I remember a time when I used to pray for home. For the solitude of my own, comfortable, bed. Sitting outside freezing my ass off I thought nothing could possibly be better. I think I was just spoiled. Going back, I should've worked harder. Injury and all. Nothing should have let me quit. Physically I couldn't do it anyway, but it feels like if I would've kept going, I would've finished.
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I too am a disabled vet. You sound like a brave person. I would love to hear what you think about this:
Dear Senator McCain
I too am a Vietnam Veteran and I like more than 50 million Americans watched your heroic story and how you came to be the man you are today. There is no question of your courage under fire nor your unbelievable endurance. I watched with awe when you told of how in spite of knowing that you would be beaten you still would not sacrifice your Honor by being released ahead of others who had been there longer. Most of those who have never served under fire do not understand the need for Honor in our fighting forces. Honor is the glue that binds us one to another that makes us look out for each other. Without a Code of Honor it would be everyone for themselves. Without Honor our military would fall into anarchy. When one member violates the Military Code of Conduct we all suffer. That is why the code says that prisoners must be released in the same order as captured.
I cried when you told of being broken by the brutal beating. And when you told of how the prisoner in the next cell forgave you and said that no one of us can do it alone. And like 50 million other Americans forgave you too. It must have been an awful beating to get you to violate that same Code of Honor you took the beating for. But I did not hear you admit that you signed a confession saying that we, our troops were “black criminals” and targeted civilians. The same Code of Honor makes it wrong to take an early release also forbids us from signing anything against America and our fighting troops.
We all know that the Vietnam war was not lost on the battlefields and bases of Vietnam but in the streets of America. How many new recruits do you think joined William Ayers' Weather Underground when the news reported that a Naval Pilot, the son of the Admiral in charge of the entire SEA fleets said that we targeted schools and hospital? While 8,000,000 of us came home to the scorn of disdain of the nation in part because of you. Did you ever ask yourself if you should apologize to those of us who felt pain of your dishonorable act? While You came home as a hero the bus the rest of us came home to cries of “Murders”. When I arrived from 18 months fighting for my country hundreds of angry communist lead protesters rushed our bus. I tried to convince my wife returning home with me that they were just glad we are home. But even Hien, whose english was poor knew what FU and the middle finger meant.
Without Honor our military will deteriorate and victory will elude us. There is no one promise that we make when we swear to death before dishonor more important than another. How can You expect our brave troops to follow you into battle knowing that when it came to where the rubber hit the road you traded honor for life. The Code of Honor begins with, “I am an American fighting man I am prepared to give my life for my country”. Many have called me cruel for even bring this up. They say you deserve our honor for what You went through. You and I know that honor is doing the right thing for the right reason regardless of personal pain.
Your friend was not totally right when he said that no one could stand alone because there is a time when s/he has listened to the generals, admirals and advisors the Commander in Chief must stand alone.
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