdrew only due to the homefront protests, but they it never lost on the military level	41	53.25%
Voters: 77. You may not vote on this poll

July 24th, 2006	Post 201
Chief Bones Forums Grumpy Old Man Gear	You mention that the United States was blemished in the eyes of the world ... how about the GI's that came home only to have their own government and their fellow citizens spit on everything they had fought and died for? What about the hard feelings that were created when President Ford signed a blanket amnesty for all of the draft dodgers that had fled to Canada instead of answering their country's call to arms? As one of those who faced condemnation from my neighbors and former friends when I returned home, I didn't give a damn what the rest of the world thought about Vietnam. All I knew was that our politicians and our citizens had let us down ... part of that anger exists even today and my return from Nam lies over thirty years in my past. We have a 16 year old young man on a local forum who is a devotee of conspiracies ... he hinted that he was going to post declassified documents from the "Gulf of Tonkin" fiasco. I told him that it would NOT be a very good idea as I would cut him to pieces and that I was NOT the only Vietnam veteran that would respond in that manner. The angers from that era have not diminished just because of the passage of time. To demonstrate just how remonstrative I would be (even after thirty years), I told him that even today I would throw Hanoi Jane over the pier side of any ship I was on IF she were to come aboard and to hell with the consequences. SORRY FOR THE RANT GUYS ...this is one issue I can NOT be calm, cool and collected about. __________________ Fair winds and following seas > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < and long may your big jib draw. *-W.R.B. (Chief Bones) FCC(SW) USN(RET)-*

July 26th, 2006	Post 205
WarMachine Primus Pilus	Forgot to mention the men who came home and received nothing but anger, i can understand since their predecessors in every war were cheered when they came home and vietnam happened and then everything changed. __________________ bella! Horrida bella! War! Horrid war! There are no warlike people, just warlike leaders

September 7th, 2007	Post 207
bulldogg Milforum's Bouncer Gear	ITS ALIVE!!!! __________________ "The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental." - John Steinbeck

July 25th, 2006	Post 203
The Cooler King Godfather Gear	You guys that were there have every right to rant.

July 25th, 2006	Post 204
Chief Bones Forums Grumpy Old Man Gear	DTop, Cooler King and tomtom22 ... thanks guys - greatly appreciated.