Where to start. I am not one of the most punctual people in this world when it comes to writing or reading my mail. But I have just finished reading the current edition of Coyote_spirit's Tidbits, dated 1Oct99. Having done that I sat here in front of this machine and reflected on a part of my life I have tried so very hard to forget, albeit at times not so successfully.
Most of you know me as the Cowboy from California, who rodeos, rides Bulls and still competes on weekends, from time to time, and that is the way I would like to be remembered. But as I said I just finished reading tidbits and thought it was time to shed light on a part of my life that many of you have no idea of.
I am a Vietnam Veteran, served in Vietnam from 1969-1970, with the 25th Infantry in Cu-Chi, South Vietnam. If any of you would like to know about Cu-Chi, it was where the Vietnamese had their tunnels, a network of underground stores, hospitals, ammo bunkers and more.
My experience in Vietnam was not any different from any other Veteran who had the unfortunate pleasure of being sent there. I was 19 years old, unable to vote in an election, unable to buy a beer in a bar. However, I was able to fight and die in a country that was having a civil war. If you think long and hard on that point, it seems to me that you may come up with the point of view that it was the most explicit form of Child Abuse ever seen in this country.
Veterans of Vietnam have been ridiculed for their actions, by the media, by the people who sent them there and by the people of this great nation, as war criminals, child killers and murderers. We only did what we had to do, to refuse our orders, would of meant being sentenced to 5 years in a military jail, being discharged Dishonorably, thereby giving up all of our rights as a citizen of the Untied States of America. It was and still remains no option as far as I can see.
I lost some very good friends in those jungles and tunnels, I watched as some bleed to death before being able to get a Medivac out and to a hospital for help. the cries of a man, for his mother, his wife, who has been shot, ring in my ears still today. The war is and has been over for me coming on 30 years now, I am and always will be proud of the fact that I served in Vietnam, it kept my brothers from having to go, it may have kept some of your brothers from having to go.
There where only 2 times in my life that I ever saw my father cry, the day I left for Vietnam and the day I came home, I believe to this day the reason he cried the day I left , was his uncertainty if I was going to return, and the day I came home for his happiness that I did return.
When I came home, he gave me a few days to relax and try and get used to the fact that it was all over,, about the fifth day I came to the table for breakfast, we ate, and when it was done, he looked at me, and said this, "I have saddled a horse and got another with a weeks worth of supplies. I want you to ride out as far as you can, stay for a few days, a week, and get your head on straight, when you get back, you get busy living or you get busy dying, it’s up to you".
I chose to live, and make the best of every day the good Lord has given me. Well my good friends that’s enough of this, Thanks for reading and listening folks, till the next time we meet, may the good Lord keep you all in the palm of his hand.
I ask of you one favor though.
