Jackson Jambalaya

I was stationed in Ft. Hood Texas and X-rayed Joseph Odstrcil before he died. I never knew how he was wounded. He was in a lot of pain as I recalled. Then, I got sent to Vietnam serving a year over there. In Nam I X-rayed this soldier with both legs blown off to the pelvis. He lived about a week. Also, I X-rayed the little vietnamese girl with a pleshette in her side. Some 40 years later I blame the Presidents during that period for not having enough backbone pull the troops out.

Reply to 8:17 PM
Apparently, They didn't want to be the 1st President to ever lose a WAR.

Happy 4th everyone!

For decades anybody was considered un-patriotic who dared oppose or speak out about the absurdity of our protracted engagement in this 'thing'. I knew two who died in Nam and two more who were blown apart but 'lived'. One of them is still living and the other died of complications from 'orange'. Are we finally able to admit we had no business being involved? Yet we still tinker around, even marginally, with war games in other parts of our world...never knowing which will become the next Vietnam. It would be different if America were at risk or in some way, in danger. We were not and we are not. I'm old but would certainly fight to protect my country. That's not what this was about.

The only honorable thing for LBJ to have done would have been to commit suicide. Why didn't he and how could he not? How much whiskey did it take for him to sleep?

I've been to the Memorial in D.C. and it is truly a powerful place that you will never forget. I found the names of two of my older brother's classmates who died in Viet Nam. My brother was 4F (I think that is what it was called) because his spleen was removed when he was a young child after being hit by a car. But several of his childhood friends and classmates were drafted and served. Fortunately for my age group, the draft and the war ended shortly before we reached age 18.

We should also never forget the cowards who used medical excuses such as "bone spurs" but still frequently play golf into their 70's. And also the vocal "patriots" who famously shit their pants to avoid the draft while also questioning the patriotism of others.

Heroes only die once but cowards should die 1000 deaths.

Sadly, Jackson is the latest war zone. #74 of 2021 early this morning.

I speak for no one but myself, but I have had enough of old men sending young men to die in, what is in my opinion, a war for imperialism. All too often what is presented as a national interest is actually the interest of some wealthy cabal. This is not a resent problem. I hold little hope of this changing, for money is the motivator in the political world.

KF, thank you for posting this. Having visited the Vietnam Memorial several times, I always find it very moving.

Looking up the names of those from my hometown brings a lot sadness. The wall does not include friends who returned as amputees, had substance abuse issues, and had mental health problems. Five years ago, a friend who had many health problems related to Agent Orange passed away.

@8:17 Just blame his Satanic Majesty LBJ, it was his baby. The rest was surplusage. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was 100% designed to keep the evil one ensconced in the Oval Office with Doris Kearns as Monica Lewinski.

Forget not his famous quote about a certain ethnicity "voting Democrat for the next 200 years." The Great Society and the evil it wrought stays with us today.

Perhaps there really is a Hell and LBJ and Joe Stalin are there in the Ninth Circle giving each other Panamanian Shoeshines. It is certainly pretty to think so.

8:17. I still blame them brother. Semper Fi

One of the most amazing places I have ever visited is the Vietnam Memorial. It is moving beyond words, in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial and across the mall from the under-appreciated Korean War memorial.

I have photos of my gone-too-soon daughter at the Memorial, and it meant so much to her although she born in he 1990’s. Never ever forget those who made the ULTIMATE sacrifice. May they Rest In Peace, and may their families know how much we appreciate the sacrifice. Godspeed, veterans.

First, thank you.

Unable to get past the Army Docs. I sat out but I help bury 3 friends from high school. I worked at a local radio station and it was my job to read obits at noon daily. A bitter pill to this day. Some damn fine young men lost in that mess. I salute the ones that did not make it home and the ones that did.

" The only honorable thing for LBJ to have done would have been to commit suicide."

That's an understatement 1:06 AM.

I think he is the worst President we've ever had.

I won't elaborate on the long term effects of his disastrous domestic policies. Or his international policies that got so many young men killed and maimed in Vietnam. Or the fact he was using the "n-word" every five minutes.

He was even "hitting on" Jackie Kennedy only a few hours after her husband, President John F.Kennedy had been assassinated.

( IMO) LBJ was the epitome of Texas White Trash.

What is really sad is the way those of us in uniform were treated by many of our own citizens. Those that didn’t make it back from that stupid war would have been disrespected if they had returned.In March of 1970 a fellow married soldier andI received a 3 day pass from advanced training at Ft. Campbell and wanted to go home real bad. The only way possible on our $116 (?) monthly salary was to hitch hike. A few miles out of Nashville it stared pouring down rain. Dressed in our dress greens we were soaked.—-and no one would stop. After what seems like hours an older man did stop. He took us to a service station where he bought us coffee and we were able to try and dry off a bit.He told us he can take us as far as Memphis. We asked him to drop us off on there and we would try to make it south. Instead of taking that exit he headed to the airport when we reached Memphis where he bought us tickets to Jackson. Not sure if he was a vet from the greatest generation or just an angel.Glad our soldiers today get more respect. Sad to see the disrespect for our police.

As someone who was born well after the Vietnam War, what little I know about it is based on movies, television, and academic teachings.

For those who have commented that had actual experience with it, during that era (such as 8:17, July 4), from your own knowledge and experiences, what were the primary reasons why the U.S. had such a difficult time at battling the enemy in that country?

Geese KF, what could you possibly find disparaging about it the comparison with former WII members that you’d cull my submission?

This is what culls your donations.

I didn't. The only comment not approved dragged you know who into it, which has no place in the discussion.

I was drafted in 1968 and within weeks of arriving 'in county' recognized how expendable grunts were and the people we were supposedly supporting were one shot away from being VC.

And as for visiting the Vietnam Wall I can't imagine I'll ever do so even though there is a 'mini Wall' a few miles from my home.

Smedley Butler was correct in his opinion of US politics and the use of military.

@4:53, how's this, traitorous incompetence at the top, dereliction of duty down the chain of command.

Two quick reads will tell you all you need to know: Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream by Doris Kearns Goodwin (pretty much the authorized biography) and oddly enough titled, Dereliction of Duty, by H.R. McMaster. If you are a real glutton for punishment throw in Lessons in Disaster by Gordon Goldstein and the Triumph and Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson by Joseph Califano. It's all there in black and white, no hidden meanings, no plot/conspiracies. Just plain old megalomania, power mad style.

I turned 21 in 1964, was a huge Democrat, actually shook LBJ's hand, he was gonna keep us out of war in Indochina, denounced Barry Goldwater as a "ranting raving demagogue."

What I learned is that guys like LBJ, Mr. Biden, and frankly Mr. Trump, have two sets of rules. One for the very flower of my generation who were draftable at 19 (thereby to form the largest age cohort on the Vietnam Wall) and that included truth justice and the American Way. Another rule applies to the special folks, like "instant" naval officers, Hunter Biden and LBJ himself, bone spur specialists, and lots and lots of mucoid stains on blue dresses, red dresses, jeans, tank tops, cashmere sweaters.

Like I said, it makes you wish that there's a Hell someplace.

Before the pandemic, I traveled to DC on business, and made it around to all of the war memorials. Of them all, I found the Viet Nam wall to be the most somber. And, as I was standing amongst a large number of vets from that war, many of them in wheelchairs, an older soldier in dress blues carrying a small hard-shell case, walked up to the peak of the wall. He took a trumpet out of the case and played Taps. Then, he was gone as quickly as he arrived. It was very moving and absolutely appropriate.