"Jay Honeck" writes:

Did we lose because of the military rotting from within? Was
Kerry an example of this?

Jay, you've truly reached a new low with this statement.

You seem to think I meant this question in a derogatory sort of way, when,
in fact, it was an honest, open-ended question.

If that's the case, then I apologize.

I was 18 in 1973 so while I got a draft card and draft number they
were only calling the first 20-30 numbers when it was my turn. I
avoided service and didn't volunteer. I am not the type that does
well under authority ;-).

I knew of guys who went over there and came back messed up...a good
buddy of mine would tell me of how he and his platoon would tramp
around the jungle, buddies by his side stepping on the occasional land
mine and getting a foot blown off...he got a purple heart but nothing
that bad. He died at age 51 of liver cancer--I think probably Agent
Orange. Another guy in the special forces turned into a killing
machine, started liking killing gooks, and they had to deny him a 4th
tour. He's still violent 35 years later. I went to school with lots
of Vietnam vets. I never knew anybody who thought Vietnam was good.

If the military was rotting it was from BS, gung-ho officers who
wanted everything by the book and took stupid risks with their
men to further their careers. It was from candy-ass politicians who
got their own sons out of danger and would neither support an all-out
effort against N. Vietnam to win, nor would admit their limited,
micro-managed war couldn't win until 50,000 good Americans died.

Hurray for Kerry for keeping his eyes and mind open while in-country,
learning, and having the guts to speak what he thought was the truth,
in or out of uniform. The last thing this country needs is more
mindless sheep for our keepers to lead to perdition.