Demons From a Doomed War

(Updated)

I received an email this past week about a flight where some people bought sack lunches for soldiers going off to war. This email is one of several making the rounds. There are also a couple of videos and even commercials making the rounds about people offering support to our military men and women.

These are a big change from my landing in Oakland on my first trip home from Vietnam. We were advised not to wear our uniforms in public so as not to “agitate” or exacerbate public opinion. Protestors were known to spit on returning soldiers. They were also known to throw blood or fake blood on service members. GIs were subjected to derogatory name calling and dishonored at every turn.

Try as I will I have never gotten over my treatment upon returning from a war that we forfeited and slunk away from like cowards. The protestors of the early 70s are now in charge of this country and once again they have no guilt about denigrating our servicemen and women.

I have spent the last couple of weeks fighting off the demons caused by my PTSD. Normally I avoid “triggers” but I have discovered some new ones. Peace symbols are now back in vogue worn by Obama’s kids, celebrities, and fashionistas. One of my frequent nightmares involves me getting hit with a Molotov cocktail while guarding the Army Post Office in Oakland, California. The burn scars are still on my arm, faded but I can see them. The last thing I saw before covering my face to protect it was the peace symbol and tie dyed clothing.

I recently went to a neighborhood reunion, where those from the community that have given all in defense of our freedoms were honored with a moment of silence, but all I could see was people there wearing peace symbols. Those symbols didn’t translate as peace to me, they translated as surrender, as treason, and as my enemy.

I gave a lot for this country. I don’t expect anything for my sacrifice. I never did. It was my duty and I did it.

I am of an age I don’t expect to be around much longer. I will leave nothing behind; my lineage will end. I pray that this Country and the freedoms I and every other veteran has fought to preserve will be our lasting heritage. That is my reason for adamantly opposing the slide into socialism that the Obama Administration is trying to shove down our throats.