That was a great read
my Great Uncle Tink Marine Major (IIRC) fought in Korea,
Viet Nam, early on before it was even considered a war, some covert BS
behind lines on some map, at some airbase
he retired after something like 35 years
My uncle John his son, was a Lt in the Green Beret
didn't die in VN, but from effects of being their shortly after...
I remember we were walking thru the SF international airport
when he 1st came back for leave IIRC, & around the neighborhood...
I was 8-9-ish maybe as old *** 11-12 between 1967 & 1971-ish
he lived in Berekely Ca., near the University of California
in an older neighborhood, my aunt uncle & grandparents all lived there
a lot of my family was from that area,
long before
it turned into a total University shithole, with all the damn druggies,
hippies &
losers, dregs of
life, sleeping passed out, begging/pandering
in the gutters, that it became, because of them types...
It happened a lot in the 60's & until he died in the late 70's
from complications of being shot & chemical ****, he was exposed to...
Them fucken' idiots would spew all kinds of vile ****, spit on/at him,
called all kinds of names, baby killer & it was especially said to him while
in uniform, he was a clean cut reg. guy hair high & tight,
so he was a target all the time...
I asked him on a few occasions probably;
why he didn't kick their asses ?, he could have easily
he said; to paraphrase,
that he would, never ever stoop to their lowlife levels !!
That he fought for & defended their rights to be total ********,
that our constitution & civil liberties & especially freedom of speech
isn't a one way street, you take the good with the bad...
He was a Great man, taken way too early...
He was a great car guy too, I still remember riding in his
68 Formula S 383 Barracuda after he 1st bought it...